Another 1-0 win enough to move the 2s to the 2nd spot.

Recollections of a hard fought game:

Walking into the changing room pre-match at Old Halesonians, this veteran of ten seasons or more in the Sils 2nd XI was able to recognise no more than four players in a youthful and enthusiastic squad. This is a newly recruited and fresh looking group of players that has the potential to make an impact on the West Midlands One League; it needs shaping and organisation and it will achieve good things in the coming weeks. A trio of talented youth: Luke Kent, Joe Houlcroft, George Bayliss, a solid defensive unit of students: Brin Jones, Millan Chauhan, Sam Howe, and sharp upfront millennials: Tom Merriman, Danny Nicoll, Joe Schuppler, added to the familiar and experienced backbone of Older Silhillians: Mo Hadian, Mark Dovey, Adam Kent, Josie O’Malley and this reporter, Nick Oppenheimer. It was both refreshing and a great pleasure to take 3 points in a 1-0 victory over an Old Halesonians side who had three weeks previous in a friendly thrashed us 6-1. So to the game:

My memory for detail in any game [*Ed: in life] is poor at the best of times, so inaccuracy and mistakes will be plentiful in this report. Sils experienced the same on the pitch in a game that was riddled with missed opportunities and some controversy. Early exchanges between the two sides were even as the newly formed Sils side got to grips with positions, names and playing qualities. The back four were calm and collected as Millsy, Sam, Schupps and the writer moved the ball confidently around the back. Old Hales threatened, were quick and sprightly, creating two 1-on-1 opportunities with Sils goalkeeper. However, the man in goal, Brin, kept his cool and pulled out a series of fantastic saves to keep the score level. It was however Sils’ attacking pressure applied by good combination work between midfield and attack that eventually forced a series of short corners with Luke Kent always threatening with George Bayliss on the left hand side of the oppostion ‘D’. From a short corner then, with a well worked switch move, Adam Kent delivered a fiery ball from the right towards the back post where Nobby [yep, that’s me] punished the slow-to-react defenders, stepping in to slap the ball home. 1-0. 25 minutes played.

Encouraged and with some momentum, Sils started to link together more passing movements albeit at times too slowly and too carefully – some speed of thought needed to be injected to the game, but essentially Sils trying to do the right things. Sils did manage to produce another clear chance when Tom Merriman’s perfectly weighed pass was picked up by Mo Hadian on the counter. The ball was slipped through to Adam Kent for a 1-on-1 but his effort was denied only by a good reaction from the opposition goalkeeper.

Half time with Mo Hadian consisted an encouraging analysis. Only having played together for 35 minutes, the team needed to be more aware of space and ball retention. The defensive duties of the team were exemplary and if we could keep a clean sheet (for a second week!) the points would be ours. If we started to pass quickly then we would give the forwards and attacking midfield opportunity to have a wobble (Ed: bit old skool that, its 3-D skillz these days), hit the back line and pressurise the opposing ‘D’.

Sils managed to stick to their game plan in the second half and once again were fantastic in defence. Old Hales applied the pressure and once again managed to produce a dangerous opportunity. Brin, having made the initial save was knocked down by the attacker leaving the Old Hales winger with an opportunity to put the ball into an empty net. Just when everyone thought that the goal was a certainty, it was Joe O’Malley’s sheer determination that prevented the equaliser, arriving at the last moment to clear the ball off the line. At the opposite end the youngsters continued to attack and win more short corners. Adam Kent’s effort was close as this time the post prevented his shot going in. Mo Hadian was pressing to score his 3rd goal of the season and following a neat ticki-tacca style exchange with George Bayliss came close with his shot from the top right side of the D. A few minutes later , he did manage to find his goal, however, it was the umpires who after a long chat decided to not let the goal stand as they felt Mo had not touched the ball inside the area. Controversial decision. Not long after, yet another Sils goal was disallowed, this time Joe Schuppler had found himself in the D following a good attack. His reverse stick shot was perfectly executed but the umpires ruled it out for crossing infringement. The Old Hales goalkeeper later apologised for this controversial decision and felt that the goal was perfectly legitimate.

Old Hales pressed hard to get back into the game and were awarded a series of short corners. Ulitmately the boys in defence, supported by Mark Dovey, showed just why they are currently the best defence in the league by managing everything that was thrown at them. Brin made a further handful of saves and was deservedly voted Man of the Match for his 2nd clean sheet of the season.

1-0 the final score remained as Sils moved on to 7 points from a possible 9. A solid start to the season.