Matchday Three - 6-2 Win VS 4-4-2
TTFE jumped to second place in Sunday Division Three after claming their third win in as many matches.
The TTFE bandwagon rolls on with another fine performance, this time vanquishing one of the many debutants 4-4-2, who also had a 100% record to protect. It was another hot and muggy night at Gol, so a good strong squad was needed to ensure fatigue was not to be their undoing. This week boasted such a strong side, with Dave Weller in goal, Joe Newbury and Paul Preece manning the back, whilst Billy Collins, Chris Phillips, James Carling and James Pugh led the hunt for goals.
4-4-2 started strong, with real fire in their belly and some real ferocious shooting. It was clear that any space given to this team would be suicidal. Yet TTFE grabbed the lead through Newbury after he tapped it through the keeper's legs from a challenge with the defender. 4-4-2 soon bounced back with a fine effort, just beating the ball-stopper Weller. At 1-1 the game turned into a bore draw, with very little imaginative play and no initiative. Just when it looked like no team was able to break the deadlock, It was up to the 'James Duo' to work their magic. Both James Pugh and James Carling began to read off the same hymn sheet and convert two goals between them to put the game at comfortable 3-1 for half time.
4-4-2 were clearly tired, especially as they only had the bare minimum of five players. But the restart was just what they needed to refocus, re-energise and revive. They struck early after the interval and gained real momentum; pushing the run of play into their favour. 4-4-2 then won a penalty after TTFE strayed into the penalty area, but Weller was able to make a momentous save. As the game seemed to be slipping away, Preece then made his typical indestructible run to goal and topped it with a piercing shot which put TTFE back in the driving seat. At 4-2 TTFE ended the hope of a 4-4-2 revival, as they faded into obscurity leaving gaps as wide as China upa nd down the pitch. The James Duo went to work once more and shown some promising movement and passing play. Carling was just as dangerous as ever around the penalty area, executing with precision and deadly accuracy. Pugh also proved that he can score from the tightest of angles, in the hope that he can retain his golden boot award. So far, Chris Phillips has stormed ahead but a duck for him in this game has cut his lead to a single goal. The game ended 6-2 but 4-4-2 did go down fighting - exemplified by a fingertip save by Weller late in the game which would have most certainly gone in.
Three out of three - sounds good maybe, but four out of four sounds just a little bit better. This is a dream start for TTFE, who were happy enough to start off the season with a win. TTFE now have to start piling the goals on teams if they are contend for anything this year as fellow 100%ers already upstrip them on the old GD.
Perhaps too early to start mentioning the holy grail of 'p-------n'* just yet, but TTFE can certainly crack open a beer or two for what has to be a truly wonderful start to the campaign.
Goals: Carling 2, Pugh 2, Newbury, Preece.
Goal Tally: Phillips 4, Pugh 3, Carling 3, Collins 1, Preece 1, Newbury 1, (Default) 1.
* - refers to the process of 'end of the season league ascension and advancement'. For reasons of 'tempting fate', I have chosen not to use this word until at least half of the season has passed.
