Match Review
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AGFC 6 vs. 0 Peacocks
Date: 12-Mar-2010
Venue: Treforest
Goals:
Craig Boote
3
Andi Heuer
1
Own goal
1
Richard Williams
1
Man of the Match:
Craig Boote
Report:
Another unknown quantity confronted the boys in green on a chilly March evening; the feeling of trepidation grew as the match got underway and the Peacocks youngsters passed the ball around with aplomb for the first 10 minutes. AGFC hardly got a sniff but at least the defence stood firm with the Dave/Steve/Pete central combination especially looking solid and Huw doing well combining the marking job with periodic away-days up the forward left channel. Meanwhile, TonyB at right back used a new tactic to psyche the opposition out: he turned up looking nonchalant in his best snug-fitting jeans.
Clear chances were few and far between as both attacks were wanting for pace and lacking bite, but the deadlock was suddenly broken after 25 minutes. Excellent work down the left by Rich and Scott released Andi who ignored optimistic calls for offside, strode on and finished with a fine drive past the Peacocks keeper. A golden chance to stretch the lead came when a Peacock defender cleared a curling corner kick from Rich off the line with his hand. Having missed their last 4 penos, no-one except a hyped-up TonyB seemed to fancy it. As he hovered menacingly on the edge of the box, though, Rich gamely stepped forward to take his turn...firm strike, but a foot high and wide....another peno gone begging-- could be a job for the training ground. A tight period of play led up to the half-time whistle with the score still at 1-0.
The second half got underway with a reshaped AGFC back division. TonyB donned the keeper's jersey to release the Hewitt to operate as right wing-back. The ploy worked almost immediately as the 2 Craigs combined to liven-up the right side ably supported by Steve as holding General and Pete as right centre-back. Elsewhere, good work by Enda, Scott and Andi repeatedly pushed Peacocks back and pressured their defenders into mistakes. A 20 yard passback was rashly picked up by a hesitating keeper and the the Peacocks defence was suddenly beset by a generous dose of the collywobbles as they saw a snorting, salivating bloke from Stoke lining up a thunder-blaster just 3 yards out. Laid off by Enda, miscue by the Boot...but still positive for AGFC...2-0.
A spell of excellent passing then followed, stretching Peacocks left, right, right, left. Silky moves involving Scott, Enda, Andi and Steve sapped the strength from the opposition's legs. Suddenly, a peach of a pass by Enda released the "Boslem Express" to unleash a shot officially classified as a sandwedge drive which left the opposition keeper grasping air: 3-0. The well-oiled machine that is AGFC was now in full flight, clearly not missing the youngsters one jot, and they ran away with it. The Stokey, at the top of his form, repeatedly exploited the space with bursts of pace, capping one run following another Enda pass from midfield with a deft chip from 15 yards...4-0. Another quality goal soon came as Enda set Rich free through the middle. The veteran record goal-scorer zig-zagged right, left, right, turning the defence one way then another. A glimpse of the goal 20 yards out was all Rich needed and a quality right foot strike did the rest: 5-0. The goal reminded and the capacity crowd of 2 debating just why he's arguably the world's best finisher for his age. With the final whistle 5 minutes away, and the Peacocks players dead on their feet, another probing right-wing sojourn by Booty was followed by a teasing cross. With Rich loitering with intent at the far post, the defenders quivvered in panic and an O/G duly followed. Six-nil did not look at all likely at kickoff, but a passionate 90 minutes from AGFC blew away the young pretenders from fashion retail.
A great win and only the 11th clean sheet in 9 seasons. Several outstanding performances: Enda driving the team and bossing tactics from amidships, Scott always looking to work the moves, Rich working hard up front and Pete & Dave for ultra-solid defending. But the stand-out player was a re-invigorated Dr Boote-- terrorising the opposition all day and a quality hat-trick for a well-deserved MoM.
Erratum: The "Boslem Express" is "Burslem Express" pronounced by a Stoke bloke; not to be confused with the "Moslem Express" which runs twice daily 'tween Riyadh and Mecca. Craig the Boote is from Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Reporter: Tony Beresford