Match Report
Match Report - 26 Nov 2011, Old Modernians Football Club 5ths drew with Old Thornesians IV
Mods V drew their second consecutive game after a 2-2 result away to Old Thornesians IV, in a match that really was a game of two halves.
The game started evenly, with both teams having good spells of possession. John Jessop was playing very well on the left wing, putting in some fantastic crosses which unfortunately could not be capitalised upon by Tim or me (Ollie) up front. Josh Wheater was doing the same down the right flank, but with the same result. By now Mods had taken control of the game, mainly thanks to Bryan and Andy winning nearly everything in midfield, but Thornesians’ keeper was doing very well to stem the flow of our attacks. Tim was putting in some great balls from our corners, but we just couldn’t get on the end of any.
Thornesians were getting back into the game and creating some good chances, but our centre defensive partnership of Neil and George stood strong. Benno and Phil were also doing well as wing backs, stopping any attacks down the flanks.
Mods took a deserved lead in around the 35th minute, when top scorer Andy Morris was allowed far too much time and space and he lashed the ball through the keepers’ hands and into the net from 25 yards.
Thornesians nearly equalised straight away when a rare lapse in defence put through one of the attackers. He subsequently squared the ball to a teammate 6 yards out, but his shot was tremendously saved by Dave at point-blank range to prevent the goal.
We scored again soon after; a great cross from John was expertly headed into the bottom corner of the goal by Tim to extend the advantage to 2 goals. Thorns nearly halved the deficit moments before half time when a through ball found its way to an attacker, but Dave rushed out of goal to smother his shot.
HT: Old Thornesians IV 0-2 Old Modernians V
The 2nd half was essentially a mirror of the first. It was very evenly matched, with neither team being able to break the other down. Mods’ chances were few and far between, which enabled Thorns to dominate the game. Gary decided it was time for a change after about an hour, taking me off for Chris O’Reilly. Chris settled into the game very quickly and was battling and running like there was no tomorrow.
Unfortunately, a Thorns goal was looking imminent. Said goal came around the 70th minute, when a free kick came in from around 40 yards. Dave called for the ball, but it came loose and fell perfectly for the attacker who dispatched it home to make it 2-1. They then got back on level terms 1 minute later when an attacker received the ball on the edge of the box, and with Mods standing around looking gormless, he slotted it past Dave into the bottom corner.
This sparked life into the hosts, and suddenly they were favourites to win. But Mods held firm in the next 5 minutes of relentless Thorns pressure, and got themselves back in to the game. Johnnie was then brought on for Phil at left back.
Chris and Tim were still battling up front, and still getting chances thanks to good play from Josh and John on the wings. Our defence were still playing excellently, with Neil and George winning everything in the air, and Andy and Bryan challenging for everything in midfield.
Shane was brought on for Tim to try and grab a winner, but the next golden chance wasn’t ours. Thorns put the ball into the box and the ball broke loose during a goalmouth scramble, but the attacker blazed over from 6 yards out.
FT: Old Thornesians IV 2-2 Old Modernians V
Man of the Match was Josh Wheater for tireless effort, putting in excellent crosses throughout the game and also his colourful boots.
Overall, this game was the definition of “A game of 2 halves”. We played in the first half, but not-so-well in the 2nd. A draw was probably fair, but if we had made the most of our chances we could have won it by half time.
Next week is Middleton Park Reserves at home, who beat us 4-3 at their place earlier on this season.
Old Thornesians IV 2 - 2 Old Modernians Football Club 5ths