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05/09/2011 - Plaistow v Slinfold Res Match Report
As seems to be the norm over the last few seasons, Plaistow kicked of another campaign at home. Plaistow hosted Slinfold in their opening game and this game shows a lot can change in a season. Slinfold were the whipping boys last year. There were even times when they nearly couldnt get ateam together. From this season opener that does not seem to be the case anymore. The Slinfold side turned up early and looked keen to get things started. A reported 45 players have tunred up for slinfold in pre season and it certainly showed, as it was hard to recognise many of their players from last year. Plaistow had a very familiar look. Only two of the pre season new signings could make it for the game and so Plaistow were left with the tried and tested. The game had all the markings of the first game of the season. People were rusty and nervous and as a result the game was anything but fluid. Plaistow tried to get their passing going and in patches did so. Good play from Sam, Clarke and Wooly often just failed with the final pass. As the minutes went by it became more apparent that both sides were nothing near their best. Both teams created chances and both let them slip away. The Plaistow defence seemed to be coping well and Keane was in great form both in shutting chances down and also commanding his area. Finally Plaistow did convert one of their chances and Wooly who was fed in by a nice pass by Chris Brazier, slid his shot under the keeper to make it one nil. I would like to say that Plaistow dominated from this point but that would not be true. Slinfold continued to try to play and they also created some good openings. However they just could not take any of them. Half Time 1-0 The team talk was all about going through the gears and playing a bit better. We didnt really do this and the beginning of the second half Plaistow played as bad as I have seen us for a while. There was just no spark or movement. It is said though that a good side wins when they are not at their best. Despite allowing Slinfold to equalise Plaistow did not stop and pressed forward straight away after letting the goal in. Plaistows pressure was rewarded with a couple of late free kicks and from one of them plaistow found their winner. Gilling Lobbed a ball high to the back post, where a rising Brazier headed home under pressure. Final Score 2-1 Plaistow. Some bits to mention. Plaistow handed to first games to Simon Yeates who got stronger as the game went along. He added some hard work and fight to the game. Never stopping and always putting his man under pressure. Sam Nagaratnam came on late in the game and also gave a good account of himself. He drew the foul that resulted in Plaistows winner. Lastly Man of the Match award goes to Gary Keane. He kept a cool head throughout the game and snuffed out a number of Slinfold chances. His save from close range on the line was top quality.
