No shortage of rain accompanying both training and the match this week, but it’s something you have to get used to particularly at this time of year. Not to be deterred we trained hard on Thursday and reaped the dividends with a thoroughly convincing 4-0 win over Camden Eagles.
Both Brian and myself see inclement weather as character building, whether it be in the build up to matches or on Matchday itself. Some footballers are put off by the weather, wrapping themselves up from the wind, rain and numbing cold. Others just forget about the conditions and get on with things in a positive manner as though it’s just another obstacle you need to overcome to win a football match. Not much doubt as to which type of player and attitude is beneficial to the greater good of the team.
So onto Saturday and a highly motivated squad of 14 assembled at Hackney Marshes, staring the weather down and ready for action. 90 odd minutes later and glad to report that things couldn’t have gone much better.
There were some confused looks when a radical 1-4-6 formation was announced on a tactics board with magnets barely clinging onto the waterproofed metal surface. If some of our players were confused then so were the opposition whose back 4 spent most of the game trying to decide who they should be marking. We were able to outnumber and dominate the midfield area giving us a grip on the game we never really looked like relinquishing.
While players seem to love discussions on who provided assists and in Paula’s case semi assists, it’s clean sheets which myself and Brian really thrive on. 2 clean sheets in 2 weeks is no accident and not surprisingly provided the bedrock to win both matches. Long term it’s not spectacular but ultimately wins league titles.
This team continues to amaze and inspire and fully deserve the positive results being achieved of late. While established players like Saskia and Noora took a lot of the plaudits today we also had a 16 year old debutant in Taiyah looking like she’d played in the team all her life, a testament to the positive environment we are trying to create and a tantalising look at the future.
Until next time.
Regards, Neil