Match Report
Match Report - 10 Sep 2011, Old Modernians Football Club 3rds beat Old Batelians Reserves
ld Mods……4
T. Stenger
A. Binns
D. White
R. Leadbitter
Old Batelians…1
M. Holdsworth
Mods continued their impressive goal scoring start to the campaign with a swashbuckling 4-1 victory at home to Old Batelians. The visitors were playing their first game of the season and that was evident when Mods flew out of the blocks, scoring in the first few minutes. The preparation was not ideal as the losses of Matty Campbell and Ryan Kerr were only confirmed on morning of the match meaning that Andy Hick would name himself on the bench along side Mikel Keeney.
Tommy Stenger opened the scoring with his second goal in as many games, the midfielder found space in the penalty area and guiding a Stu Astell’s corner past the goal keeper to give the Mods another early lead. That set the tone for the game and the home side played some enigmatic football in blustery conditions and it wasn’t too long before the lead had been doubled when the always dangerous Adam Binns continued his fine start to the season by firing home from close range following some impressive wingplay, the striker once again proving that from 1 yard out, with a open goal, he rarely misses.
The defensive partnership again excelled, Aston Rowe was imperious and commanding at the back while alongside him birthday boy Sam Lunt oozed class with some elegant touches. The pair’s performance was doubly impressive given that both picked up knocks and did well to even finish the game. The ever dependable Andy Shirley was also exemplary along side them, again performing his duties with minimal drama, or cause for concern.
The chances continued to come for Andy Hick’s men, with Jodie Lazenby in particular causing the visitors all sorts of problems with his energy in midfield, Richard March also showed his quality on the ball, using every excuse to get forward from full back. As the half was drawing to a close it looked like only the home side were going to do anything to trouble the scorers. Turns out it was Old Batelians who scored, a freekick was whipped in and was flicked on and right into the top corner, giving Sam Lawson in goal no chance. The young keeper demonstrated his quality again over the course of the game dealing comfortably with everything else Batelians could muster.
Old Batelians hopes of drawing level were dashed shortly before the break when Dan ‘Dave’ White turned on the edge of the box and fired a left footed shot into the bottom left corner, the ball flirting with the post before nestling in the back of the net. The striker backing up his man of the match performance from last week with a very useful goal.
The second half was controlled by the Mods who continued to prod and probe and were nearly rewarded at the start when Dan White had the ball in the net only for the referee to curtail the strikers celebrations by calling an infringement on the keeper. Stu Astell nearly capped his fine performance with a goal, bringing out a fine save from the Batelians stopper. Old Batelians were finding it very hard to get out of their own half mainly thanks to outstanding display from Ryan ‘unbelievable tekkers’ Leadbitter, the midfielder dominant throughout but had the fans on their feet with a superb volley from the edge of the box that put the icing on the cake of another good performance.
Mikel Keeney was introduced, replacing Adam Binns and the winger caused his opposing fullback all sorts of problems creating several chances (for himself), during an impressive 20 minute cameo.
A fine performance form Andy Hick’s team was justly rewarded with another 3 points and the goal scoring burden, once again spread impressively across the team. The only bad news is that Sam Lunt’s scan on his ankle have revealed a sprain and the centre back could be out for anywhere between 2 – 6 weeks.
Old Modernians Football Club 3rds 4 - 1 Old Batelians Reserves