I
Back with a bang
The Bank
returned to winning ways with an emphatic win over the luckless Purley
Reserves, running out winners 13-0. In fairness to Purley they struggled to
field a full team and the Bank are thankful for the efforts in putting
together 9 men for the start of the game but we’re never able to field a full
strength team during the entire game.
However, despite
Purley’s luck, the Bank were in no mood to let this opportunity slip and
despite last week’s defeat still feel there’s opportunities in this league
with a bit more commitment and luck on the injury front.
The Bank were
able to field a strong team, even with only a bare eleven and ended the game
with 10 men, as a injury stopped Ricky Haimes from completing what was
perhaps his best game certainly for the 1st team. Southbank were
still missing the long-term absentees plus a couple from last week, but were
able to welcome back Hightower into defence with Sparky and Towner and
Thurgood into central midfield.
Despite the
early advantage the Bank had to work hard in the first 20 minutes and learn
that direct football wasn’t the best approach, instead using the ball they
found a great deal of luck down the flanks with MacArthur, Duncan and Haimes
providing plenty of ammunition. Ironically the first goal came from a classic
Southbank counter-attack broken up by Ben Duncan on the edge of our box, an
incisive ball through to Holton, who was able to turn his marker and run on
unchallenged to slot past the keeper. The rest of the half Bank had control
of the ball and used it well as an O.G and two further from Holton enabled
them to go into the second half with a good opportunity for 3pts.
Still the Bank
wouldn’t rest on their laurels in the second half and continued to press for
goals and in the space of the first 15 minutes had increased their lead with
several goals from Holton, Hightower and Haimes. By this time the returning
Towner was rolling back the years with a vintage performance of short and
sensible passing, able assisted by the energy of Ben Thurgood and with
MacArthur, Haimes and Duncan rampaging down the flanks goals flowed. With
twenty minutes to go Ricky had to retire injured and the Banks beginning to
tire, Purley a very different team from the one we played earlier in the
season creating a number of chances and Harvey in goal produced one
exceptional save and a number of others as they continued to throw men
forward in search of something. As the Bank defended, sometimes desperately
Holton and Woodrow were able to pick off the remaining defenders with classic
counter-attacking football, Woodrow grabbing a brace and one man running
riot.
For one man
certainly ran riot…like a magnet Holton continued to attract the ball in the
right place and score with complete ease, even managing to play a one two
with the post before scoring, ending with a grand total of eight goals, nine
if he’d not hit the bar from 7 yards out but certainly happy that no subs
were available as it may have dropped himself from starting, perhaps Purley
wished he had!!
If we increase
our commitment next week with a big game against our ‘auld foes’ Video…will
he resist the temptation to play!!! The Bank needs you next week guys…please
be available we have the chance to climb the table, it’s a tough league and
our position doesn’t show our true potential, we all know that…now we have to
prove it.
Team (4-4-2):
Harvey, Duncan, Gull, Fitzpatrick, Price, Haimes, Towner, Thurgood,
MacArthur, Woodrow, Holton