(09-Nov-13) vs Rushmoor Saints Titans (A): 1-2

This was an excellent win requiring a lot of guts and application. The weather was poor the pitch heavy and ( towards the end) the atmosphere slightly heated at the end (not helped by yours truly giving a pretty poor offside decision – for which apologies, must do better) but this is just the sort of victory that last year may have been a draw or even a loss.

Titans results belie their skills, and perhaps the boys underestimated them. They had a couple of livewires up front and a very dominant boy at the back and the Harriers had to go back to the drawing board at half time to look at strategy. Nev and Neil’s half time talk seemed to work the oracle again (we’ll forget their second half equaliser pretty much from kick-off for a minute…..as indeed did the Harriers who were still mentally in the sheds) and the performance was very committed in the second half as things took on an Aldershotian turn.

As always this is a team game but there are some who credit specific mention. Ollie Andrews put in a hell of a shift against their very lively forwards and saved our bacon on a couple of occasions as they steamed forward, ably assisted by Max S-T and Euan. Poor Ollie had the bruises to show for it. Oscar continued his brilliant form and one reflex save defied both logic and the laws of physics. Charlie Morris was all over the pitch making his presence felt and provided the opening goal, ably assisted by Noah. Noah also used his powerful shot to get the winner (although I am “reliably” informed that the ball struck some part of Joe’s anatomy – an eyelash maybe – and he somehow gets credited with the goal). But it was the whole team that got us over the line as it was the sort of game, and conditions, where substitution was vital.

Well done Max I for the Trainer of the Week award.

I think that puts us in second!

Thanks to all the parents who braved the drizzle for this match.

- Download / Open