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SGFC MATCH REPORTS (aka the autopsy zone)
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SHERWOOD 7 - 1 WEST GLASGOW
(Played at St James, 17.11.07)
Report by Chris H.
A comprehensive win for Sherwood against newly formed and young West Glasgow team.
There were a good many positives you can take from this game, probably the most notable is that we scored 7 goals. Not only did Danny notch up another 3 goals to his name, but we are pitching in with goals from midfield in Andy, Stewart, Peter and David added another fine strike from the penalty spot. It is always a good sign to know that we can score from most areas of the field.
The strong wind was against us in the first half and you would have to say that contributed to us having a slow start. Our Glasgow opponents knocked the ball thru to test our defence a few times but they were restricted to very few clear shots on goal. The offside tactic was used confidently and it worked very well. The game was scrappy at the start and for most of the first half, the wind played its part in this BUT we also could have made better use of our possession of the ball.
Each week we speak of passing and movement off the ball. With the conditions in mind, this would have been a perfect game to make more short passes. We can improve on this. Our communication is better, we do look for the ball, and we do take up better positions off the ball. There are times though midfielders are holding onto the ball for too long, when a simple pass back would have maintained our possession. This now must change, we have no excuses not to bring this into our play. The team is fairly settled and we know where our team mates are on the pitch, so let's look up and pass confidently !
The team will be an even a stronger unit, and a tougher nut to crack. As with no disrespect to WG, but we will come up against stronger opposition during the league campaign. But if we can keep this possession of the ball then we will be very difficult to beat as we know we can score goals.
Other positives that must be shared is that in the second half, despite WG getting their goal, we did play well as a team. We created a whole number of chances and used the width on the left fairly well. We are equally good on the right , its always an option to use both wings. The subs that came on Peter, Chris McE & Jonny did very well. They immediately adapted to the shape of the team and picked up the pace. The other individual who should be mentioned is AC who got man-of-the-match for another strong performance in midfield.
Overall we must be satisfied with our performance and are proving to be one of the most unified teams in the league. So in the games where we struggle or go a goal or two down, let's keep this game in mind , as with good discipline and a good focused shape, there is no doubt whatsoever we will create and score goals.
PARKHEAD 1, SHERWOOD-GREENLAW 4
(Played at Mount Vernon, 12.5.07)
Nice to finish the season with another win. Two goals in each half were enough to bring Sherwood all three points.
Our opener came after the bounce from Jim's punt looped over my marker and I only had the keeper to beat. Then Norrie, having another excellent game at the back, got a fitting reward for his devotion to defensive duty when his curling free-kick slipped through the home keeper's hands into the net. Shaun can justly put his name on our third goal as his hard cross had to be intercepted and the back could only direct it past his own goalie. But of our four goals I thought Danny's was the best, not just because he got onto man-of-the-match Stewart's through-ball with his trademark burst of pace to hit home with sliderule control, but also because it really stopped Parkhead's comeback immediately after they had pulled us back to 3-1.
It was a bumpy pitch even when wet, but we definitely played our best attacking football (especially in the second half) when we tried to keep the ball moving on the deck. We didn't neglect defence though and midfielders Marc, Alan C and David R showed plenty of dig, and along with Stewart broke up Parkhead's efforts whether through the middle or along the flanks time after time. At the back Jim was on good form as ever and his handling rarely deserted him. Ross and Stephen also looked assured and Allan M brought his pace to bear in front of the back three (and occasionally behind them!). One thing that could have been done better by everyone, though, was defending corners - Parkhead had a number of free headers and shots that really should have finished in our net. But maybe they were just too surprised to accept these gifts!
Shortly into the second half Daniel and Brendan replaced me and Stephen respectively and Sherwood's attacking play looked more threatening. We were unlucky not to get more goals through Daniel's persistent front running and Brendan's trademark crosses into the box. Shaun gave place last of all to Jonathan L who worked hard also; and despite all three substitutions coming in close succession our team shape held up well.
On balance we looked the fitter side throughout and Parkhead were none the better for the absence of team rep Gavin Finbow through injury. But we could equally argue that we had some of our regulars missing so it panned out on the day. It was an enjoyable game not least because Parkhead also played in a sporting manner.
Biggest football disappointment this year for me was that training didn't seem to result in more wins. But my grateful thanks to Allan M for the effort he put in there, and to all who made the effort to attend regularly; and speaking personally I can say if it didn't kill you it made you stronger (I think!). I'm very proud that we have gone through the season with only 6 penalty points against us, and no red cards, and tried hard to play in the spirit of Christian sportsmanship. Well done one and all!
TEAM - Jim, Stephen H, Norrie, Ross, Allan M, Marc, David R, Stewart, Alan C, Shaun, Brian, Daniel, Brendan, Jonathan L.
SHERWOOD 1, HOPE HALL 0
(Played 5.5.07 at St James)
After 3 consecutive league defeats to EK Baptist, St Silas and Kilsyth COG respectively, at last a win to report! Well done lads on a workmanlike performance from start to finish that frustrated Hall's hopes of an equaliser, after Marc put us ahead fifteen minutes in with a good solo effort that saw him beat the last defender and hit a low shot into the far corner.
Not many great chances at either end in this encounter, although with the slope in the second half we nearly added to our tally on a couple of occasions. Defence was good throughout, the back four playing a disciplined line that caught out the over-eager Hope Hall strikers. Well done Alan C on getting man-of-the-match for winning virtually all his 50-50s and getting plenty of attacks going from left-mid.
Team - Jim, Norrie, Alan C, David R, Iain, Stephen H, Stewart, Edgar, Ross, Shaun, Marc, Chris B, Daniel.
CEC2 0, SHERWOOD 2
(Played 31.3.07 at Eaglesham)
For a team adopting a defensive formation we managed to get in a lot of attacking play and when after twenty minutes the ball fell nicely for Stewart he wasted no time in volleying a left-foot effort into the home net from twenty yards. We had enough pace at the back with Norrie, Iain (man-of-the-match), Chris H and Allan M to frustrate the forward runs of the hard-working Cartsbridge strikers who had hit five last week but who this week never really got enough time on the ball to set up easy shots. When they did get through on goal it was at an angle and Jim closed down and parried successfully every time.
Midfielders Stewart, David I, David R and Alan C worked their socks off for the whole 90 minutes and up front Daniel and Bizzy combined well and were unlucky not to score in the first half. Bizzy’s goal in the second half was a perfect finish in the low corner of the net from a 5-man passing move that was all one- and two-touch stuff, opening up the home defence in a little moment of football perfection that so seldom happens for us. With nothing to lose Cartsbridge put more men into attack and came close on a few occasions but we didn’t get over-confident, tried to keep things tight at the back and finished with a clean sheet for the first time in ages.
Last but not least my grateful thanks to the three subs who sat it out uncomplainingly – as you know I don’t find it easy to keep committed players sidelined but this time out the teamwork looked too good to gamble with.
TEAM -Jim, Norrie, Iain, Chris H, Stewart, Alan C, Allan M, David I, Daniel, Chris B, David R, Edgar, Marc, Shaun.
CLAREMONT 6, SHERWOOD 2
(Atholl Cup Rnd 2, played 24.3.07 at Howwood)
Even though David I opened the scoring in this cup tie it was against the run of play and Claremont always looked threatening with a team of fit, hard-tackling players especially in midfield. It wasn't long before they had grabbed a couple back and got their third before half time when a high shot from distance crept in just over Jim's reach. By this time I had given way to Allan L in defence and on balance we felt a bit unfortunate to be two behind as the back line had dealt efficiently with most of the pressure.
In the second half Shaun went up front for Marc and with less than half an hour to go Chris B took to the right wing with Alan C switching to left in place of Ross. We had to throw an extra man forward (Chris H) and went to three at the back as we had nothing to lose. But the gamble went against us and whilst we were getting in more attacks it was soon 4-1 to Claremont when they hit us on the break. Bizzy was finding more space on his wing though and eventually his crosses paid off when after some determined faffing and sclaffing in the six-yard box Daniel scrambled the ball into the net.
With ten minutes left and trailing by two we still had to go for it and Claremont's early crosses were proving hard for a back three to deal with. Sure enough they managed to score one more plus an unlucky OG from Iain gave them a flattering scoreline at the final whistle.
We just have to take what positives we can from this one - scoring twice from outfield is a plus compared to recent games and for much of the tie we certainly didn't look overwhelmed. As some of us observed after the game, though, we could have tackled harder on a lot of the fifty-fifty balls. Accuracy with the forward passes has to improve, too - the short easy option wasn't taken often enough and we gave the ball to Claremont's back line just too often with over-ambitious long-shots.
Alan C got a well-deserved man-of-the-match for a non-stop midfield performance with plenty of nice touches. He also looked that bit more confident on the ball than most of us and if only that could spread through the rest of the team we could maybe bring this losing run to an end!
Sadly that's Allan Loch's last game for us - the persistent injury he's been carrying all year is getting worse and now we're out of the cup he's decided he has to sit out the remainder of the season in the hope that he can get his foot back into shape. I would like to record my thanks to him for being such a reliable, committed and capable Sherwood player these last few seasons - a much appreciated member of the squad who remained positive and helpful through thick and thin.
TEAM - Jim, Iain, Brian, Norrie, Ross, Chris H, Marc, Alan C, David I, Daniel, Stewart, Allan L, Shaun, Chris B.
SHERWOOD 1, CLAREMONT 3
(Played at St James, Saturday 3.3.07)
Another defeat for Sherwood and another tale of missed chances. The pitch was heavy going and was a real test of stamina for both sides. We pulled back to 2-1 in the second half via Danny's perfectly hit free-kick and looked set to draw level with most of the pressure, but lost a third to a Claremont breakout soon afterwards, and we just couldn't score from open play. Claremont's keeper was inspired at times and stopped at least three efforts that looked seriously netbound. We're going to have to try out some new ideas in the friendly next week. Congrats to Daniel on getting man-of-the-match.
TEAM - Jim, Allan L, Iain, Ross, David I, Allan M, Norrie, Stewart, Alan C, Edgar, Daniel, Shaun, Chris B, Jonathan.
SHERWOOD 2, AUCHENFOYLE 3
(Played at St James, Saturday 17.2.07)
Yet another excellent Sherwood performance - even better than last week - but again no points. We had top-drawer goals from Norrie and Daniel respectively and created more chances than in our previous three matches combined. Two out of the three goals against us came from uncharacteristic defensive lapses by individuals who otherwise had an outstanding game. Just these two errors of judgment were enough to cost us the points, though; and it took a great attacking run by Foyle's full-back Iain Irvine in the third-last minute to chip the ball into our net and get the visitors a hard-fought victory.
Having been in front twice we would surely have sewn up the match if we had managed to double our lead at any point, but we fell just short despite the best efforts of man-of-the-match Allan M whose pace and drive along the left wing deserved better results. Midfield and attack overall looked livelier than ever and more willing to get forward and that was the case right to the final whistle. At the back also we had a very disciplined performance for most of the 90 minutes and this is another feature we can take encouragement from.
My thanks to David R for sitting it out patiently as an unrequired injury sub. It's important not to let these recent results get us down because on today's showing we seem to have cracked the scoring problem and I'm sure there's more to come.
TEAM - Jim, Stephen H, Iain, Allan L, Allan M, David I, Alan C, Marc, Norrie, Chris B, Daniel, Stewart, Jonathan.
ERSKINE BRIDGE 2, SHERWOOD 0
(Played at Barwood Park, Erskine, Saturday 10.2.07)
We’ll play worse and win. That just about sums up our 2-0 defeat away to Bridge, after a strong Sherwood performance that brought everything except a goal. Two penalty-box incidents that affected the course of the game went against us but the bottom line is that over the 90 minutes we have to get over the disappointments and go on to score. In the second half especially we had at least two-thirds of the possession and with the wind behind us made more chances. The home side’s scoring chances after the turnaround could be counted on the fingers of one hand and their second goal was yet another nod-in at the back post off a well-delivered cross from their left wing. Really tiresome to see the same goal scored against us week after week!
Everybody gave 100 percent effort but there are still issues to be addressed in training – mostly to do with scoring goals. Well done David I on getting man-of-the-match on his first time back
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