Presidents Day Party!!

The big question, can we deliver on the big day in front of the “sell out” crowd?
The answer was yes but only just! A slightly under par performance from the way we have been playing, and this could be due to the large crowd but also to give credit to Bank of England.
The opposition looked like a side that wanted to get back into the top division.
They were well organised and had their fair share of possession which made it hard for us to get the momentum we have been used to.

The game started well with an early goal from Chris Morgan assisted by Gavin Suddell and the referee, who allowed the game to play on after Gavin was fouled.
For the rest of the first half it was quite even which could have changed when Matt Roles unleashed a strike that in most games would have been a spectacular goal. However their goalkeeper pulled off a worldy and kept them in the game to half time. Even though it looked like a close game we tested their keeper a lot more, unlike our keeper who did not have a save to make!        
 
This was to change in the second half. As is common in these games, the opposition came out fired up and we had a contest on our hands as the game went to and fro.
Bank of England scored a scrappy goal when the ball apparently hit a dip in the pitch and sent Jack Robery the wrong way. That was the story from one of the committee members who saw it, but I think he might be Jacks Dad!
So game on, the contest continued with a few chances from both sides, with Norsemen having the upper hand but wasting some good opportunities. Some of the best opportunities were made by one of our substitutes, Laurence Connolly, who has just come back from a knee injury.
That was the best he has played since joining Norsemen this season and looks like a selection problem for the starting line up next Saturday. The game was decided by a great run into the box by Matt roles making a tackle, winning the ball and squaring it back to Gavin Suddell, who then passed the ball into the empty net. This ended up being the winning goal and continues our 100% start to the season. We saw the game out with a bit of nervousness by playing very deep which is something to think about in the future.
​The game was spoiled a little by a nasty clash of heads when one of the opposition jumped into James Bex Face leading to a cracked tooth and a nice broken nose. We wish him well and hope he is back playing soon.  
 
The man of the match this week goes to Matt Roles who has probably been overlooked as our most consistent performer considering the amount of assists and tackles he makes. Not the fastest but covers every blade of grass on the pitch coming off exhausted having given his all. Also a  special mention to Jake Lawrence whose disciplined performances sitting in front of the defence allows Matt and the other midfielders to get forward and play their uninhibited and exciting football.
 
I hope the large crowd enjoyed the game and would feel it wouldn’t be an afternoon wasted by coming down and supporting the boys.