CRFC Hounds 0 – 0 Maori

The first in season friendly saw a large Hounds contingent take on our old friends Maori. We took 19 players for this game and effectively had to play two different teams in each half. We played with an experimental 4231 a lined up and started with:

Mike Day, Paul Rayner, Dan Ward, Andy Watson, Ian Hennings, Chris Green, Pascal Levine, Mike Payten, Mike Baldwin, Rob Young and Gary Brooke.

We obviously know Maori well and everyone knew what to expect from this game. It was going to be a hard test and in truth Maori had the better start. Mike Day having to pull off a great save at his near post, which was followed up with a goal line clearance from Paul Rayner.

Gradually though, we started to get to grips with the different formation and Chris Green and Pascal Levine were stamping their authority on the match. Baldwin, Brooke and Young were working some nice triangles and our first chance came when Mike Baldwin received a ball in the area but was thwarted by a last ditch tackle in the area. We then won a free kick on the right side. Payten picked out Brooke and his flick was nearly met at the far post by Green. The same three almost broke through again, this time from a corner that was flicked on at the front post but just evaded the incoming Chris Green on the edge of the 6 yard box.

The half was played out with lots of battling from both teams, coupled with some nice passing when the chance came.

Half time saw a lot of changes and Elliott Jacobs, Chris Hemmings, Nick Hemmings, Sergey, Matt Creasey, Keri Ryan, Eric Hartman and Paul Camp all taking the pitch.

Normally with that many subs, teams lose momentum but we started as we left off, on the front foot. Keri Ryan making his debut on the left showed superb strength and skill to beat two players, cut inside and hit a shot just past the far post.

We were controlling the game so much that Maori had started to play a long ball game. They had a very quick striker though and this was causing us problems. However, as Ward, Rayner and Hennings had done in the first half, Jacobs and the Hemmings brothers kept up the same strength and concentration in the second. Unfortunately Chris Hemmings pulled a hamstring and had to leave the game early. Fortunately,  we had Watson to bring on and despite only having a few minutes break he led the line tirelessly.

At the other end, Matt Creasey was throwing himself into everything and winning battle after battle. Sergey was calm and relaxed in possession and played some lovely passing moves with Jacobs down the right. Levine was taking control of the game in the middle and was switching the play with some sublime passes. Eric was his usual all action self and set up as many attacks as he stopped, whilst Paul Camp was his usual assured self.

However, as much we pushed forward, Maori dropped back and the game became a real battle in the last third of the pitch, with our guests breaking at speed whenever they got the chance.

In the end the game ended goalless and our first win of this season evaded us. However, I was extremely pleased with how we played and especially the attitude that every single player showed, on the pitch as well as off.

A great game, played in a great spirit from both sides.

Man of the match – Andy Watson who was quite frankly brilliant. However, it had to be said that the votes were split fairly evenly between Pascal, Eric and Chris Green and I don't think there would have been any arguments if any one of those 3 had got it instead.

COYR - Mike P