The
Chequer returned to winning ways this week with an excellent
team performance to see off Ajax Kings Arms. This despite,
having to play the first 20 minutes with only 10 men,
after 5 of the squad pulled out overnight and 1 failed
to show. This meant Chequer started the match with a 3-5-1
formation in a bid to flood midfield. The tactic worked
very well, with Chequer dominant in midfield despite being
a man short. Warren Partridge carved out a couple of good
chances in the first 10 minutes despite having to lead
the line alone. After 15 minutes though Ajax took the
lead after a howler from keeper Matt Bailey who slid over
the ball when collecting under no pressure, allowing Ajax
a simple tap in from 2 yards.
Chequer soon equalised from
a corner, Warren heading home powerfully. Strengthened
to 11 men with the arrival of Ben Garman to partner Warren,
Chequer looked most likely to score. Unfortunately Matt
had another nightmare 5 minutes later, as he shaped to
collect a sliced clearance the ball took an unkind spin
and bounced off Matt's arm straight into the path of an
Ajax player for another simple close range finish.
Chequer held firm though
and created a number of good opportunities, the midfield
5 performed superbly, particularly Lewis who snapped into
tackles and Ben Garman proved to be great at holding the
ball up and creating scoring opportunities. It was no
surprise that Warren took advantage of the numerous chances
coming his way to grab himself a first half hatrick and
send Chequer in with a half time lead.
The first twenty of the
second half was all Chequer possession, and three further
goals were added, the first a fine individual effort by
Warren who used great footwork to shimmy past two defenders
before firing low and hard past the Ajax keeper. Brother
Lewis then got in on the action scoring two from close
range. Ben Garman came close on 2 occasions firing narrowly
wide. The defence coped easily with the Ajax forward line,
all three centre halves strong in the tackle and dominant
in the air, and for a change they were screened effectively
by a hard working and hard tackling midfield.
Ajax added a late consolation
goal - a very well taken free kick that evaded the Chequer
Wall and gave Matt no chance to stop, but by this stage
the game was well and truly over.
All in all a very pleasing
performance with The Chequer showing the bite that has
been missing in the last three games, let's hope we can
keep it up in our next 2 games against pace setters Rustington
Sports and John Henry's who are both unbeaten so far this
season.
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Squad:
(3-5-2)
Matt Bailey
Richard Wilkie
Gareth Dutton
Christian Young
Jonathan Wood
George Trafford
Sean Hourigan
Lewis Partridge
Trevor Yearwood
Warren Partridge
Ben Garman
Goalscorers:
Warren Partridge (4)
Lewis Partridge (2)
George Trafford
M.O.M.:
Warren Partridge |
