FC Deportivo Thurrock 0 – 8 Aveley Academicals

If you want a performance that epitomises what the Accies want to be, and how we want to play then this is it.  Let’s get the argument of Deportivo being weaker than the team we’ve had some memorable battles with over the past to one side, as many far better teams on paper would also have crumbled under the pressure and quality displayed in the opening half an hour.  OK, so there were periods when the foot was taken off the gas, but it’s rare to maintain a high level of intensity for ninety minutes and anyway, eight goals is more than enough for one match report.

Martin, Bobby, Tony and Scott were missing, but such is the strength of the squad at the moment that Liam was still able to name an imposing starting eleven which was complimented by strong options on the bench.  However, there is still a worry that we’re only a bad tackle or awkward turn away from losing a host of players, with Foggy’s foot and Liam’s knee being the latest concerns to add to Brian and H’s niggling injuries.  Despite pulling up in the team talk (not even the warm up) Foggy made it through the game but looks doubtful for next week, Liam managed half an hour before limping off, and his replacement Brian tried to come back too soon and lasted eleven minutes.  Harry faired pretty well, and was replaced by Luke A. in the second half more as a precaution rather than due to concerns over making it to full time.

 

Subs: James, Luke A., Brian

The Accies are notoriously slow starters, but on this occasion I can’t copy and paste from previous reports, as we got off to a flyer.  Within five minutes we had won a corner, which Lee curled in perfectly for Blakey to rise and head in unchallenged at the back post: 0-1.

If there were any nerves, these were well and truly eradicated by this early goal as Aveley relaxed into their stride.  The complete control over every aspect of the game for the next half hour was a joy to watch.  With Foggy and Lee acting as focal points in the middle, the ball was moved from left to right and back again.  If there wasn’t a dead cert of a ball forward, the Accies were happy to go sideways or backwards in search of a better angle of attack.  In the past we have been a team that tries to do the right things, but has sometimes been found lacking in the execution.  This is definitely not the case now, and whereas I’d usually be able to name one or two players who were particular good on the ball I could name the whole team today (including Lewis in goal).  There was no panic, there was always at least one person making himself available and the touches and passes were spot on.

It wasn’t even just the quality when we had the ball.  Deportivo could put a strong case for the Accies paying the ref and pitch fees on their own, as they simply weren’t allowed to participate in this football match.  When H wasn’t winning the ball back in midfield, Blakey was cutting out anything long over the top.  It wasn’t just these two though, as everyone was equally determined to get the ball back and to help out their fellow men in red.  Once again, it’s really hard to give much of a mention to Lewis, whose only worry was keeping warm.  However, he had to be alert to a few long range efforts and set pieces, but was more than equal to the task and deserved a second clean sheet of the season.

I could spend the whole report reeling off superlatives, but now that I’ve set the scene let’s get on with describing what I can remember of the goals.

When you have an old car that is on its last legs you can go one of two ways: try to nurse it so it lasts as long as possible, or rag the balls off it to get the most out of the last few drives.  Foggy was taking the latter approach with his body, as he seemed to want to be as big an influence as possible before the foot gave up.  He was absolutely everywhere, and it was therefore now surprise when he found space on the right to receive a throw in from Luke.  Our skipper let the ball run across him before unleashing an unstoppable low shot with his left, without breaking his stride, which bounced in off the far post: 0-2.

With Craig playing as the middle man in the three, his job was to hold up the ball and hope that Liam and Mike kept to their side of the bargain by making the runs down the channels.  Mike didn’t disappoint, and timed his run superbly to latch on to a fantastic reverse through ball from Craig.  Foggy was there again to try and get on the end of Mike’s low cross, but he could only deflect it further into the middle where Lee was on hand to tap in from 6 yards: 0-3.

I haven’t mentioned up to this point that Deportivo’s keeper’s (who I’m assuming was a stand-in) 5’6” frame made the goal a tempting target when any shooting opportunity presented himself.  However, when Liam closed him down, it wouldn’t have made any difference if he was 6’8” as he was disposed and Liam was able to tap into an empty net: 0-4.

I think it’s fair to say that our team spirit has never been higher, which definitely can’t be said for Deportivo, who by this point were imploding and fighting amongst themselves.  I always point out these incidents, as I think everyone would agree how embarrassing it is to see.  Let’s make sure that we never get to that point, no matter how the game is going.

It could have been much worse for our opposition by half time, as many more chances were created including an opportunity for a second from Blakey as he tried to finish a move he started on the half way line.  However, the keeper was equal to his strike on this occasion.

The second half got off to a much slower start, and it didn’t look like we were going to equal our goal tally from the first forty five.  However, once the fifth finally went in, the flood gates well and truly opened.  Luke C. had moved to the left (being replaced at right back by James who was on for Brian), and was brought down on the left edge of the area whilst receiving a pass from Eye-Ball.  Lee looked to take advantage of the keeper’s vertical impediment by lifting the ball over the wall, and although the cross bar came to the rescue, Blakey was quickest to react under the bar to finish smartly on the half volley with his left: 0-5.

Blakey turned from goal scorer to provider as he nodded Lee’s corner from the back post to the middle, where his defensive partner was on hand to grateful head the ball into the net.  This was a fitting reward for yet another colossal performance from Robin, whose excellent form has been exactly what we need with Brian side-lined.  In fact I think Brian knows he’s got a job on his hand to get his place back! 0-6.

With Blakey now getting forward at any opportunity in search of the perfect hat-trick, Lee unceremoniously stole his thunder by grabbing a hat-trick of his own.  His second, saw him finish off a move which I’m sure he would have had some earlier part in, as Craig drove into the box from the right before squaring to Lee to finish in front of goal: 0-7.

The hat-trick goal was a great solo effort, as Lee took advantage of being one of the few players with anything left in the tank.  He picked up the ball in the middle and advanced towards the area, where Mike had made himself an option for a through ball.  However, Lee chose to use him as decoy and brushed aside the last defender before curling the ball low into the bottom corner.  Foggy seemed particularly devastated that his feat of two weeks ago had been equalled by his team mate, as he lay out on the deck as if we’d just lost the match.  Come on Skip, at least it wasn’t a perfect hat-trick.  I suppose it could be argued that this goal was unassisted, but if anyone wants to claim the pass to Lee we could award the contribution: 0-8.

So that was it for the goals, but I’d like to just mention one other effort of note from Mike.  Mike has made the wide right position his own this season, and plays in exactly the way that suits the system and style we are trying to achieve.  He isn’t afraid to come inside if the route down the line is blocked, and his faultless touch and accurate passing means when he gets the ball we usually keep it.  He’s also happy to track back and help in defence, and has really bought into the team ethos.  I thought it was only fair to give him a few column inches, and it would have been even more if his sweat volley from 18 yards, as he latched onto Craig’s cross, had flown a few inches more to the right.

Lee not only beat Blakey to the hat-trick, but also just pipped him to the MoTM award as he also moved to the head of the goal scoring chart.  Not only is Lee a quality footballer, whose composure on the ball and desire to be involved in play all over the pitch makes him a constant out-ball and catalyst for getting the team on the front foot, but he’s also a really positive vocal influence in a side that has been criticised for being a little quiet in the past. 

H received the obligatory nomination for DoTD, this time for turning up at Thames Rugby Club when we were playing at Belhus.  But it was Eye-Ball who took the award this week; to play in this team now you can’t hide from the ball, and Eye-Ball probably had more touches in this game out on the left than in any other over the past eleven years. Everything was actually going pretty well until a free kick was awarded for hand ball near the opposition box.  With vertigo kicking in, Eye-Ball was ready to retreat to the safety of the half way line, and leave the ball to someone who could actually kick it.  However, a cry from an unmarked skipper cannot be easily ignored, and Eye-Ball attempted to oblige by taking the kick quickly, lifting it over the last defender and leaving Foggy with the easiest of routes on goal.  However, there was to be no assist, no ninth goal and no slice of the glory pie, as Eye-Ball’s hasty effort only succeeded in hitting the retreating defender on the back.

 

And so another day of being proud to be an Accie comes to the end, and our slow ascent up the table continues as we move one more place to fourth.  Next week we come up against second place Palmers, who lost a close game to Thames Gateway this week.  Palmers are known as the team that film their games, so let’s do our hair, polish our boots and make sure we dominate not just the game, but the highlights reel as well.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 13th November @ Home v Palmers

Goal scoring chart