On a tiny pitch more suited to under-14s than Witan’s group of Under-40s, the game started with London Welsh sending long balls towards the Witan defence, applying high pressure from the start.
Some of their players were strong and taller on average than Witan, who were a bit confused trying to stop those long balls and the dangerous arrivals due to those situations. Due to Welsh´s way of play, Witan were leaving some spaces between the back and midfield lines that Welsh took advantage of, showing their intentions to win the game in a clear style.
At the start of the game, Witan were not able to keep the ball for more than two or three touches and that did not give us the control of the game which followed running back to cover those gaps.
It was after 20’ when Witan´s captain Jonny (playing as a centre back) received a pass from Federico and sent a long delivery down Witan’s left, which found Mikey Savage a lot of space in the counter attack. Baxter said loudly “guys, you have seen already that their lazy forwards do not come back quickly”. Maybe, that was the change that the game needed to balance the control of the ball.
Witan's defensive line was very well organized and focused since the beginning game, which enabled Witan to grow into the game. After the first subs (around 25´) the team started to get hold of the ball better and hold possession longer. Debyson (as serious as usual) found spaces to play between lines and the midfielders Federico and Jonny Page could associate with him and both wingers easily. The game changed. With Witan now creating chances frequently, Josh was unlucky not to finish one beautiful combination of at least five passes where the quality players were involved. Finally, Witan were finding spaces and controlling the ball.
After 40 mins, the ball arrived to Debyson and he did not hesitate to try the keeper from outside the box. The Welsh goalkeeper got two hands to the ball but could not cope with the power and swerve of Deybson’s shot, managing only to push the ball into the top corner: 0-1 to Witan.
With his goal, Deybson showed us the second biggest weakness of Welsh, the keeper. (In that point we realized the amount of spaces in the counter back and the keeper, may be the way to win the game).
Just before the half time, another great team combination ended with another chance that Josh could not finish. He wasn´t accurate in the first half but always found the space and proper movement to find the ball in good positions. Also, another chance of Stathis could have been the 0-2 but the half time break gave us the opportunity to talk about the keys of the game (already explained before).
During the break everything was clarified and the strategy to find our chances as well, and with the first attack of the second half – another beautiful team play from Witan –the rhythm of the game changed.
Welsh kept sending long balls but again, Witan’s serious block at the back was sorting out their chances. The spectacular Marcus, who was outstanding and tireless during the whole second half, prevented a goal against when the Welsh striker was almost celebrating…impressive! After that, it was Keir and Baxter’s turn to step in with a game changing moment. When Welsh’s young striker pounced on a stray pass and advanced into the Witan box, a Welsh equaliser looked likely.
Keir immediately sprang forward, doing well to close the angle and take the pace off the shot, but the ball squirmed underneath him and continued towards the goal. However, Baxter was alert and cleared the ball from the Witan goal-line to Marcus, who started a Witan counter attack and after touches in the midfield, the ball arrived to Stathis´s foot. He directed a powerful shot that the keeper could not hold, and his rebound was sent to the net by Josh in his role as “The Killer”, 0-2.
How the game could have changed in that minute of the game, and how accurate the team interpreted the situation. Altogether working as a team knowing what to do, working together as a solid block! (I still think that we won the game in that situation).
In reply, Welsh kept being loyal to their style and now with more spaces at their back because they needed two goals. About the 60th minute of the game the situation was pretty the same than the last goal. Now Witan´s Federico shrugged off Welsh’s massive no. 8 (15cm taller and 20 kilograms heavier than Witan’s no.16) to recover possession and move the ball fast on the left wing.
A quick interchange of passes saw Almos receive the ball in space, step inside onto his right foot and send over a pinpoint assist to Josh who finished a beautiful team goal, amazing! 3-0 to Witan, and Josh had changed his stats of the game in less than 20´with two goals which gave us the possibility to enjoy the rest of the game.
From that point on, it was a different game. They wanted but they couldn´t and we started to switch off the chip. Two teams, a great defence which kept working so hard (special mention to Marcus at this part of the game, tireless) and a great attack with people trying to score. By this point Welsh had already given up and the team was totally broken, with few people defending and most of them looking for a goal.
Federico was furious after taking “Tom´s” chance from outside the box but blazing a shot high over the crossbar – his shot touching down on the tennis courts 20 meters behind the goal.
Then, Almos showed his quality, getting a ball on the left wing and sending an unstoppable ball against the crossbar when the keeper was already a spectator. Unfortunately for him, the game for him was over a few minutes later because of an injury on his back. Get better soon!
In this context the 0-4 arrived from an own goal. Stathis´s great movement finished with a pass that the centre back sent to the net and put the 0-4. Still 15 minutes to go.
There was going to be time for everyone because they found a way to play in our box and they scored after winning a second ball. It was unlucky for Witan but it could have happened before if we did not have that defence and keeper, so fair enough. 1-4 and just few minutes later, a rigorous penalty was given for them (this kind of situation where referees take advantage to balance a score and help them show that they are good people.)
A slight contact inside the area was a “clear penalty" for him. However, it was Keir's moment to be serious and confident as usual and he made an amazing save which gave us the serenity to enjoy the rest of the game.
In the last part of the game, Jonny P. who had a better 2nd half being active, keeping the ball confidently and looking for the easiest passes, picked up the ball halfway inside the Welsh half. With time and space to lift his head, Jonny unleashed an unstoppable shot from outside the box, putting the ball into the top corner, close to angle of bar and post, to register his first official goal for Witan. Remarkable! Icing on the cake: 5-1 to Witan.
About the nominations, Federico (keen to understand the whole culture of Witan and grasp the opportunity to work on his English writing skills) got a new haddock award for his inappropriate behaviour, peeing in the middle of a park full of fresh grass and with a mother and her kid 100 yards away. Thanks to Tom's support the situation was more decent. Finally, he learnt the lesson and when he was substituted he went to pee behind a tree.
The MoM went (with no doubt) for the Captain whose work leading the team and helping to cover a position weakened by the absence of Ben DLF and Danny. However, these and other absentees were fully covered with the hard work and commitment of the four players in defence commanded by Jonny, always reading the game and organising everyone. He was close to score if he would have connected one of the two corners where the ball was looking for his head. Do not give up, it will arrive!
It was another step on our way and 3 important points got after the defeat of the last week. It was another opportunity to keep learning things that we are doing well and things that we need to keep improving. And the most important, the evidence that Witan is a team where nobody is essential and everyone is important.
Do not be worried about the table, points, goals…From now, just thinking on Saturday. Game by game!
Happy week for Witan's family.
Federico
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