Result: 4-2
Scorers: Flash, Matt x2, Tuff,
With the top of the division super close, following last week’s defeat it was paramount for the M4s to get back to winning ways as soon as possible. Hence whilst a match against the unbeaten league leaders Witham would be a mouth-watering challenge, we were well aware of the challenge ahead of us and as an illustration of the seriousness being felt; for the first time this season Captain Rob Dyer call a pre-match meeting to discuss tactics!
As what can only be described as enormous squad of 15 gathered, it was good to welcome some new and not so new faces into the team – all received the same message; value the ball, quick passing and work hard and use the subs.
From push back Tufty almost immediately pushed hard on the left wing exposing a few gaps in the Witham defensive line, a gap that was quickly closed but it did give our strikers food for thought.
With play running end to end it was a good ten minutes before either team gained a slight edge with Witham winning a short corner. The high flick to the keepers top left looked to be going high, but as it dipped the postman’s high stick did enough to deflect the ball just into the net for a truly fluky goal. 0-1 to Witham.
Undeterred, the M4s stuck to the task and after several good drives super midfielder Flash picked out a strong ball across the Witham D and smashed it into the Right hand corner; 1-1!
Witham were still having their moments and the M4 defensive line were kept busy snuffing out multiple Witham drives into the D, with the few strikes that made it on goal being soaked up by Chelmsford keeper Darren.
Up front the rotating Matt, Tufty, Bryan, Shaggers and debutant Tom harried the Witham defence, creating close opportunities and multiple short corners. With Kingy expertly stopping the injection it brought Matt’s drag flicking into play resulting in a second goal for the M4’s just before the break.
At half time whilst the squad deliberated on the choice of trendy fizzy cola bottles or old school jelly babies, Rob took the opportunity to repeat the pre-match message. The consensus was we could do this, but 100% effort would be needed.
The second half started with Chelmsford the stronger team, building good pressure from the midfield and allowing the rotating strikers to push hard. The almost inevitable result was two further goals for the M4. One from Matt and the other from Tufty, coming from an uncharacteristically short distance from the goal line.
Witham were not finished though and with 15 minutes to go the activity had certainly flipped and the M4’s defence were once more under the pump. With that much pressure something had to give and an unmarked Witham striker on the back post made the most of his opportunity bringing the score to 4-2.
Despite the continued pressure right up to the final whistle the M4’s defensive line held up admirably with new faces Sam, Sam, Kingy and Nick B all making their marks.
Although the three points from today’s game leaves us in 5th place in the league; we have a game in hand and everyone above has now lost a game.
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