Sunday 16 September 2007

The sun was shining and all is well in Football land!! A fine start to the season for Paul Birch FC securing a massive 9 -1 victory against old foes Griffin Sports.

Griffin have been a bit of a bogey side in recent years and they have always been close games. However, it was not the case today and the home side came out deserved winners. However, the scoreline was flattering for PB and the game was much closer than it seemed.

Paul Birch were playing their new away kit and it seemed to give the side confidence from the outset. The squad boasted 14 players and included Tom Reeves who is back from injury.

From the start, the home side pressed and probed and were causing problems straight away. On 4 minutes, Sam Reeves push forward on one of his driving runs and fed a fine splitting pass that caught out the Griffin Defence onto Selby who took a touch and drove wide. One minute later, Reeves put a freekick over the top of the defence onto the on-running Paul Smith who put his header over.

Smith got off the mark five minutes later though when Watts fired a long kick forward which Birch latched onto and chipped a ball over the top of the centre halves which fell to Paul who gave a good touch and then passed the ball past the keeper to make it 1-0 Paul Birch FC

A fine start then and it was doubled one minute later when the home side split the defence again and Birch picked up the ball outside the box. Birch ran towards goal, then passed the ball square for Paul Smith to put the ball into the net and make it 2-0 Paul Birch FC

The home side were now in dreamland and it didnt stop there. On fiftenn minutes, they won a corner which was sent into the box and goal scramble ensued. The ball broke for new signing Nick Byworth and he smashed the ball into the net to get his first goal for the club and make it 3-0 Paul Birch FC.

If the side were in dreamland after the second goal, they were now in wonderland! The question was how much more can they get?

However, it was clear that it was early days in this game and there was a long way to go yet. The game was a little more tighter over the next few minutes and Griffin finally got there feet. They did not appear to have aerial presence that they possessed a few seasons ago and this was helping PB.

The away side got one back on the half hour mark when a cross was sent in which caught out Watts in goal and looped onto the bar. The PB defence were too slow and a griffin player got to the ball first and put the ball beyond the stranded watts and the desperate Collins tried to intercept the ball but only managed to help it into the net to make it Paul Birch FC 3 Griffin Sports 1.

This now gave the visitors hope and brought PB back down to earth. However, one minute later, Griffin handballed the ball in box and PB were awarded a penalty. Captain James Collins stepped up and put the ball to the right of the keeper. Paul Birch FC 4 Griffin Sports 1.

Back on track then and the football was flowing. Sam reeves was having a fine game in the centre of midfield and was running things with great support from Cassidy and the wingers Beale and Selby. Strikers Paul Smith and Steve Birch were causing havoc in the Griffin Defence and the PB backline was solid.

On thirty eight minutes, Cassidy battled his way through the Griffin defence to come one-on-one with the keeper and he put the ball wide of the goal.

Three minutes later, Reeves once again split the defence with a fine ball which Birch picked up and passed the ball past the keeper to make it Paul Birch FC 5 Griffin Sports 1.

Nearly half time then but there was just enough time for Alan Selby to strike a spectacular freekick from the right edge of the box wish looped over the top of the keeper.

Half Time: Paul Birch FC 6 - Griffin Sports 1

A great half for the lads and a great start to the new season. However, it was important to not be complacent and Griffin now had the benefit of the wind which PB had in the first half.

The second half was much tighter but PB looked comfortable. They added to the score on fifty minutes when they awarded a dubious penalty. Griffin was adjudged to have pushed a PB player from a corner and gave a penalty. Collins stepped up again and slotted home his second of the game. It did seem a weak penalty and Griffin were unlucky with that decision.

As the game ticked on, Griffin never gave up but the game was gone. With two minutes to go, substitute Tom Reeves ran into the box and corssed along the floor for debutant Ben Louch to tap-in for his first for the club. Paul Birch FC 8 - Griffin Sports 1

Finally, Tom Reeves got one for himself with a tap-in to end the game 9-1 Paul Birch FC.

Manager Paul Howe will be delighted with the result and performance, if a little suprised. But it is only early days and there is along time to go in the season. The boys have to get this result out of there minds and focus again for Valley Valliants next week.

Man of the Match

Sam Reeves - A driving performance from beginning to end.

Team:

Watts, Tarrant, McGuigan, Collins, Byworth, Beale (Louch 51), S Reeves, Cassidy, Selby, Smith, Birch (T Reeves 65)

Subs not used: None