Phoenix 8 Japanese Team 2
Phoenix (4-4-2) Allister – Dens, Selbie, Greg, Freddy – Jo Paley, Lucas, Bradley, Russalindiho – Medders, TobyA enthusiastic Phoenix team demonstrated some of the football they are capable of in an assured display against a decent Japanese team.
The team were boosted by the final Gower appearance for a while from Tim Medley before he jets off to Brazil – Gower FC wish him well and look forward to seeing him back someday.
Russ, a Gower stalwart, ran the left hand flank with Jo Paley on the right and both looked dangerous right from the kick off. Medders direct running had the opposition in all sorts of bother and eventually the ball spilled to Paley who finished with aplomb from just inside the area.
Freddy and Paley were linking well on the right and Jon Selbie and Greg were communicating and repelling attacks with good clearing play from the midfield two. Medders then made it 2-0 shooting right through the keeper before Paley headed in a Dens corner to make it 3-0. With Bradley winning lots of ball in the middle Phoenix looked strong.
Toby then beat three men to make it 4-0. The oppo pulled one back as their midfield overwhelmed our defense before a Lucas finish made it 5-1 at ½ time.
The second half, as with many Phoenix second halves before it, was much more of a struggle.
Clearly fitness is an issue and I urge as many Phoenix players as possible to sign onto British Military Fitness – which is an excellent and enjoyable way to improve stamina.
Things were much closer throughout the half as Phoenix tired. Toby finished from closer range to make it 6-1 before new boy Paul latched onto a Dens ball over the top to make it 7-1. The Japanese team clawed it back to 7-2 before Dens swung in a corner that went right in to make it 8-2.
Lessons = confidence is crucial. When we play with our heads up we’re a different team – when our heads go down and we go quiet we tend to lose badly – we must realize this and work hard to make sure it doesn’t happen. 50/50’s – the cornerstone of the Allstars success is the winning of 50/50’s and clearing up the second ball from any phase of play – we must improve on this and continue to fight hard for possession – especially when players are tiring.
We’re still in this league and have it within ourselves to stay here.
MOTM – Jo Paley – Great finishing and finally some more vocal demanding of the ball – great stuff.
