Barnstoneworth United AA2 v Maccabi Hakoah - A

9/04/2017

After last weeks close defeat the AA2’s faced off against the first of the 3 Maccabi teams in this year’s league. Continuing with the 3-5-2 formation there were a couple of tweaks from Baldy Nick with fans favourite Daz (snout on the lip) Parkin failing a late fitness test and being replaced by Gordon. Ryan Matthews made his debut for the 2s at centre half with Davy Sleight being promoted to the number 10 role vacated by Merv the magicman Steynes. Wynton was particularly pumped up before the game running around like he had 15 lines of speed, so all signs pointed to a good day.

Barney started the game on top and rarely looked under threat in the first 45. Some great link up play down the left between the 2 Ryans and Shaun continued to break down Maccabi with Nick Steve and Dave impressing in the middle it all looked one way traffic. Davey sleight went close with a long range effort and just before half time he connected with his right foot from a well taken corner. The ball was flying into the top corner when Moussa decided to stick out a leg and put it over the crossbar.

Barney increased the pressure in the second half with constant balls into the Maccabi area but they just couldn’t find the breakthrough. Maccabi then went close when a cross hit the underside of the bar before Ryan made a great last ditch tackle to deny 2 Maccabi strikers. At the other end “small Ryan” was lucky not to see red for a 2 footed lunge that had he not got the ball would of surely snapped his opponent in half. With the game drawing to a close Davey Sleight came close again but his left footed shot flew just past the far post.

The game finished 0-0 with a lot of positives to take including a clean sheet , strong formation and around 25 chances created. We just need to learn to stick it in the net.