Good Team Performance

Rather than our customary bare 11, we travelled to Old Georgians with a more comfortable 12, which given we would would be chasing a younger and quicker midfield and forward line, was a good thing!

As OGs warmed up for 30 mins and looked serious and business-like, we had a more casual approach with Coops arriving just after the toss. Moaty, meanwhile, was finally loose after a 45 minute stretch.

As the game started we realised we were in for a challenge. Whilst lacking youth at the back, OGs had experience and too much of our promising possession was foiled as we ran into flat sticks. They were strong in midfield and rotations saw us overloaded on occasion but they didn’t capitalise.... until a quick break Saw then through, Rav saving well but the rebound dropping nicely for their right midfield who banged it high into an empty net. 0-1 down and an uphill battle.

We continued to push and OGs conceded a corner for not retreating 5 yards. Andy scored with a straight strike from the top, hard and low into the left corner. 1-1 at half time, but we were now down to our customary 11 as Brad accelerated to defend a break, pulled his hamstring but still managed to get to the ball first.

Minus Danny Hall they were relatively toothless in front of goal and fortunately failed to take the other chances they had in the first half.

We had a chat about passing players on in defence, Terry playing deeper and the second half was hard but slightly more comfortable. We were less exposed on the break, but still required 3 or 4 great saves from Rav - coming off his line and smothering well.

We won several short corners at the other end - Woosie doing just enough to tip a shot onto the post off the line, before a slip right to Immy and his return found Terry who clipped it in to make it 2-1.

We could and perhaps should have scored one more, with a couple of chances going begging, and after an improved second half we were deserving winners.

Another good team performance with everyone working hard for each other. Many thanks to Mike Gray for officiating in the gloom of the floodlights.

That makes six wins in a row for the Rustlers as we go into the Christmas break second in the league. It was interesting (and disappointing) to see EG scrape past bottom of the league Southgate 4-3, a team we beat 5-0 last weekend. I can’t help feeling there are still some upsets to come.

No more Rustlers games until 2019, but an O50 a cup match v Southgate on Sunday - team list out tomorrow.