What a start to the season this was.
A gruelling hard fought match right from the first whistle, this match started fast and furious, with the Allstars passing the ball better, and generally creating more opportunities in the first 20 mins.
Their creativity paid off when a free-kick from Klinger found Medley 8 yards out, who glanced the ball perfectly into the side-netting to give the Allstars a deserved 1-0 lead.
Phoenix bounced back with some good strong wing play, with good contributions from Stone, Bolu and Hanna. Had a couple of controversial decisions not gone the way of Allstars, the Phoenix could well have found themselves level at half-time.
It wasn’t to be especially when a fresh Medley is on the pitch. He converted a wonder goal on 35 mins, when he brought down an awkward ball, turned his marker on the edge of the box and walloped an unstoppable volley into the back of the net.
2-0 halftime.
Phoenix did not lie down. They bounced back at the beginning of the second half, with an injection of new fight and grit. And although there was some consistently strong and hard defending from the likes of Glyn and his co-defenders in the Allstars, they could not prevent a class goal from Flesch who placed a top-spin lob into the top right corner of the goal.
Game on 2-1.
Paley in goal for the Allstars, was called into action on a couple of crucial occasions for the following 20 mins and cleared his line excellently from the threatening Phoenix.
Allstars did however weather the storm well and stay organised throughout their formation. And the Phoenix pressure enabled the strikers to break away a few times on the counter, creating good scoring opportunities – which should have increased the Allstars lead.
The next break came, when Kelly worked hard down the left channel, holding up the ball well, and after his support arrived, some space developed for him to cut across the box, and fire a low shot into the very inside of the post.
3-1 Gower.
Credit to Phoenix yet again, they continued to look for a way back into the game. Were it not for the cross-bar, another tip over the bar from Paley, and a “Chris-Waddle-esk” penalty from the captain Denselow, Phoenix would have pulled one back in the last 15 mins, but it wasn’t to be.
On another day it could have been the Phoenix’s, but the Allstars ended up taking home the Gower Cup, very proud winners.
Highlights
Three very solid debuts from Phil Wood at right mid and Sav Capone & Dan Heymann at fullback for the Allstars, I am sure they will all play an important role in the season
Medleys second goal – wonder strike, again please next week.
Russ Klinger “doing” Elliott Moore six times on the left wing, before crossing.
Dens saying to Fleschy “leave it to me” and then blasting over the penalty spot.
Glyn and Stiefel looking like death in the heart of the Allstars defence, after only 55 mins
Paley keeping the Allstars in the game.
Finally, seeing the club have 26 players turn out for a pre-season friendly. How far we have come….
MOTM Phoenix = Toby Denselow – constant threat upfront, a “serious” handful for even the most accomplished defenders.
MOTM Allstars = Medley, Paley, Glyn combo – without whom the Allstars would not have won this game.
Well done all – now its time to show the Camden League – just how good the Gowers are….Lets do it.
