Report

Round 3 of what looks like a very promising season in Division 1 for the Kissers. We have made a fantastic start with 2 wins and 2 clean sheets against unknown oppositions. We have become a force to be reckoned with- a solid goalkeeper always in the mix for the man of the match award, experience defensive players providing excellent support and a creative front line looking to get goals. We also have a settled squad but the first time in a good few weeks this was tested. Jamie, Lee and Harry all missed this match leaving us with just 5 players and no subs. We were playing Norfolk N Chance- one of the most established teams in the Pitch Invasion League and a team we have played a couple of times a few years back. Both of our previous encounters ended in draws. We also both have started the season in the same vain- two wins on the bounce so we knew this would be a tough test.

We started on the back foot- we knew that we couldn't force the play too much as we would tire too quickly. Norfolk kept the ball well using their keeper as a 5th outfield player. They also used runners from deep with clever one-twos to try and get in on goal but our defence held firm. It was from a defensive challenge that we scored our first, Jonesy, Woody and Pete rushed forwards with the latter slamming home from the angle- great counter attack and a great finish. Norfolk tried to respond and should have got back into the game when they were awarded a soft penalty- no one claimed it and no one knew what it was for, but the ref said Woody went in late on their attacker. The penalty was missed, clipping the bar to keep us ahead. Norfolk pressed further and did get their equaliser- J saved the initial shot but the greasy surface and ball forced the shot to squirm from his grasp for a tap in. This spurred us on as we didn't deserve to be level and the ten minutes or so until half time was a lesson in finishing by the WKF strike force. Firstly Jonesy ended his goal drought curling a great shot into the far corner from the left wing. Then Pete played the pass of the season which Woody tapped home and then Norfolk's tactics of using their own keeper as an outfield man backfired as Jonesy intercepted to fire a long range effort from his own half into an empty net. Norfolk pulled one back, a long run down the right wing was smashed home well into the far corner.

Half Time: 4-2

A great first half, full of energy but also disciplined at the back. Norfolk changes their keeper and we expected them to press us in the second period. It was us that started on the ascendency as within seconds of the restart Pete put us 5-2 up. We then extended our lead to 4 with Woody claiming his second, but Norfolk responded with two goals of their own as they sensed we were tiring- one was another penalty- rightly given this time which was dispatched clinically. Despite J's frustration towards himself for the first goal, he was in the thick of it during the second half saving a number of times and collecting crosses that could have caused us problems. Pete collected his hat trick, again Norfolk a victim of their wandering goalkeeper, as Pete rounded the keeper and scored well. Jonesy scored a carbon copy of his long range effort, this time with his left foot for his hat trick and then scored a simple tap in after being found by a great through ball. Norfolk scored their best of the game and the Ad scored his first of the game smashing the ball home with venom. If you add all the above it amounts to 10-5...

Match Verdict: All about the goals this week, but we shouldn't forget that we held firm in defence. At times with their keeper being used we were outnumbered but position-ally were very good and were backed up by J in goal. For the first time in weeks we were clinical in front of goal- the most clinical we have been in a long while, we dispatched probably 80% of our shots tonight and rarely missed the target- with next week's game a showdown between the top two, this goal-scoring form may have come at the right time. POM this week goes to Jonesy- has had a bit of a drought by his standards in front of goal, but was back to his best tonight with four great goals- but adding to that a very energetic performance up and down the pitch.