A definite pass mark today for the Stallions – a very enjoyable game and great all around effort to beat Wainui 4-0 at Nairnville. Another clean sheet, another Lister special from 25 yards and another ‘is it a goal or an oggie’ deflection see us top of the table.
A ref under assessment meant no rolling subs which, if anything, helped us settle into good shape and patterns. Nick and Robin brought a lot of wide running and were rewarded with a more passing-oriented game than Stallions fan(s) might have come to expect.
Paul kicked well up the left, and the passing game paid off for Rauru as his sharp ball for Lloyd at the far post was deflected in. Gus was soon brought down in a clumsy challenge as he turned to shoot in the box, and Rauru made it 2-0 from the spot.
Ten minutes of good defence saw us to the break, where a week of carefully thought out online strategising culminated in Jason’s paper losing to Tangi’s scissors. Dan tucked in for Jase, Gus dropped back right to make room for Tristan upfront, and Graham stood down for Spencer at left back.
Fed by a steady stream of passes from our back four and theirs, our midfield grew in confidence. Aaron to Nick to Rauru to Lloyd to Aaron to goal o’clock from 25 yards.
After a series of threatening corners, a fourth finally came from broken play. A retreating Rob picked up an intercept wide on the right, eased forward, glanced up, and rip-stitched it top locker far post from 35 yards. Mint!
Wainui were a good bunch who played fair and worked hard. They kept looking to attack and were very unlucky to not score in the last minute.
Great to start the season with a couple of enjoyable wins, a bit of time on the ball, and a hint of a pretty settled formation.
Pony: Tristan - whose first touch of the season was to literally stand on the ball when put through on goal.
Stallion: Nick - for a series of strong challenges (and notwithstanding the sideline Piaffe)
6 comments:
Fantastic effort Stallions. Keep up the gr8 work
Nice work Dan, a great report - setting the bar high for future ponies.
Great effort Stallions, that 0 goals conceded after 2 games looks pretty darn good. Villa scoring 8 goals after last week seems crazy, but they also conceded 5. Theres obviously a lot of action to come this season in Div 6.
Nice point about the structure and formation Dan - we are beginning to feel more settled and organised than we have for a while.
Added new season polls for us to get started voting on. Let me know if I have missed anything (more misses by Rauru?). Dan, sorry to put your missed header in the worst miss of the season poll - just didn't want Rauru to feel lonely in there.
Heck, that miss from around the penalty spot was worse than the 1-on-1 near the beginning of the game? They were both pretty bad (although the first one was a good save, the second one I hit straight at him I guess).
Yep, great report there Dan although the second goal ended Tristin-Rauru-Aaron - I need credit for the assist! Loving the call on the half time substitution strategy.
And after all the talk of 4-3-3 it looks like 4-4-2 is our best formation. Our wide players are playing well, playing quite high up the pitch but also doing lots of defending when needed, and we seem to have an understanding that one of the strikers drops in to the middle a bit more and helps out on D when we are under pressure which is helping. As for the D themselves - the 'GA' on the points table says it all really. Again it was that commitment to win the ball (as opitomised by Nick's Stallion worthy tussles, as well as all midfielders and defenders) that saw us through. Long live the new improved Stallions!
Great match report!! Set the standard - i'll have to try and make sure i'm never pony otherwise the match report would be much more like - "yep played soccer...some fulla scored a goal... good/stink match (depending on the result), the end"
great result lads - loving that we are top of the table having not conceeded!
Joe
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