Match Report – Cup Fixture
Old Tiffinian’s Reserves Vs Thorntonian 6s
Match day descends on a rainy, cold, windy afternoon in Stoke.
I have been informed it was not Stoke, in fact Putney. Richard Evans memorial ground. The posh version of Hackney marshes. It felt like Stoke away. The question is, can Tiffs do it?
10 minutes before kick off and the oppo are nowhere to be seen. The goals have no nets and there is not referee. Definitely Stoke.
The oppo emerge from the dressing room, everything is set and we have our first away cup fixture of the season. The ground is perfect Saturday league level, Tiffs keen to keep their football going even in tricky conditions. The chances start early, some slick quick football moving the ball from defence to attack sees the first corner of the game.
Harry LJ, fresh trim, Zidane like style, poised to take the corner. Left foot inswinger. Whips it. Did someone say top bins? It goes perfectly into the far top corner. What. A. Goal. 1-0.
There is no slouching now, Tiffs continue to move the ball, remaining defensively strong. Thorntonian’s clear their lines trying to over the top. Up steps Oli Robini, brings it down, splits the midfielders with a great pass to Dylan. Who plays a defence splitting pass through to Sean G. Touch around the keeper and slots it home. Beautiful play. 2-0.
The confidence is flowing through Tiffs, moving the ball from the back again into the middle and out wide again. Throw in is won. Quick throw to Ash. Lovely headed flick on. Straight to Harry LJ. Touch and pass across. Up steps Corey. Strikes the ball in his step. Left foot. Straight into the bottom corner. Lovely goal. 3-0. HT.
2nd half begins with a couple of changes. Tiffs know that Thorntonian’s will come out fighting to start. Tiffs remain defensively disciplined. Soaking up the pressure and continuing to carve out chances. Ball is played down the wing. Corey tries to cross it. Hits the defender and comes back to him. Touch onto his left. Slots it straight in the far corner. Unreal finish. 4-0.
Thorntonian’s pressure continues, working it well down the side and carve out a chance. Farhan is there to save but he might be hurt. What is this. El Capitano putting on the GK shirt and gloves. 25 minutes to see out the clean sheet. Can he do it? In Tiffs we trust.
Play goes on and there are chances either end. Tiffs pushing for another goal. Joe BT playing excellently, has the ball on the left, tries to pick out the corner and it just whips past the far post. Chance down the other end and George gets across to block the shot. Another chance. It is over the keeper’s head. There steps JT. Perfect defending and clears the lines.
The chances don’t stop. Another piece of great play. Ball across. Joe BT steps across and hits it cleaning. Hits the inside of the post. Bounces out to the keeper. Round ball. Round post. Some how a straight line. Physics. Another chance, Corey is away, steps back inside and is fouled. Penalty! Corey steps up. Just whipped past the post. Joe BT can’t buy a goal. Corey can’t buy a hattrick.
One last chance for Thorntonian’s, ball is fired into the box. El Capitano saves it with his legs. FT. Clean sheet secured. Handshakes. A dominant performance where the middle was run by an utter machine. Unplayable at times. POTM Dylan.