Easton Monday 2 v 1 Easton Cowboys

1st October, 2023 Clifton College Sports Ground

TEAM: Josh, Simon F, Andy Makepeace, Jason Llama, Manny, Jason Hughes, James Pills, Jon C, Arron, Morgs, Guy SUBS: Jamie, Simon R, Stu K

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Monday came into this fixture off a draw with Yate and knew that anything less than 3 points would have been a missed opportunity.

Along with the previous fixture - Monday assembled another very strong squad with 3 more people having to warm the bench undeservedly. The mangers, Si F and Manny, had another very good problem on their hands! A couple of changes in personnel but largely a similar team to the team that faced Yate. Jamie returned from his trip north, and Stu K was finally available having impressed all summer with his Thursday night showings

The chat before KO was to play the same way we had played in the first half against Yate. The other chat was around how Cowboys were shaping up with an ex-'Thursday nighter' lining up for Cowboys. The less said about that the better

Monday were in charge from the beginning. Cowboys offered very little going forward.

A few chances missed by Arron, who headed onto the cross bar for one and inches wide for a 2nd. Guy missed a few chances too. He had shots saved and a couple went just past the far post. An open goal missed by Morgs from 2 yards out was the icing on the cake. Monday needed a goal!

Arron finally got Monday the lead when a cross field cross from Pillsy finally found its way to Arron having stayed in the air for an eternity. Arron just had to get his foot on it and direct it goalwards. 1-0

Arron was finding a lot of joy down the right hand side and the Cowboys left back wasn't enjoying himself. He was enjoying himself even less when he weakly gave the ball to Pillsy who nicked it off him and then cut inside for a neat finish. Unfortunately the goal was disallowed after Lee, the ref, spoke to the 'linesman'. Everyone knew that it was the wrong decision and that Sunday league linesman are only there for offsides and letting the ref know when the ball has gone out of play, but it was disallowed and we moved on!

Half time

The half time team talk was that we needed more of the same and that we need to keep concentrating as Cowboys were not going to be pushovers in the 2nd half.

Cowboys didn't come out all guns blazing and Monday were finding lots of possession once again. Guy was causing havoc down the left and our midfield was bossing theirs.

Monday got a 2nd 15 minutes into the 2nd half when a lovely free kick from Pillsy (after Arron had been hacked down - again) found Arron rushing in front of his man to header home into the far left corner. 2-0

Monday had a couple more chances. Jon C hit a shot just over. Si R had a mazy run but blocked at the end. Si R made the wrong decision to take a touch after a dinked cross from Arron. And Morgs got the ball stuck under his feet after a lovely 'Trent Alexander-Arnold' cross field ball from Arron at right back.

Everything else until the final whistle belonged to Cowboys!

Cowboys were applying more and more pressure and Monday were tiring, despite making all of their subs. The defence did really well to hold out for as long as they did but on one occasion, a mixture of ball watching and failing to clear the lines, resulted in the ball finding its way back to a Cowboys player and he shot past Josh. 1-2

Cowboys were not finished and Monday felt like they may live to regret their missed chances. Josh made numerous excellent saves. Close range saves and down low long shot saves. He was excellent between the sticks. Finally the final whistle blew. Relief.

The game was mostly played in an excellent spirit and was probably one of the 'cleanest' fixtures we have had against our area rivals. A great feeling to come away with all 3 points

MOM - Josh Worlock. Save after save after save. Important saves too. He was excellent.