£16.6667 a goal?

A return to league action saw the Cougars suffering no Christmas hangover. On a pitch bereft of grass through the middle the instruction was simple and essentially the same as always. Play 2/3 touch in the middle and get it wide. The wingers to hug the touch line and drive us forward.

Simple maybe and today very effective.

We were expecting an onslaught from lakeside but it never really came. Their best player was forced deep to pick the ball up and then with too much to do they rarely troubled our defence. When we had the ball we were playing the ball around and always looked a threat from the wings. It took little over 10 minutes for the scoring to be opened. Louis scoring from close range just as Mark breezed onto the touch line. 1-0.

The second goal came shortly afterwards, Jacob who was excellent all match, broke forward from deep Jorge running in front of his to his right and Luca to his left saw the defence caught flat footed. The ball played to Jorge who finished well to the keepers left. 2-0. Jacob added the third himself scoring again to the keepers left following a strong solo run. 

At half time 3-0 and looking dominant. Second half and we really played some great stuff. The ball retention and composure in possession was quite excellent. If it broke down then the central midfielders were there to pick it up. Ryan, Freddie, Jacob and Luca all looked strong and had the physicality to be able to break up play and then pass the ball forward with quality. Where they were bypassed Lewis and George pressed into midfield and beyond going on mazy runs themselves. We continued to create chances and goals were not far behind. Jacob completed his hat-trick with two headers the first from progressive play from Hercules whose shot/cross was nodded in from close range. The second from a corner at the near post. 

Legend has it that if Jacob scores a hat-trick it's worth £50. A cool £16.6667 a goal. Cheap at half the price. 

Louis went on to bag his second of the match finishing again from close range. Freddie scored a spectacular penalty into the top corner after Taylor was brought down, Max completed the scoring to give us five goal scorers. With Taylor and Luca going close and Jorge narrowly missing with a spectacular looping shot this was a much improved attacking display. 

With the opening team talk being about getting our shots away and being decisive this was particularly pleasing. 

There was a minor blot on the landscape with Lakeside pulling one back at the death with a penalty. Will dived the right way and got something on it but the ball went beyond him. 8-1 and how it would finish. 

Jacob was MotM for a dominant performance in the heart of midfield and for a brilliant hat-trick. There were candidates all over the pitch which is what we want to see. 

Well done to the lads on a great victory that puts us firmly back on the right track following the draw against Cinderford. We will need to play with this composure and decisiveness next Sunday when we face Charlton Rovers Reds.

I don't really understand the comparison between Finn and Paulo Wanchope...... http://youtu.be/LVdaDkiIOfM

See you on Wednesday at training.