|
Mac
Industries began the season in style, after they
triumphed over Downlands Select by 30 goals to
11. The Hamsters kept with the tried and tested,
with just one change from their defeat against
Handcross in June - new £1.5m striker Dan
Collin started up front alongside Peter Chapman,
with player-manager Jamie Farhall coming into
midfield. New Director of Football Scott
McCarthy kept his place in goal, while Tom
Walmsley took over the captaincy, as Jamie Jones
and Bert Lloyd started at the back.
The
Hamsters hard pre-season work paid off, as they
knocked the ball about well. Downlands were
chasing the game from the kick off, as Dan
Collin showed nice touches. However, it was last
seasons second-top scorer Peter Chapman who
opened the scoring. After a patient passing move
by Mac Industries, Bert Lloyd split the defence
with an inch-perfect ball to send Chapman
through. He dually netted, and shortly after
Lloyd supplied again, as Dan Collin rounded the
keeper on his debut to put the Hamsters 2-0 up.
He was at it again moments later, this time a
fantastic finish into the bottom corner to give
the home side a 3-0 lead. Playing their best
football for many years, Mac Industries knocked
it about with ease, and soon went 4-0 up, Collin
this time turning provider for Chapman to net.
The front 2 linked up well again, when Collin
sent Chapman in to make it 5-0. Ben Walmsley, a
reported Hamsters target, was the first to
trouble McCarthy, and beat him to make it 5-1.
However, Mac Industries were inspired, and went
onto make it 6-1 - the otherwise quiet Farhall
received a pass from Lloyd to net his first of
the season.
Jamie
Jones was soon involved in the action, playing
some good passes and trademark tackles. A
fantastic first touch, when he bought the ball
down in mid-air with his foot, saw him knocked
over, much to the amusement of the visiting
supporters in the Tom McCarthy Stand. However,
they weren't laughing for much longer, when Dan
Colin completed a debut hat-trick, after good
work by Peter Chapman. Collin could've made it
7-1, but he blasted Farhall's cross-come-shot
from 2 yards. Scott McCarthy was having a
nightmare, after dropping the ball in front of
an attacker. Somehow he managed to get it out
for a corner, which he duly claimed. However, he
had no chance when Downlands got their 2nd of
the match, well beaten with a powerful drive
from the edge of the area. Bert Lloyd was
marauding forward, but his efforts were often
off target, and he managed to hit the corner
flag with one shot. However, Mac Industries
dominance paid off, when Dan Collin netted yet
again. Jamie Jones caused more amusement to the
away fans, when he went steaming in to drive a
cross in, but ended up catching his foot in the
perimeter net, causing him to fall over. Tom
Walmsley finally got on the score sheet, after
several way-ward efforts to make it 9-1. It was
another comedy moment that provided Marle
Place's 10th, when Jamie Farhall beat 3 men,
then tripped over the ball. A Downlands defender
came rushing into clear it, but he tripped over
Farhall, meaning Chapman was free to knock the
ball to Collin, who netted yet again.
Collin
returned the favor moments later, by supplying
Chapman with another goal. Downlands started
playing though, and scored their 3rd of the
game, after their central midfielder beat 3
players and McCarthy. Mac Industries were living
dangerously, and Walmsley deflected a shot onto
his own post. Dan Collin soon netted again, this
time from a Walmsley pass, and Farhall was set
up by Jones. Dan Collin rounded off the first
half in style, when he went through 4 players on
his own to net put the Hamsters 13-3 up at the
break.
Downlands
came out re-juvenated in the second half, and
netted 2 quick goals to pull it back to 13-5.
Mac Industries were falling apart, as players
went for personal glories instead of helping the
team. Farhall hit the corner flag with one
wayward shot, but Dan Collin showed his
un-selfishness to set Lloyd up and make it 14-5.
Walmsley then played in Chapman, who made it
15-5 with his 5th of the evening, and Walmsley
scored his 2nd after being provided by Dan
Collin. Collin then went on his own again and
netted, to make it 16-5. McCarthy then used his
vision to spot Chapman with a long ball, and he
showed perfect control with a nicely-executed
trap. He was so amazed with the feat, that he
fell over, similarly to Jones in the first half.
McCarthy came close, after venturing up-field to
take a free-kick, in his new role as set piece
taker - his effort came off the stanchion of the
goal.
Collin
then went on another solo run to net again, but
Downlands fought back to make it 17-7 with 2
well taken goals. Jamie Jones then got his first
goal for the club, after Dan Collin played him
in. Jamie Farhall netted his hat-trick, after
un-selfish play by Chapman. Jamie Jones then
scored the goal of the game, with a fabulous
right-footed drive from distance that ended up
in the bottom corner. With McCarthy being rarely
troubled, he swapped with Lloyd in goal, as
Farhall played some wonderful long balls to
split the Downlands defence. McCarthy, now
playing out pitch, fed Walmsley through to get
his 4th of the match. Jones, looking for a
hat-trick, missed 2 easy chances from 2 yards.
Lloyd,
who had made several key saves since taking over
in goal, was soon beaten though, when he was
rounded by the Downlands attacker to make it
22-8. Downlands were starting to play with more
urgency now, and soon netted 2 more to make
22-10. However, Jones finally completed his
hat-trick to make it 23-10. Dan Collin went on
his own again, and made it 24-10, and Farhall
got in on the act with his 4th of the night,
another fine solo effort. Collin was then set up
by Walmsley, and Jones to take the score to
27-10. Collin did all the hard work, as he
claimed another assist, this time giving
McCarthy his first of the game. Downlands made
it 24-11, but Dan Collin scored straight from
kick-off, and again moments before the final
whistle to make it 30-11, and get his 12th of
the night. When the final whistle blew, Farhall
and his troops celebrated their most convincing
victory, and a fantastic start of the season.
They also celebrated what looks like a bargain
buy - Dan Collin, voted Man of the Match by the
sponsors, was the toast of the Non-Clock End as
the fans left.
After
the game, Director of Football Scott McCarthy
had this to say: "We battled hard today. In
the first 15 minutes we played football that has
not been seen by our fans for a very long time.
Before the game, myself and Jamie took the
decision to risk going with 3 strikers, and it
certainly paid off today. Lloyd and Jones were
solid as ever - and everyone is delighted for
Jamie with his hat-trick. He's had chances
before, but seemed to favor trying to hit fans
rather than the back of the net. So we were all
ecstatic for the boy, and his second goal was
sheer class. Farhall did superb in midfield, and
his passing range was fantastic - it made a big
difference, as last season he would run with it.
Today he knocked it about. Chapman looked a
different player today, and now he has a player
who complements his style in Dan Collin. They
will both get goals, and Dan showed his class
today. He's got a great first touch, great
awareness and great skill. Alongside Chapman, in
my view we have the strongest strike force in
this league. However, we mustn't get carried
away. They were a poor side all night, we will
face tougher tests this season, like Handcross.
However, if we pas the ball about like we did in
the first 15 minutes, we will cause them a lot
of problems. KEEP THE FAITH"
|
