League:
TESTWOOD BAPTIST CHURCH 5-1 Salvation Army
Testwood
had prepared for this game to be one of the toughest as the Salvation Army
team were in Division 1 last season.
With the
sun blazing into the Army’s eyes, Testwood took advantage of an Army slow
start with some solid defending (and Grant Angel’s more solid fouling !!)
some very fluent passing and some exquisite footwork. The ageless Colin
Hayward seems to have benefited from his enforced absence bringing a new
lease of life with him.
A delightful
long through ball saw ROGER FRAPWELL once again outpace the defence to
slide the ball coolly home. 1-0 Testwood.
Pressure
began to tell on the Army defence and John Murray swung in a perfect corner
for Rob Oag to see his powerful header cleared off the line only for the
rabbit like FRAPWELL to pounce on the rebound. 2 – 0 Testwood. Once again
the Army’s defence were shell-shocked!!
Only a few
more minutes passed when Roger Frapwell skipped through the weak defence
out on the wing to cross for COLIN HAYWARD to run in and power the ball
passed a frustrated keeper. 3 – 0 Testwood.
Half time
saw the Army change their strategy, and turn to a 5-man midfield to seek
to overpower the Testwood authority. This saw some much-needed ammunition
added to their midfield, but penetrating a very solid looking back four
still proved difficult. They handled everything that was bombed at them,
and even when they got through the flat back four (I DID SAY FLAT not FAT
!!!) there was Sheps to HEAD, yes HEAD, from the line.
After a
great through ball from John Murray (well on this occasion it actually
was intended as a shot!!) HAYWARD grabbed his second of the game, obviously
seeking a much sought after signed match ball. 4 – 0 Testwood.
The only
slip of an otherwise faultless defensive performance saw The Army
grab a consolation, but by this time, their heads had dropped and they
had waved the white flag of surrender, even slicing wide from 1 yard out.
At this
point Chris Hutchings, playing in the middle of defence arrowed a 40 yard
pass through the trenches of the opposition finding JOHN MURRAY unmarked
to slot home.
An outstanding
team performance. Testwood top of the league. Played 4 won 4. Final
Score: Testwood
5 – 1 Salvation Army.
