The Old Elizabethan Association

We went down 5-4 against the EC 2nd team

The match started well enough but we were unable to convert early pressure into goals with a number of opportunities falling to poor last passes or the odd air shot at open goal. For whatever reason we decided to sit back which gave the Elizabethans too much time and space to get their passing game together. Their midfield number 12 (Robilliard) began to dominate the midfield and orchestrated a number of attacks with a combination of one-twos and devastatingly accurate through balls. Despite best efforts by our defense the inevitable leakage started to happen. EC’s second quickly followed their first but the flood of goals which started to threaten never really materialized thanks to some impressive acrobatics by young Will in goal. The OE’s were unlucky to concede their third which was the product of a duffed reverse stick strike that had just enough height and direction to lob Will who was just off his line and just too short to do anything about it.

At half time we decided to resume the in-your-face approach that worked well in the first ten minutes of the first half. We closed down the college’s passing game, forced mistakes and this started to pay dividends. Goals came from (in no particular order) Andy Mauger, Will Davey (non OE), Adam Shields and Ed Prow. However, whenever we got close to drawing equal College would hit back. GK Will was as busy as ever and kept us within touching distance with a MOTM performance. College were very impressive going forward and ultimately deserved the victory but an additional ten minutes may have offered a spirited OE team the chance to draw even if not take it!