Good Afternoon everyone and welcome the 2nd installment of Steve's Soccer Report!

Todays game was an eagerly anticipated game against Saints FC in Division 7, after being away for the previous 2 weeks Baileys were happy to be back in familiar surroundings after having succumed to defeat in those last 2 games.

Blasty was Back in charge today after having a weeks holiday but allowed temporary assistant manager Shaun Leightley to pick the team after a hearty display against Spiders Web Madrid,
With one change to that team, with the influencial midfielder Ben Simpson returning after a short lay off with a facial injury, Eddie Atkins returned for a spot on the bench after being AWOL for that cup match.

The game started at a slow tempo with baileys not being able to make the ball stick and after relinquishing possesion numerous times, the boys were getting agitated and annoyed and ended up trying to force the game, passes were going astray and with the gaffer and assistant viewing with increased anger, Saints took the lead after a lack of communication between centre half Craig Jackson and left back, Stacey Stratton, The saints striker nipped in and placed it beyond the reach of despairing Keeper Tony Ramsey.
After that set back the football didnt get much better in terms of chances or quality of possesion, with baileys trying to release wingers Ben Simpson and Phil Pykett and get the on the ball to play telling crosses for the strikers but not much came off for the black and whites, with snap shots and efforts going straight at the the highly unorthodox Saints goalkeeper.
The Half finished 1-0 to the away side, and were in for an ear bashing from the bosses,
The Second half was underway and Baileys took almost total control of the ball but with a distinct lack of invention struggled to make the final pass, plenty of industry from O'Donovan and Vince Made it hard for Saints to get control and anything they missed Freundenberg and Jackson cleared their lines, Captain Smith was calm and accomplished on the ball, showing experience in dangerous situations, Barry Ramsey  and Andy Blake again were the men trying to put the ball in the net but so far didnt have much service apart from a couple of chances from Ramsey which didnt threaten the goal and a snatched shot from blake which was straight at the keeper all were in the first half, Wes O'Donovan put plenty of running into the game and had a long shot which was comfortably held in the saints goal, Time was beginning to tick and Baileys were chasing the game, Blasty made a substitution and brought Atkins on for Pykett who had struggled to get in the game in large periods, Some Clever Play by Simpson as he played the ball down the right channel to O'Donovan and he whipped a sumptuous cross across the 6 yard box and blake duly obilged to nod the ball home from close range, after some more scrappy play, another subsitiution was made and the committed Dean Evision made his way to left back replacing Barry Ramsey who had been feeling the effects of the night before, a reshuffling of the back four was in order with Jackson told to venture up top and Stratton to take up a position at centre back. Soon after Baileys Took the lead, a ball over the top from O'Donovan left the pacy Blake to chase with a defender and an on rushing goalkeeper he bravely got his head to the ball and it trickled into the goal, he took a knock for his troubles but it was worth it from the Baileys point of view as they went 2-1 up. Time was the only issue now as baileys had fought for the lead, but much most peoples amazement Baileys Snatched a 3rd late on after another incisive run from O'Donovan down the left this time he slid in a low left footed cross for the on rushing blake, but couldnt get on the end of it and the ball ran to the right side were Simpson was ready to pounce and he slid the ball home for a 3-1 lead.

The whistle went and a good win from Baileys after a highly unsatisfactory performance in the first half.
Well Done to the Saints FC boys for a good competitive game.  

--Last edited by Steve on 2007-10-14 16:08:42 --