Surrey County Cup; 2nd round: Farnborough FC vs Croydon Utd FC under 14

First game for this group of players in the Surrey Cup saw us drawn against Croydon Utd a relatively unknown side who so far this season were unbeaten. With confidence high the boys settled well but seemed to spend a lot of the early game winning the ball well but losing possession just as quick. After a while however we started to create some good chances with Ollie, Joe and Tom B, the starting forward line, setting their sights early but failing to beat the keeper. Tom B worked really well to create himself some space and with 2 good passes one from Scott, the other from Callum, Tom found himself with 2 ones on ones but just lacked that final bit of composure to put his shot on target and beat the keeper. After about 20 minutes we were awarded a corner. Scott B flighted a great ball over which eventually landed at the feet of Rutty who hit it first time bringing a good save from the GK. This save landed straight at the feet of Tom B who made up for his earlier misses by sticking the ball into the onion bag and put us 1-0 to the good. Josh O'Reilly then finished well from the next cross Scott B put into the box but was deemed offside, much to his own disappointment. Just before half time Ollie crossed a delightful ball which Joe M managed to get his head too but just couldn't keep it down putting it marginally over the bar. Half time and a slender 1-0 lead.   The half time talked consisted of relaxing in possession, hit the target with the shots and work hard to win the ball back early.   Half time saw Karl replace Adam in the net, Okey replace Josh O'Reilly, James replace Josh E, Ryan swap for Tom B and Ed make his debut replacing Callum. Ryan made an impact on the game straight away by going close twice and then scored when he shot from distance only to see the ball go through the GK's legs and dribble over the line. Don't worry Ryan I have given you the goal. Ryan then scored again almost straight away when a Scott corner was flicked on at the front post for Ryan to hit it on the volley from the back half of the area and give the GK no chance. With the conditions our set plays seemed to be the areas giving us most joy and this proved the case again when Harry S leapt highest from another corner and gave the GK no chance with a great downward header to give us a 4-0 lead.   Almost immediately the opportunist Joe M latched onto a poor goal kick and slotted the ball home to make it 5-0 and now we were coasting. Although still fairly difficult playing conditions with a bobbly pitch the boys were still trying to do the correct things when Matt C released Ryan who crossed it to Ollie who calmly finished to get his second of the game and the teams 6th goal. A number of further subs saw the team change dynamics again and some good work from James D down the right saw the ball release to Scott who hit it from fully 25 yards giving the GK no chance with the ball looping over his head into the far corner. Although our finishing was definitely improving our defence at this point of James, Josh O'Reilly, Okey and Josh E were looking good and protecting Karl who I think touched the ball twice in the second half. Was that double that Adam did in the first half?   Ollie finished the game by bagging his hat trick from a chip from Scott B to round off a good victory.   Although the game at times on Sunday was frustrating a 8-0 win in the County Cup is a good start. Conditions were difficult and the hotter it got the more bobbly the pitch became. Still we are working hard in training to ensure the players are developing and we hope this shows (which it normally does). A league game against Kingstonian next week will be a good game to go to before taking on Leatherhead in the League cup semi final. Now that will be a challenge but I guess that's why we are on this little adventure. Well done boys!!