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Seabridge v Smithfield, 18th November

(6 posts)
  1. psycho

    psycho

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    Right Wing

    Seabridge 2-10 Smithfield Firestarters

    A bitterly cold day with driving rain failed to dampen the spirits as Smithfield had a go at breaking several club records during their emphatic victory over Seabridge. Technical Director Tony Craig continued with his bold tactical change from 4-4-2 to 3-5-2 with spectacular results and dished up a feast of football for the neutral.

    Unfortunately this reporter’s high tech equipment was unable to withstand the sub-zero temperatures and as such this match report is from memory. I would therefore like to apologise for the lack of detail and possible mix up of goal order.

    After losing the toss Seabridge began the psychological warfare and opted to kick downhill and with the wind for the second half against a supposedly tiring Smithfield side. Unfortunately they did not factor in Smithfield’s best 45 minutes of football this season that resulted in a half time lead of 4 – 0.

    Smithfield began the game with an attacking mentality that was relentless and did not change for 75 minutes. Early chances fell to Kevin Jones and Damien Askey who both exploited space on the left wing only to see their shots endanger nesting birds in the hedge behind the goal. Seabridge responded in kind and were looking to break the offside trap newly employed by Technical Director Tony Craig and would have had success were it not for 2 spectacular saves from Ian Stanway. On 18 minutes Smithfield opened their account when a surging run to the byline by Joey “Kahoona” Seymour enticed several defenders which left Rob Evans with a simple sliding tap in at the far post as Seabridge appealed in vain for offside. Smithfield continued to apply pressure and went close to doubling their lead on 24 minutes when a corner clearance fell to Dean Hickin 25 yards out who had time and space to unleash a vicious drive that the Seabridge keeper did well to stop. It was only 2 minutes later when Jones was rewarded for some fine individual work to score his 4th of the season and double the advantage. Evans added a 3rd on 33 minutes before a key incident on 38 minutes.

    A fine Smithfield attack orchestrated by Askey produced a shot by Seymour that was heading for the top left corner only for a Seabridge defender to produce a top quality save that Gordon Banks would have been proud of. This left the referee with no option but to produce the first card of the season in a Smithfield match and send the defender off. The resulting penalty was smashed home down the middle by Seymour who resumed penalty taking duties with aplomb.

    Half Time Score

    Seabridge FC 0 – 4 Smithfield Firestarters

    A rousing half time team talk was given by Technical Director Tony Craig to a team that may have sat back given the margin. Encouragement was given and players told to focus on maintaining the excellent performance so far.

    As Seabridge kicked off for the second half a keen eyed Smithfield supported informed Technical Director Tony Craig that the opposition only had 9 men instead of the expected 10. A brief investigation found that a Seabridge player was suffering from a knee injury and that they had used all of their substitutes.

    Smithfield seized on this opportunity against a weakened team and quickly extender their lead early in the half when Jones was fed the ball on the wing and whipped in a ball that found the top right hand corner of the goal. The debate will rage on about if it was a cross or a shot. The only man who knows is Jones and he’s not telling!

    It is at this point that Rob Evans decided to put last week’s performance behind him and put his name in the Club Record Books. A simple tap in completed his hat-trick and second one of the season. Two further goals for him appeared to put the icing on the cake for Smithfield as he took his personal tally to 5 in the game and in doing so became the first player in 6 seasons to achieve this feat. A comfortable scoreline of 8-0 prompted a quickfire double substitution from Technical Director Tony Craig who brought on Shaun James for Ben Clarke and himself for Matt Maskery. Both substituted players played exceptional and a post match interview with Technical Director Tony Craig revealed the thinking behind the switches;

    “I brought James on for Clarke because our defensive maestro will be having surgery on a long standing shoulder problem soon and is expected to be out for a couple of months. This gives James the perfect opportunity to stake a claim for a regular starting spot and I wanted to see how he plays with Tony Bagnall and Matt Rogers at the back. Maskery was having one of his best games of the season but I wanted to see how our formation plays for myself. He was really unlucky to come off but I can see more from the middle of the park where he plays”

    Credit must go to Seabridge who continued to chase a lost cause and were rewarded on 79 minutes when their centre half connected with a corner ball from the left and powered a bullet header past the helpless Stanway to deny the team a clean sheet. The confusion in the box which allowed the free header was clearly caused by the sight of the Seabridge goalkeeper rushing to join the attack in a Schmichael-esqu role. Their joy was quickly dissipated when Evans drilled in a low shot beyond the still recovering keeper straight from the kick-off and complete a double hat trick.

    Evans feat puts him proudly in the Club Record Books as joint top scorer in a match with 6. He shares this record with strike partner Seymour who previously set the record in 1998 with 6 goals against Grove House. It is a fitting thought that 2 of the clubs top 3 strikers in history share this record.

    Controversy struck on 85 minutes when Seabridge won a free kick 25 yards from goal. A clear instruction from the referee to wait for the whistle was blatantly ignored and the ball was in the back of the net despite a valiant effort from Stanway who was setting up his wall on the left post but covered the whole of the goal and launched a despairing dive as the ball sailed in the top right-hand corner. A superb goal worthy of winning a game in other circumstances was allowed by the referee despite protests from most of the Smithfield team.

    Matt Craig completed the rout on 90 minutes with a wickedly curving shot from 12 yards that left the keeper flat footed and the referee with little option but to end proceedings.


    Full Time Score

    Seabridge FC 2 – 10 Smithfield Firestarters


    Man of the Match

    Rob Evans and deservedly so. 6 chances and 6 goals say it all for a striker on top of his game. Rumours are flying round that Steve McLaren is desperate to get in touch for Wednesday’s match and this is why he was missing in the pub and at the quiz night.

    Donkey of the Day

    A surprising double winner today with Damien Askey and Technical Director Tony Craig picking up 4 votes each. Matty Craig in a Henry Kissinger like move tactically abstained from voting for either his Dad or future(?) Brother in Law.


    The players who we absent for Technical Director Tony Craig’s praise and comments in the post match meal were sorely missed as Smithfield put on their best footballing display of the season.

    No seriously, when will our Goalkeeper learn to kick the ball?
    Will Technical Director Tony Craig be acknowledged as a Tactical Genius?
    Can top scorer Rob Evans continue this rich vein of form?
    Will Askey continue his upward learning curve and become the midfield playmaker we know he can be?

    [image]

    Posted 2 years ago #
  2. the gaffer

    the gaffer

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    How many did we score on Sunday? Check out the Sentinel report

    In Division One, Rob Evans managed a superb six-goal haul for Smithfield in a 10-2 win against Seabridge.

    Kevin Jones (2), Paul Seymour and Matt Craig also struck twice as Smithfield rose to second in the table.
    Posted 2 years ago #
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    Stanners

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    Retired

    They need to check their facts. Maybe give this Clark Kent fella a call!! X-D X-D
    Posted 2 years ago #
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    tom plant

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    Assistant Manager

    i think the sentinel need to get duncan disorderly back reporting for them he got all his facts right
    Posted 2 years ago #
  5. the gaffer

    the gaffer

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    i believe he's working for Sky sports now. I'll give him a ring to see if he's busy
    Posted 2 years ago #
  6. Askey316

    Damo

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    Centre Back

    Just read what Seabridge wrote about their 10-2 defeat, its quite amusing...

    Belated, and Backdated... For very obvious reasons!!!

    This game was a complete shambles!!!

    But to be fair, early on Seabridge did look the more likly to score and had at least 3 good chances spurned in the opening exchanges, before we lost out to the unfortunate events.

    However... If their is something we can take from this game it is the fact that even in the face of certain defeat, to not a better side, just one with greater numbers! The lads who played on did so with grit and valour that is to be commended! They never gave up and even against the odds still scored 2 late goals!


    What!?

    I think they need to be taught a lesson on sunday boys!
    Posted 2 years ago #

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