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Third Team Match Report
Saturday, 4th
September, 2010
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Cheltenham League Division Four |
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| Sam Timpson |
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Own Goal (21), Maruhn (75) |
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A
mixture of grit, determination and at times even some decent football helped the Thirds to a richly deserved first win of
the season at home to Cheltenham Civil Service on Saturday. Late withdrawals and Reserve team call-ups compelled manager Sam
Timpson to ring the changes following last weeks spirited performance away to Bredon. Indeed, Sam even named himself in a
starting XI that also included debutant Duncan Clowes, whilst Mark Jenkins started his first match of the season. A rallying
call from Captain Ben Slatter called for some "backs to the wall football to be played". However it was the depleted
Third team that started the better and they soon created a chance with the dehydrated, yet dangerous Peter Spence just shooting
wide after a well worked move. Skipper Slatter then went close for the home side, forcing a save from the keeper after gambling
on a defensive error. The captain showed that last week’s mistake was firmly behind him as he and Tim Treloar
got to grips with the visitors midfield, aided by some experience and trickery from Stuart Hurring who played on the right
of the central duo. Treloar went close from distance with a dipping volley that forced a good save from the Civil Service
Keeper. The breakthrough came midway through the 1st half, from a Third team corner; pressure and confusion in the six yard
box, created by Spence, forced the visitors to deflect into their own net. The goal woke Civil Service up and they immediately
raised their game, nearly equalising soon after going behind. The impressive Brett Pittaway had to be alert to tip over a
rare effort from the visitors, to ensure that Timpson’s men went in at the break with a lead.
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| Erick Maruhn |
An injury to target-man Clowes meant
that Erick Maruhn was called into action early into the second half. The Thirds struggled to replicate the dominant
performance of the first-half and had to dig-deep to keep their opponents from clawing their way back into the match. However,
some resolute defending, which started from the front with an impressive, Man of the Match performance from Peter Spence,
and was replicated throughout the team, meant that the score stayed delicately poised at 1-0. The next goal was vital and
it was Maruhn who notched it, latching on to a hopeful long ball to catch the opposing defender unaware and sneaking between
him and the approaching keeper to head in on the 75th minute. Again, in reply, the visitors soon went close after a well-worked
move that split Thirds apart; however the visitors unmarked striker headed over from 6 yards to the relief of the Third team's
defence. The Thirds were now playing on the counter attack, which suited them. Treloar looked destined to seal the game in
the final minutes but was superbly tackled on the edge of his box by.... believe it or not, a member of his own side! A crucial
challenge by Erick (clearly not registering the call from Tim!) meant that the score remained at 2-0. A
good result which will hopefully kick-start the season as the Thirds entertain Bredon on Tuesday night in the return of last
week's encounter.
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