Five on the trot

First year manager, Christopher Plumb will have every right to feel ecstatic after his team marched on with a fifth consecutive win, this time against the Second years.

A hat trick from defender turned striker, Tom Haile plus a Luca Persico headed goal separated the two sides. However it was clear that throughout this encounter, SJ Year 1 had been the better team creating more goal scoring opportunities.

Haile opens the scoring at Moor Park

Pre match, it was the clear that this talented group of players were looking to build upon a fine 5-0 win against Journalism, the previous Friday. Despite the absence of Will Squires, it was clear for all to see that was strong depth in the squad with Will Hucker resuming his central midfield spot. In came, Jake Watson, a UCLAN third team player into central defence, for his debut on a pitch in the very lurky shadows of Preston North End.

SJ Year 1 attacking down the slope in the first half had the advantage in windy conditions. The team made sure they made the most of the opportunity when they took the lead, minutes after the start. A good pass from Paul Cox on the left found Tom Haile in the box and Haile found himself space before slotting it past the keeper with a good finish.

Plumb’s team were looking to build upon the opening goal. More chances came with Pete Long’s lob going narrowly wide past the keeper. Tom Haile also had his superbly struck shot tipped wide. SJ Year 2 were not able to create a golden opportunity on goal with the back four of Fleming, Persico, Watson and Boon looking solid.

SJ Year 1 then increased their lead with a Persico header going past the keeper, to make it two goals in two games for the centre back. The score made it 2-0 but the opposition managed to pull a goal back with a long distance shot from Harry Moore taking a deflection off the hands of substitute keeper, Stefan Mackley to stunningly past the goal line, thus reducing the lead.

Mackley who had come on for Chris Anderson, due to the latter having to leave early, managed to recover from the error to pull of a brilliant save which kept his team in the game. Mackley made the save to tip the ball from a powerful shot onto the crossbar, just as it was looking it would go in and arguably it was the save of the match.

Cox goes for the challenge while Clark in blue and on floor, Mike Boon look on.

With SJ Year 1 going up the hill for the second half against the crashing wind, it was never going to be easy. There were chances in both ends, with Cox looking threatening out wide and Peter Long in an attacking midfield role, the undoubted playmaker of the side. Halfway through this half, Tom Haile got a scrappy goal, from a cross, hitting the ball past the keeper to snatch a third, after getting in front of an opposition defender.

The Second Year’s then pulled a goal back with a free kick by Patrick Watson fumbling off Mackley, past the goal line once more. This meant the game was still very much there for the taking. It was clear that Chris Plumb was keen not to tamper with the tactical system which had been superb in the game, and throughout the last four games.

Haile eventually completed his hat trick with a shot going through the legs of the keeper. This has sent the Darlington striker go top of the goal scoring charts with seven goals, to his credit. Remarkable indeed in his transformation from centre back to team striker, in the course of eight games.

A fine 4-2 victory in this hard working encounter at Moor Park means SJ Year 1 have now won five games on the trot. A superb feat and the team will be looking to stamp their authority in the forthcoming 11 a side tournament at PSA on Saturday 5^th December.

SJ Year 1: Anderson (Mackley 19), Fleming, Persico, Watson, Boon, Croft (Wilson 90), Clark, Hucker, Long, Cox, Haile

Not used: Plumb, Birch, Lowson

Photographs: Stefan Mackley