Pre game, Coach Stevenson lead the warm up session. A session that the boys will implement before every training session & game as it will make sure their bodies are physically prepared & they are mentally set for the game.
Once the warm up was complete, the boys followed Coach Walton in to the pavilion to go over the plan & set up for today's game. Again, we went with the setup that we have been working on since Easter. Today just saw a couple of positional changes for some boys taking in to account what we learnt from our opposition on Sunday. There was also a whole team idea for when we weren't in possession of the ball, something that caught us out in the first half last game.
With the confidence gained from Sunday's performance, we started well. The now expected high intensity pressing was evident from the outset. We gave Hawkinge no time on the ball. This resulted in us winning possession all over the pitch. Various times we hustled in packs or pairs, forcing a mistake from them to pick up the ball before spreading it across the field to find open players. Switching the point of attack from one side to the other has been a strength of our's throughout, but I'm sure the Hawkinge front men were tired of simply running, chasing the ball across the field.
An early change was required after a rather heavy tackle was made on Taylor (ironically from one of his club team mates) leaving him with a rather nasty mark on his leg. With the tour so close, we made sure we were very cautious with an injuries or knocks, so Taylor was subbed off briefly so he could recovery & gain some treatment.
The first half followed pretty much the same pattern. HGS would pressure hard & win possession. With some well timed passing, free players would be found, who would then use the ball effectively to bring in to play our 3 attacking midfielders or work off of Ansell in the lone strikers role. Shots were taken at goal, or attacking set pieces were won. For a period of 15/20 minutes, we had Hawkinge on the back foot. Cross after cross & forward balls through were wasted without ever really testing the keeper.
With all the possession & the run of the game, Harvey should have been in front, however the half time break came with the scores level. The standard goalkeeper change took place, replacing Roche (who had made a very good reaction save at the near post late in the first half) with Hancock. The other routine rotation of players also took place, with those who came off in the first half, returning to the action. Again the system & set up we had worked on throughout these games, as well as the individual game plan for today's were proving a success, so the replacements were simply like for like rather than changing anything massively with Kane Nelhams joining us from his work shift to slot in the holding role whilst Jake Hobbs came on at right back.
The 2nd half, now refereed by Coach Stevenson, started in a similar vein as how the first finished. Team Harvey constantly pressing the ball across the field & then using the possession wisely once the mistake was forced. Unlike the first half though, we didn't really use the ball well in the final third & our attacks mostly came to nothing.
With 15 minutes to go & the scores still level, for some reason we took our foot of the pedal & allowed Hawkinge to come in to the game for a period. With the ability they have in their side, this was a mistake. A couple of intelligent runs from their front 3 created gaps by pulling our players out of their structure, which they exploited well. A simple ball split our back 4 & left a one-on-one chance for their striker which he wasn't go to turn down. With their dominance throughout, this goal shocked our boys from which affected them. Much like Sunday, Hawkinge then took advantage in quick time with a second. A great volleyed strike from just outside the box again gave Hancock no chance. It came from a simple ball over the top that wasn't dealt with again.
The game kind of just trickled along for the final 5 minutes with neither side having much dominance over the other. Our boys' hard work in the first 75 minutes meant that they were unable to form one final push to at least get on the score sheet.
With the game finishing 2-0 to Hawkinge, despite our dominance, it was a nice reminder to our boys how important it is for them to make use of the possession they have by converting it in to goals. Again they were by far the fitter side, & at times played the much better football, but Hawkinge showed that it simply takes a couple of lapses in concentration & we are out of the game. This will be the case when we play some of our American counterparts, who may match us on the fitness stakes.
One final training session on Thursday, before it is down to the boys to prepare themselves for the tour. Both on the field by resting up & recovering from any injuries or niggles, but also off the field with their packing.
SQUAD - Roche, Hancock, Taylor, Nunn, James, Price, Brazier, Donald, Maffia, Taggart, Hearmon, Ansell, Nelhams, Smith, Hobbs
Man of the Match - Harry Nunn/Ronan Taggart
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