Bury Town 'C' 1 Woodbridge Town 5

Sunday 23rd September 2007

Scorers: Portaluri (3), Church, Hayward

In what was billed as a top of the table clash and with both teams unbeaten this game was going to be the boys’ biggest test of the season so far. Injury to Matthew Read meant that the team were without the player, who has been dubbed ‘Mattelele’ and someone who provides the protection for the back four and this meant that Aaron Thurlow and Sam Tripp were going to have to share responsibility for this and curb their desire to push forward, so there was a sense of the unknown going into the game. However we needn’t have worried and the boys rose to the occasion and put in another outstanding team performance.

The first half began with the boys dominating possession and pushing Bury back into their own half. Giorgio Dimuccio and Harry Hayward were providing the width and both boys gave the Bury defence and midfield a difficult time. However with the Bury keeper a commanding presence in his area and some wayward finishing, it looked as though we might struggle to find the net, but as is becoming the norm Laurence Portaluri accepted a pass from Giorgio and then conjured some of his magic by lobbing the advancing keeper from some five yards outside of the penalty area – credit for this goal must also go to Harry Hayward, whose run to Laurence’s right drew the attentions of one of the defenders.

After this goal, the boys continued to press forward, but struggled to find the right delivery from a number of corners and from one of these Bury countered and equalised with a lob shot that left Joe Elsom helpless in our goal. However this did not seem to faze the team and Laurence scored his second after good work by Sam and Ashley Archer, who had another superb game at full-back, providing several telling passes and support for the midfield.

Half Time 1-2

The second half began with Bury chasing the game, but the defence held firm with Ben Hopkins in commanding form and Joe Elsom growing in confidence in sweeping behind the back line. Sam Tripp was also instrumental in nullifying the threat of Bury’s central midfield. It wasn’t long before the boys took total control of the game and Caspar Church volleyed in a third. Harry Hayward added a fourth after good work by Laurence and Marcus Taylor, and there was still time for Laurence to claim another hat-trick with a tap in after the Bury keeper had saved superbly from Kieron Marshall’s rasping half-volley. The five –one scoreline was probably a fair reflection of the team’s dominance and possibly had Marcus not been flagged for two dubious offsides the team might have netted two more.

This was another excellent performance that saw Kieron and Gus Cooney get their first outings in the league this season and both boys acquitted themselves very well. Khaled had another confident game at centre-half and as the game went on won several important challenges. Miles Kekwick at left-back also linked well with Giorgio in the first half and it is good to see him looking to pass the ball to feet.

Finally I hope that all the boys who have played so far are feeling part of what has been this wonderful start to the season and that the parents understand what Heathy and I are trying to achieve in getting results, developing each individual, but also in developing a real sense of what a team can achieve by working together. Next week we intend to continue this early season approach to resting players and introducing others.