The Gower Allstars got off to a flying start with a 5-1 demolition of Crown & Goose.
The season could not have started any better, when after just 30 seconds of play, a whistle from the game next door, caused the C & G defence to stop play…. Medley continued to play to OUR whistle, and slotted the ball coolly past the stranded C & G keeper.
1-0 Gower.
Gowers then took the game into their stride with strong central midfield play from Ricky and Mike Kelly, and solid defending from Sav at left back, preventing any potential danger from reaching Rod in goal.
Soon enough, the pressure told on C & Gs defence when the stand-in tall striker Mike Kovacocy, beat his marker to knock a through ball perfectly into Medley path, who rounded the on-suing keeper, and tapped into an empty net.
C & G then slipped into gear, putting some sustained pressure on the Gower defence – but testimant to their fitness and maturity of playing together, they stood firm, and Paley was hardly tested in goal throughout the first half.
Gowers lead extended when a fine move down the left wing from Blandy, resulted in a somewhat weak cross, which caused a mix-up between keeper and defender, and the ball somehow ended up in the corner of the goal.
3-0 Gower Allstars HT
The Allstars started slowly in the second half, and C & G pressure started right from the first whistle, but it was Kelly in the midfield who was thwarting most attacks, playing excellently for the first time in central midfield.
As C & G pushed forward, they eventually got a deserved goal from a free-kick which was bent in beautifully and broke the Gower defence with a nodded header into the corner.
3-1
Any sign of a comeback was quickly thwarted with the best move of the match when a channel ball from Chittenden found Medley on the right wing, who beat his full back and paced down the right channel. With plenty of time to find his man, Medley delivered a perfect cross, to find the ever dangerous Blandy who on the half volley, 12 yards out, bulleted a fine shot across the keeper in to the net. It was a class goal which sealed the victory and re-instated the lead to three goals.
Paley in goal then made a couple of fine saves from quality shots just outside the box, keeping the Gowers ahead.
Two of what will most definitely be the misses of the seasons then came Gowers way.
One from a simple cross for Ricky to tap in to an empty net, which he somehow missed (although the ball did bobble up in fairness) but no excuses for Medley, who broke the offside trap, and skipped away to a one on one with the keeper, who he rounded excellently, and somehow passed the ball wide of the goal, missing the goal completely. What a plonker!
Anyhow, he made up for his glaring miss, with his hatrick goal which was a tap from a saved shot from another new boy Lucas’ powerful shot.
5-1 Game Over.
Should have been at least 7.
But a very solid first performance, strong defensively, lethal going forward, and clinical finishing to win the game. Must keep the momentum going – especially for the huge game this Sunday in the London Cup…Bring it on!
MOTM = joint – Mike Kelly – who played in central midfield for the first time and looked like he had been playing there for years, with nothing getting past him – and Tim Medley – for scoring a hatrick in the first game of the season, showing lethal pace, and power to get himself into 5 or 6 scoring positions.
Well done all…
