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MIDLAND
FOOTBALL COMBINATION FIRST DIVISION
Saturday 23rd
September 2006
Stockingfrord AA 1 v 2 WMPFC
West Midlands Police;
S.Williams, I.Griffiths, J.Harvey, P.Lee, J.Quinney, D.Bates,
P.Halfpenny, D.O’Sullivan, T.Smith (A.Wareham), D.Scriven (I.Berry),
E.Davidson (K.Bunn). Subs not used R.Sutton
Police
recorded their first league victory of the season with a
thoroughly deserved victory at the home of the current
league leaders. Yet again the Police changed personnel and
this week formation to try and stabilise the team. The game
saw the first outing for Dave Scriven up front and the team
responded to his ability to hold play up and allow play to
develop.
The first half was a competitive half and in
fairness it was hard to see who was top of the league and
who was near the bottom. The opening exchanges were tough
but the midfield for Police led by the captain Danny Bates
often out battled their opponents and more often than not
played the better more controlled football. Both teams had
their chances but by half time the score was 0 – 0 and an
intriguing second half was in stall.
In the second half the Police again started
brightly and should really have gone ahead with several
chances but the home keeper was at full stretch several
times particularly from a Damian O’Sullivan effort. The
pressure eventually payed off, when the Police were awarded
a penalty for handball. The spot kick was taken by Tom
Smith, who unlike the week before, shot tamely to the
keepers rights and he easily saved it.
The game changed from that point and
Stockingford appeared to take advantage of this let off and
created more opportunities. But the game swung back with a
remarkable goal from Tom Smith, who had become isolated on
the right hand side of the pitch outside the box. The ball
eventually fell nicely for him to unleash an unstoppable
shot past a bemused goal keeper. To Stockingford’s credit
they responded and although they had a man sent off they
kept going and poor Police defending again allowed them
back in with a poor goal.
Police then battled back and a good through
ball and strong running from Paul Halfpenny meant the
Stockingford defender had no alternative but to pull him
back and concede another penalty. This time the captain
Danny bates stepped up and drilled the penalty home. From
then on the Police played out the game with a few lucky
escapes to record their first victory.
This was a team effort and a deserved victory
but the midfield and John Quinney in particular stood out in
what we hope will kick start our season.
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