East Durham FC 5
v MCYFC – Aycliffe 5
This week’s match was against 5th place East Durham. After last week’s victory there was a sense of confidence and determination to continue building points up. Aycliffe pushed straight from kickoff and didn’t stop till the full-time whistle. It was a real end to end match with some amazing football on display.
During warm ups, before the match, we worked with Theo our keeper on racing out for loose balls and stopping their shots quickly. To rapturous applause and well dones from both sets of parents he was able to do this perfectly throughout.
Defensively, from a mixture of Anderson, Joshua, Henry, Embo, Paige, Mikey and Joseph, they pressed and battled to try and protect their goal. Playing very strong, long and trying to catch them offside. Each week the understanding between these players is improving.
Since the start of the season we have played around with our central midfield position to get that balance right. Over the last few weeks we have moved two wingers into the middle. Today it clicked between them, holding their positions and working brilliantly together. Cruz was strong with his challenges and to constantly strive the team forward and not giving the opposition midfield a moment’s peace. Chappers put in a mammoth captains performance. Leading by example and putting in some crunching challenges and combining brilliantly with Cruz. Our wingers, Danny, Harry and Dowson, were a constant menace trying to down the wings and cross the ball into the box. This week they tracked back and helped the defence out to keep things tight.
Jake and Oscar played up front together again this week and their link up play is getting stronger and stronger every week. Not only their dribbling ability but this week their passing was brilliant as well.
Goals: Jake x 2; Oscar x 2; Dowson x 1 (first for the team).
Player of the Match: Joint one this week. Our midfield destroyers, Cruz and Chappers. Their understanding of the role and their natural ability combined together to dominate the middle of the pitch. Not only helping out defensively, they were constantly driving forward trying to set someone up or get a goal themselves. It was truly a brilliant performance by them both.