Addiscombe 2's v Cheam 2's

With pre-game traffic information from Harry Reynolds (apparently reliable for any traffic related query) and Captain Cooper heading to the wrong place Cheam 2s prep was almost optimal. Pre-game tension and team relations were made worse by the token shackle-dragger (Australian) Tim Harrison arriving in his team’s rugby top. They’ll tell you its “green and gold” but it looks distinctly yellow to me.

From the get go, the confrontation with Addiscombe was physical and at times spilled over into some gentle nudging and conversations enquiring after the background and virtue of people’s mothers.

The Cheam defence soaked up a prolonged amount of pressure early in the half with a number of strong tackles from the defensive unit, and at risk of being called accused of self-praise: the keeper made a number of strong saves too.

The Cheam attacking unit got into its stride and won a short corner. The drag flick from Ashton (Robert Caulkin) hit the defender’s body on the line - Penalty flick. This was thrown nicely into the top right by Ashton. 1-0 Cheam.

Cheam maintained attacking pressure with some strong passing moves and efforts in the opposition D, but were caught on the break a number of times with more saves coming from the keeper. One in particular showing the deflection drills in training were making a difference.

The defensive lapses piled on the pressure but with Nick Young sweeping up the pieces and the midfield working back well the 1-0 lead held to the interval.

At some point in the first half Shep ( Steve Shepherd ) managed to hurt his pinky and decided he couldn’t possibly play anymore.
The second half started much as the first, with early pressure from Addiscombe, saves from the Cheam keeper and scramble defence from the defensive unit. Eventually after a quick break through the middle of the pitch Addiscombe managed to get the better of the keeper on a 1:1 chance and slid the ball into the Cheam goal
.
This galvanised the Cheam attackers. Madders ( Richard Eggleton apparently?)and Misty ( James Hodgson ?!?) combining well with Harry Reynolds, Ashton and Charlie Weston leading to a number of efforts on goal. This attacking pressure led to a string of short corners one of which was put into the goal. Quite how is difficult to describe with it being at the other end of the pitch to me and in a bit of a scramble – but Ashton scored again.

Cheam’s distribution is improving as the season develops. However there are exceptions to this rule. We have not yet eradicated the “edge of the D suicide pass”. Another glaring example of this was the Square-ial from Ashton. Had it been cricket it would have been an impressive pull shot just backward of square. For 6.

Once again Cheam were caught on the break and after the attacker allegedly kicking the Cheam keeper in the head hard enough to take his helmet off *, he pushed the ball into the goal.

Cheam held out for the remainder of the game, and took the 2’s first point of the season.

MOM – Charlie Ede #KAPT

DOD – Rob Ashton Caulkin . REason? See above.

*may or may not have been deliberate