Easton Monday 5 v 1 KCC

October 12th 2025

Venue - Clifton College Sports Ground - Watson's

TEAM - Tim, Lee, Jim, Andy M, Si F, Adam, Duds, Jon C, Arron, Si R, Ant

SUBS - Morgs, Marcus Teague

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INTO THE GROOVE Monday were still missing many 'first team' players for this fixture and therefore the build up was a little complicated personnel wise. We were doing ok until Tim and Jim both messaged mid-week to explain they needed to disappear at half time! With Danny not passing his late fitness test - it was tricky to get a team together but we managed. Even the ref called in injured the day before the game. Draner kindly stepped in to officiate. 

The starting 11 seemed very strong on paper for Monday against a relatively unknown outfit in KCC. They had won division 2 the previous season and were playing their first season in the topflight.  Monday started off with an actual keeper and then a back four with some pace, height and strength. And they were all actually Monday players. This game's formation was a change up with the management committee opting for a 4-3-3 given how much of a struggle it was to get the ball forward in the previous game's 4-4-2. The 3 midfielders were Jon, Duds and Adam with Arron and Si R playing wide and dropping in where necessary. Ant was up top.

Monday started the game at an electric pace and were playing nicely between the lines, playing it wide and also pinging it forward. All worked well and KCC didn't know what to do. Every Monday player seemingly had so much time on the ball. Jim commented - "The front 3 absolutely bossed their back line and their big lurch centre back is probably having nightmares about Jon and Ant!!" Right from the get-go Monday were winning everything in the air and every flick on and second ball were falling to a Monday player!

There were a few early chances that came Monday's way.  Si R was getting down the right-hand side well (as he continued to do all game) and Ant was making some decent runs in behind their defence. One chance of note was a lovely 1-2 between Arron and Ant. Ant laid it off for Arron who shot just wide from distance.

The breakthrough finally came down the left, where another combination between Arron and Ant led to the opening goal. Ant finishing well from a narrow angle to give the side a deserved lead. 1-0.

The second came shortly after, following a recycled corner. After the initial delivery was cleared, the ball was worked back out wide and sent back into the box, where Jim rose well at the far post to head home. Jim commented - "Thanks Jon for the cross which basically hit the middle of my forehead for the second goal. The stuff of dreams". 2-0.

Confidence grew from there. The third goal again came from a set-piece, with a near-post run and flick from Arron guiding the ball in off the post from a corner, a smart finish that capitalised on a well-timed delivery. 3-0.

Despite the sheer Monday dominance - the opposition did manage to pull one goal back after a mix-up at the back. Lee decided to use his knee instead of his head thinking that there was little threat but the KCC striker ran through to slot past Tim who got his angles all wrong. But it had little impact on the overall rhythm of the match, which remained firmly in the Monday’s favour. 3-1.

Just before the break, the fourth goal arrived, this time from distance. After finding space outside the box, a curling effort found its way over the goalkeeper and into the net, rounding off an excellent first half that combined sharp finishing with compact, organised football.  Nobody could quite believe how much time and space they gave Jon. No keeper was going to save that one. It certainly made up for Jon's previous 'it went out for a throw-in' effort! 4-1.

Half time

The second half brought about a couple of changes. Jim (and shortly after, Tim) both had to disappear to less important engagements and Morgs and Teagues came on respectively.  

The pace of the game understandably slowed in the second half, but the team remained in control. The fifth goal came very shortly after half time from a driving run through midfield by Adam, who picked out Arron with a precise through ball. The finish was calm and assured, despite the keeper getting a foot to it. This fifth goal reinforced the team’s dominance on the day. 5-1.

Arron went back in goal meaning the hattrick was off the cards. Monday still dominated the rest of the half but KCC did manage to scrape out a few chances. The Monday legs were understandably tiring a bit and KCC were starting to find some space between the lines. A questionable decision by Andy at the back resulted in KCC having their best chance of the game but it was just tipped wide of the post by 'the cat'!   

Monday also had chances. Morgs had 2 chances saved by the KCC keeper's feet and a couple of other chances just didn't quite come off. Si R was still giving their left back a very hard time and one such time resulted in a filthy tackle. Ant on the left was also seeing a lot of the ball and pinging the ball around nicely.

The last chance of the game fell to Adam who just didn't quite have the legs to get the ball on target, or even in the same field!

Assessments from Jim were - "they had a bit of pace and movement up front but we dealt with it well. We looked good!!!!! Love the arrival threat of Ant!  Midfield had total control.  Formation worked well.  We could have had 7 or 8 by half time".

Jon Cohen/ChatGPT's assessments were - 'This was a performance built on structure, work rate, and shared responsibility. Every player contributed - from front to back - with particular credit to those who came off the bench and maintained the same standards, including Marcus, who slotted in at left-back and gave a solid account of himself. The result was a fair reflection of a side that was fitter, more organised, and more clinical on the day - a promising sign going forward as momentum builds for the next fixture'.

A great result and still loads of players to return.  Next up - the start of a decent cup run!

MoM - Ant