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Won 1-0 & 2-1 v Alexandra Park (H) in Double header, SAL Intermediate Div 2

9/4/2014

Norsemen 1 - 0 Alexandra Park
and
Norsemen 2 - 1 Alexandra Park

In what was a massive day for the Blues two's, 6 points were won to bounce them up the table to the lofty heights of 8th place. With only 5 matches to play the recent run of form, a 4 match winning run, has all but secured division 2 status for next year.
In what has become a pattern recently, Norsemen began the game on the back foot absorbing pressure while struggling to get any fluidity into their own game. Having fought their way into the match they went into half time on the front foot having created a chance or two of their own.
Not long had passed in the second half when Larry Laniyan broke the deadlock. Jerome Johnson played a defence splitting pass to give Laniyan what should have been a one on one with the goal keeper. However Laniyan, while chasing down the ball, pulled a hamstring and was caught by a defender. Composed as ever (did I just write that?), Laniyan cut back inside and fired past the keeper before squealing like a girl and rolling around on the floor.

1 nil to the Norse and the end of Laniyan's afternoon.

AP threw everything at Norsemen but were unable to reply so it was Norsemen who celebrated a further 3 points at the half way mark of the day.

On to game two.

Having lost the first game, most were expecting AP to come out firing in the second match, but it was Norsemen who running downhill made the brighter start. Few clear cut chances were created until a move which started on the left side deep in the AP half, moved back to the defenders and across to the right hand side, before being controlled on the chest of debutant Adam Moss who volleyed home to give Norsemen the lead. An exceptional individual goal which followed one of the best team movements of the season.
Turning with the lead the half time talk was about keeping the basics going - communication and defensive discipline. All very well and good but when your legs are fading its very hard to get goal side and continue to give good information to each other. Fatigue had well and truly set in when with 10 minutes to go AP levelled, there only seemed to one potential winner in this match and it wasn't Norsemen! A sour point of the day occurred when Tom Collier was cynically taking out in a two footed challenge that could, and possibly should, have seen the AP player see red. Yellow was shown and Collier was thankfully able to hobble on.

It was a good thing he did, as with only a few minutes to play Collier watched a JJ punt down over his shoulder, onto the outside of his foot, bringing it down into stride before laying off for Johnson to strike home the winner.

The remaining few minutes came and went without incident and the Blues Two's were victorious. 6 points won and spirits at a season high. The challenge now is to see off Old Stationers next week and potentially set the sights on a top half finish...? An unthinkable thought only a few weeks ago when at the foot of the table!

WTYBG's

Norsemen 2 - 1 Alexandra Park

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Won 3-1 v Old Esthameians (A), SAL Intermediate Div 2

2/4/2014

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Norsemen moved off the bottom of the table and out of the relegation zone for the first time in months this weekend with an away win 3 1 away at Old Esthameians.
After a debacle involving the referee adding a name to the Esthameians team sheet after kick off, Norsemen got down to business and took the early lead. Pressure down the left side, on an obvious weakness at right back, lead to a Luc Coiffait long throw to an unmarked Andy Grant at the far post to nod home. This came not long after Larry Laniyan managed to miss a 2 yard header moments after kick off!
Laniyan's afternoon was looking as though it would be a series (and I mean a SERIES) of near misses until Thenesh Naathen pounced from deep in his own half. Having dispossessed the opposition, Naathen hared off downfield behind the defence to cross to the wide open Laniyan on the 6 yard box who scuffed home and double the Norsemen lead.
The third goal would be crucial to either team and for once this season it was the Norse who got it. Half time substitution Marco Asaro slotting past the goalkeeper after good work from second half sub Matt Rogers. Rogers was perhaps unlucky not to have a second assist when Grant rose to head an exquisite cross over the bar.
More frustration was to come for Grant when a further header was blocked on the line...this time from Laniyan's backside! (Not a good way to impress your skipper Larry)
Tom Collier by this stage was feeling left out and there was just enough time to entice a booking or two out of the opposition by winding them up, known to fellow Norsemen as Collier being Collier. He even managed to keep his record intact of not keeping a clean sheet by being suspiciously close to the play when Esthameians scored off the last kick of the day.
At times the football may not have been the prettiest, with many an opportunity spurned, but the end result is what mattered and is a testament to the continuing spirit despite the torrid season. Next week is an Ally Pally double header at home where a surprise result (or two) could well be the tonic to see the Norse remain in the division. Dare to dream?

Walk tall you blue giants.

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Won 1-0 & 2-1 v Alexandra Park (H) in Double header, SAL Intermediate Div 2

Won 3-1 v Old Esthameians (A), SAL Intermediate Div 2

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