Gower Allstars took on a depleated BVH side in the MA Cup 2nd with a double-header tie (in the quarters & league), against Tigers this coming Sunday, lying ahead…
Owen Blandy made his debut proper, for the first time upfront partnering Mike Kelly, and what a debut it was.
The Allstars got off to another flier, with a powerful start, leading to an early one-one opportunity, for Blandy who was fed by a perfect ball from Duggan, leading to a fine finish from the youngsters.
1-0 Gower.
Worry times developed when Stiefel was reduced to hopping after his pre-match ass problem, was aggravated further with a sliding challenge – so Allstars were effectively playing with 10-men until Layton the Wall turned up after his match at the Phoenix, 20 mins later.
It mattered not to this dominant team……after some fine play down the right channel, involving Durrant, fed Kelly, who combined perfectly with Blandy in a one-two, which opened the goal for Blandy to blast home – a great team goal.
2-0 Gower.
Apart from the odd hoof forward, Gowers knew the opposition were not imposing themselves with any real purpose or threat, and that enabled the likes of Duggan and Street to start and create some fine moves for the team, ending up with 2 or 3 openings for the strikers – but, much to the frustration of the Gaffer, whilst they were very much like Angelina Jolie (pleasing on the eye), they were not finished off and came to nothing.
Kelly made amends with a super strike on the edge of the box from a corner, switching from his right to his left foot and curling into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.
3-0 HT and effectively game over.
The second half was largely dominated by Gowers again, with some fantastic team play, using the full width of the back four, to switch play, overlap and create openings down the channel – and it was only for near misses and ridiculous offside decisions (from the painful ref Tony) that the lead did not increase further.
Gowers dominated throughout and the defence did not allow Rod to be worked once in 90 mins. A througoughly professional performance. One of champions? One of cup winners?
That is in your hands Gentlemen. As Alex Ferguson has quoted on many occasions – the most important part of the season is the last 2 months, as all your hard work can come to nothing…. And make no bones, you carry on like this, and we will be champions – and we will win some silverware.
But you must remain focused, keep concentrated and be clinical – more clinical than ever. Well done boys, you deserve everything that comes your way. Lets push on and take Tigers next week, which should more or less secure us the league, and get us into the MA Cup semi-final – against the top 3 teams in the Premier division. Exciting times…
MOTM = The whole team deserved this really, but this weeks goes to Owen Blandy, constant threat throughout and looked a class act on his debut on a difficult surface, and finished off with a brace. Different gravy.
