With the free transfer of Danny Hewitt been signed off and the additions of Nicky hart and James Stevenson the gate looked a strong side that’s without the mention of the Gates top scorer from last season ste cooper been available for selection.
The Gate played with there formidable 4-4-2 with trueman, jacko, kell and stevo at the heart of the play dobbo and Nat as fullbacks Duffy and Nicky out wide tricky and shifty up top with Ben between the sticks.
After a stern word in the team talk about discipline the gate came flying out of the traps and controlled the tempo of the game which look key in the hot conditions, many subs were made in the "roll on roll off" agreement and soon we would see how the new lads and cooper would be integrated into the squad. The first half ended with shared honers and already changes had been made to the gate team little into the second half and again the gate took the game by the scruff of the neck Dan Hewitt had settled in centre mid with James Stevenson working hard and terrorising there defence up front and Nicky hart slotting back to full back where he look more comfortable on and off the ball. The gate found another gear and played some fantastic touch football in difficult heat and uncut grass now seeing the Cooperman also been brought on along with some RE-freshed legs which saw the gate ease in front and took it to 5-2 with 10 mins to play. More changes had to be made with tired legs and the opptunity to try new things, trueman the Captain came off and Nat now tried to settle next to jacko but before the gate could find a rhythm cross gates had pinched back two goals through no fault of bens who proved he is the best keeper in the league. THE FINAL WHISTLE WENT AND FINISHED THE GATE 5-4 CROSSGATES.
Few key points in the game for me-
JAY STEVOS play hard but fair talk then chopping a guy down in the first tackle
MATT JACKOS save off the like with his nose!?
TRICKY staying composed long enough in front of goal to score
GAV KELLS falling over fresh air onto his face
WELL DONE TO ALL INVOLVED SOME GOOD FOOTBALL PLAYED SO LETS TAKE THE POSITIVES INTO THE NEXT GAME.
