Match Report: Phoenix vs Groucho 24th Oct
Groucho have proved to be a difficult team in recent years, and a definite thorn in the sides of Gower Phoenix. However, with more synergy to the side this season, Phoenix grabbed their third victory in as many games, with goals from Bradley, Toby and Jules to seal a well deserved 3:1 victory.
Phoenix started brightly, passing quickly and creating bags of chances up front. Henry ‘The Babymaker’ Goodfellow had several opportunities within a short space of time, yet was unable to convert, opting to hit the post instead. With all the possession, it was only a matter of time until Phoenix scored, and that they did 20 minutes into the first half, Jules combining with Toby on the edge of the area to find ‘The Babymaker’, who’s shot careered off the post into the path of Bradley, who finished with aplomb from a tight angle. Despite remaining in complete control, Groucho scored a freak goal just before half time, which saw Sam being lobbed from outside the area by a side footed half volley, clearly not what the player meant!
In the second half Phoenix carried on from where they left off, but found it difficult to take their chances. Ben and Henry worked tirelessly in the midfield, and Pete excelled on the right, making darting runs whenever he had the chance. Special mention must go out to Jamie Wood in particular who won every single header against the Groucho striker who was at least 10 ft 5. (Ben also managed to out jump him which was pretty impressive). Phoenix finally broke the deadlock with 10 minutes to go courtesy of Fernando Denselow, who chipped the ball through two oncoming defenders before darting into space and finishing low into the right-hand corner from just inside the area.
With Phoenix in the lead we decided to rest on our laurels and Groucho reacted positively to falling behind for the second time. However, the defence held strong, and the back line of Jamie Wood, Bradley, Danny “The Wall and Pat dealt with everything thrown at them. James Mandel, making his debut for the club played very well on the left, but succumbed to fatigue, possibly due to the 90 mins played before the match. Dens replaced him for the last half hour and instantly made his mark, feeding balls over the left back to Jules and Patrick, who moved up to left midfield. With Phoenix being bombarded by largely ineffective long balls, Jules scored on a counter-attack to seal victory. Pete showed his defensive credentials by clearing a ball out the area, and Toby headed the ball into the oppo’s half, where Jules sprinted the ball into the area and finished clinically over the onrushing keeper.
Man of the Match = Ben, worked his socks off and gave the oppo no time on the ball.
Match report - gower phoenix vs gower allstars - opening league match of the season -Sunday 4th septWhat a juicy start to the season!
Both sides lined up with a 4-5-1 formation with lots of injuries and absentees from both sides.
And with both sides playing more defensively, the first half was a bit of a stale mate.
Apart from one break by the allstars which saw botterill finish on the volley for the allstars, past a helpless Luke hill in goal.
30 mins point and the game is pretty even and then out of nowhere a long goal kick from phoenix flies over the allstars back four, and dave goldsmith in midfield to his credit tried to sweep it up on the volley, 30 yards in front of his goal - and in a freakish clearance, the ball spins off his foot, completely wrong-footing Ulrich the allstars new keeper, from 30 yards out, and finds it's way in to the net.
1-1 half time
Second half saw a much better game.
Allstars created several good chances for medley upfront on his own., to give allstars the lead, but he was having was having one of 'those' days and nothing went in for him. On another day, he could have had a hatrick.
Phoenix were however not giving up. They put some nice passing moves together toward the end of the second half, and created two chances for them to take the lead - but they too were squandered.
The allstars finished stronger and their endeavour finally paid off in the last 5 mins when a 20 yard speculative effort from Azouz looked like it was to be a simple mandatory save for hill but unluckily for him the ball bobbled up just as he bent down to pick it up. It bounced up off his Shoulder and fell to allstars winger Yianni who was following up, and he just passed it into an empty net. Harsh but allstars deserved the victory in the end on the sheer number of chances created.
Good first game of the season
MOTM
Luke peace - at Centre back did not put one foot wrong and was as cool and commanding as they come.
