Junior Reds 5 V 2 Fastfield United Reds 25.09.11

After a 30 minute delay before kick-off waiting for 3 opposition players to arrive, our first 11-a-side
league match against Junior Reds Valiant's got off to a bad start,conceding a fine goal from an acute angle down our right flank.However, within minutes we were level with a good goal by B.Wells following a strong run through the middle and a shot that the keeper could only parry into his own net. Goals continued to come thick and fast, Fastfield somewhat unlucky to go 3-1 down, but another good run by B.Wells this time cutting into the box from the left and delivering a low cross was nicely finished at the far post by J Bullock. 4-2 down at half-time was a little unfair on our Reds and included a rather harsh penalty. Notable positives from the first half though included good link up play down the left between D.Jackson and J Stacey , two very good headed clearances out of the penalty area by A. Kingsford, and some strong defending by our centre backs, R. Moon and D. Birch. In addition, it saw a good free-kick curler from D.Jackson and some good saves by S.Davis, pushing one good shot round the post. Though perhaps not passing the ball as well as we know we can, the second half saw a spirited effort from the Reds with C.Gottwalles beating their high offside line and having a good run and shot well saved by their keeper, who made a number of good saves. Despite L. Quan and B.Holland trying hard to get our passing game going, and J. Bullock busy down the right, a lot of high balls from the opposition made it difficult to get the ball down and play. J. Stacey switched over to right back and had a terrific second half to follow his first, using the ball well and working back to make some excellent tackles. Some well timed last ditch challenges and clearances by R.Moon and D. Birch helped keep us alive, but two more goals from Junior Reds saw us go down 6-2 in the end.Whilst the score line feels a little harsh on the Reds, we know we can play much better as a team and will take the positives into our next match.
 

M.O.M J.Stacey, Great in both positions   

 

Fastfield United 5 V 2 Welling United Lon Cup 02.10.11 

 Brilliant sunshine brought out a hot performance by the Reds in their home cup tie with Welling United. Fastfield were first to nearly every ball as they dominated the first half, and it wasn't long before they got their reward. The ball broke for G Young in a central position and he took his chance excellently to score.With the ball difficult to control on the very dry Crook Log surface, play was fast and furious but nearly all in Welling's half. B Holland, B Wells and J Bullock were causing all sorts of problems down the wings for the visitors and D.Jackson had a good shot just clear the crossbar. J.Bullock was unlucky to see an effort hit the side netting and K Waller and C Gottwalles were lively as the Reds continued to press. Then, very much against the run of play, Welling won a free kick and scored with a great shot, despite the best efforts of S Davis and D Birch on the line. Not to be out done, the Reds got straight back into their stride. B Holland made a brilliant run with the ball into the box, cutting in along the touch line, his cross met by J Grubb who nipped in ahead of the defenders to finish well at the near post. At the back, S Davis was quick off his line twice to clear long balls, J Stacey and D Birch were solid and R Moon was putting in another flawless performance. Then came a moment of madness. A pitch invasion by a young supporter (less than 2 foot high!) was quickly and impressively dealt with by his Dad without any need for the referee to stop play. Undeterred though and much to the large crowd's delight, the spirited little fella went on to repeat his bid for fame again in the second half, only to pulled back behind the ropes again.   2-1 up at half-time, Fastfield carried on where they left off, seemingly controlling the game only to concede an unlucky deflected goal on their near post. From 2-2 though, it was all one-way as the Reds settled down to a much better passing game. A great contribution all half from C Gottwalles, and some skilful play by A Kingsford, L Quan and B Holland opened up the Welling defence. The first to benefit was D Jackson with a good finish to make it 3-2 and then C Gottwalles himself scoring from probably the best passing move of the game. At 4-2, B Wells came back on from the bench to instant effect, cutting straight through the defence to score a neat fifth. Good play by D Jackson set up A Kingsford, who went close with a lovely shot from just outside the area, and D Jackson himself nearly scored a second when he dummied the keeper only to run just too wide to get his shot on target. A blistering left foot drive by J Grubb would probably have broken the net, but was well gathered by the excellent Welling goalkeeper. J Bullock was then desperately unlucky to have goal ruled offside after a clever little header over the keeper from close range.

 Altogether a great team effort and well deserved win.

 M O M J Bullock, great runs down the right flank.

 

Invicta Lions 7 V 0 Fastfield United Reds 09.10.11

 The Reds made the long trip to Gravesend for their away league fixture with Invicta Lions, the match played at the Lions impressive grounds at Dunkirk Road.It was expected to be a tough game against the current league leaders and we weren't to be proved wrong, The Reds made a good early competitive start to the game but a wonderful strike from outside the box followed by another shortly afterwards left us suddenly 2-0 down and seemed to knock the team's self -belief. Despite working hard, the Reds were finding it difficult to get any control of the game for the next 15 minutes or so. Invicta were now making the most of the space they were getting. Hungry for the ball, they notched up another two goals to their name, before a well timed sliding tackle by J Grubb seemed to inspire the Reds. B Holland and L Quan were now battling for every ball against a strong Invicta midfield. D.Birch and then J Grubb again made strong tackles whilst J Stacey and R Moon stood firm at the back. A nice bit of control and passing by D Jackson in the middle just on the stroke of half-time gave us some encouragement going forwards. All in all and in the circumstances, it was a very good team recovery and good enough to see us through to the break. An encouraging team talk from Charles and Bob saw the Reds come out ready for the second half, and they showed good spirit throughout. B Holland and L Quan put in a fantastic work rate, trying to counter Invicta'sgood football, and J Stacey had another really strong half at right back, making some fine tackles and headed clearances. There were few opportunities for the Reds up front and a lot of defensive work to do but everyone kept going well. S Davis came off his line to clear and was very unlucky when having parried a shot well, the ball dropped to another forward to finish. However, he did make the save of the game shortly afterwards, turning an excellent shot past his post. The game finished 7-0, and credit to Invicta for the good football they played. Whilst the score line was disappointing for the Reds, the players should take heart from the good team effort put in right up to the final whistle. 

 M O M B Holland, fought hard to the bitter end.

 

Orpington Rovers 1 V 8 Fastfield United Reds Bexley Cup 16.10.11

 An early afternoon kick-off at Orpington in the Bexley Cup ended in all smiles for the reds with an 8-1 win away from home. Whilst having most of the ball early on, it was a little while though before the Reds settled into their stride. After a number of long range efforts, mainly by J Grubb and C Gottwalles, it was D Jackson who grabbed the first goal, only for a momentary lapse at the back with a high bouncing ball letting Orpington Tigers back in with their first real chance to draw level. As the first half progressed, J Grubb continued to try his luck from distance and Fastfield's play became less rushed. Some nice passing moves notably down the left wing involving B Holland, C Gottwalles and D Jackson started to open up the Orpington defence, and it was this pressure that was to lead to a second goal for D Jackson, followed shortly afterwards by another from C Gottwalles.The Reds were now starting to look more comfortable on the ball. J Grubb was still taking shooting practice, and but for some good saves by the Orpington keeper may have had a goal to celebrate. The back four of A Kingsford, R Moon, D Birch and J Stacey were tidying up everything nicely, ably assisted by  Davis coming off his line well. Then just before half time, D Jackson was to break through again, only this time, to see his effort poached practically on the goal line itself by the 'fox in the box' J Bullock, making the score 4-1 to the Reds.  The second half saw the Reds growing in confidence. Some nice touches by B Wells down the right, some clever dribbling by A Kingsford on the opposite wing and a lovely strike by K Waller straight at the keeper lit up the half. L Quan was moving the ball well in midfield and J Grubb and B Holland were twisting and turning and causing all sorts of havoc. Then came the goals. J Bullock rippled the net with a wonderful shot from the right edge of the box and D Jackson got his well deserved hat-trick. B Holland was to score a good seventh, before J Grubb finally got his goal, and it was worth waiting for!  A left foot thunderbolt from the left side of the pitch that gave a very good goalkeeper no real chance.Despite an admirable and spirited effort to the end by Orpington, the Reds saw out the game, with the ever dependable L Quan showing his all round qualities filling in nicely as a sweeper for five minutes at the end. Whilst the goal scorers stole the glory, this was a great all round team effort.   

 M O M D Jackson, a well deserved hat trick.