Super Sils shatter Stratford hopes…. but “poor form” is the outcome

The Mighty 4s went into this home game with the bare minimum eleven, and found themselves facing a squad of 15 mainly young players from the Bards town. Stratford were unbeaten in the league up to this point and on seeing their opposition must have fancied their chances of extending that run. To be… or not to be? that was their question. Sils answered unequivocally: T’was not to be!

An early goal slammed home by Tom Whitfield set the tone as Sils crisp passing cut through the visitor’s defence; and more goals were threatened with Rushy looking sharp, and Whitfield and Fletcher John cutting through with some penetrating runs. However, Stratford fought back and their young forwards caught Sils back line cold to equalise. In a first half where the play became much more evenly balanced, back came Sils with a fine individual goal from Whitfield, only for the Bard’s boys to bring it back level, 2-2 at the interval.

The talk at half time was of game management, less running with the ball, and the importance of short accurate passes and keeping possession: “if they haven’t got it, they can’t score!” said the wise-owl Willetts, who has been around a long time and knows these things…

And straight from the re-start, so it proved, as Rushy finished off a great team goal where we did just what Keith had said. Having no subs meant we needed to manage the game carefully, but the old(er) legs of Sils seemed to get stronger as the game went on, and then, as the goals went in. Mick Lane and James Gregory were having their best games of the season as wing backs, Aaron Lawana was tracking back whenever needed, and Bettridge and Higgins were looking solid at the back (read that how you like Mike... ). Stratford weren’t done yet though, and fought back with a fair share of possession being lost by Sils in midfield, forcing several fine saves from Josh Bowley. A tactical change saw Harrison move to the back of the diamond, adding some strength and at the same time freeing off Fletcher to use his pace down the right on the counter-attack, which quickly paid dividends.

Having soaked up 10 minutes of pressure, a fourth goal came, and it was Rush again, powerfully slapping home the rebound after his first shot was saved. With a two-goal cushion Sils pushed forward and Whitfield was rewarded with his hat-trick with a neat reverse stick finish after completing a solo run. And right at the end, it was hat-trick honours even, as Andy made no mistake in a one-on-one with the keeper. They get to keep the match ball… half each!

So what of the “poor form” in the headlines? All I can say is that according to Facebook, the 71-year old Willetts was accredited with 3 goals, and Rushy got none! Oh James!.... don’t ‘rush’ when filling in the match result form and do check all the facts – one line in this case made a massive difference! (But its OK, I don't think Keith does FB...shhh, don't let him know!). And the same form, for reasons understood only by the Stratford captain, went unsigned by the visitors. …. poor form I'm afraid.

And finally, for those regular readers who are missing our erstwhile GK Yogi’s traditional Shakespearean sonnets following our matches vs Stratford, fear not – he is recovering from surgery at home and I have forwarded him this report to do a translation…. Get well soon Yogi from all the Mighty 4s!