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Hello sports fans, Toch Singh here. Here's my first match report, hope you enjoy.....

It was that time of the season where we were up against our fierce rivals from last season, Collier Row. I have always seen this fixture as a great Arsenal side against a successful Bolton team. Having played them 5 times last season and only picking up one win it was fair to say they were our bogey side. However the Newbury 1st team has come on leaps and bounds since last season and it showed in this fixture.

As always we played 4-3-3 with Graham in goal. With no Starling, Andy Lane and Jey on international duty we switched Alfie to left back and Dean started right back. Kye returned from injury to partner Nick at the heart of the defence. Gibbo and Jon G played in midfield with Toch playing a more attacking role. Andy Saunders was up top with Shaun and JRB either side of him.

We began the game a bit nervy and didn’t really get a hold of the ball. However after 10 minutes we began to get the ball down and play the way we know we can. Unlike last season we were on the “show pitch” and I felt this helped massively. With a bigger pitch we had more space to play with and keep the opposition moving.

There were no real clear cut opportunities in the first half. Andy’s constant closing down paid off with when he nicked the ball off their centre back and had a speculative effort straight into the keeper’s arms. Collier Row’s main threat came from a long throw anywhere in our half. As a team we defended well, Nick and JRB dominated in the air and the rest of the team were quick to pick up on the second ball. As the half drew to an end it looked like remaining all square. However JRB had other things on his mind. A long throw from Kye went straight to Toch. He set the ball back to Shaun who switched the ball to JRB. A great first touch enabled him to pull out a screamer from the edge of the area into the top right corner….great strike, 1-0 up half time.

The team were buzzing at half time and knew exactly what they had to do in the second half. Things got off to a great start when a quick throw by Shaun put Toch through on the left. He beat the defender and pulled the ball back for Saunders to calmly finish on his left foot. Our tails were up and we had them rattled. Everyone was winning their individual battles. Jon G and Gibbo were dictating the middle while Shaun and JRB had the full backs on the back foot constantly.

Yet again their main threat was only from their long throw. We had defended well until a dubious decision to award a penalty against Kye for handball gave Collier Row a lifeline. Graham managed to get fingertips to the pen but they scored, 2-1 with 15 minutes to go. Brad then decided to make a change and brought on Dave for JRB. We continued to defend well and instead of needlessly booting up field we played our way out of trouble.

As they pushed forward they left gaps at the back and with minutes to go Gibbo won the ball deep in our half and gave the ball to Shaun to put a great though ball for Dave. He beat the defender with raw pace and calmly lifted the ball over the keeper, 3-1 full time.

 

Starting Line Up:

Now for the ratings

Graham “Newbury’s No2” Tritton GK
Commanded his area well and good distribution. So far this season his talking and encouragement has helped massively 8/10

Dean “New Boy” Nevill RB
Playing out of position Dean had a solid game. Always looking to play it to feet, he looked comfortable 8/10

Alfie “Full back yeah” Egembah LB
Left back, right back don’t worry about it Captain Marvel was a rock at the back. No surprise the two times we have beaten Collier Row he has played full back on not wide right 8/10

Nick “Are you whipped?” Marrable CB
Tremendous in the air and had a fantastic game. Led by example and didn’t moan as much as normal 8/10

Kayode “I’m back” Braithwaite CB
First game back since the opening day and did well. Looked a bit rusty at times but overall good performance 8/10

Tom “Andy Johnson” Gibbings DM
This season he’s been the best player by a mile. Today was another day at the office. Kept the ball moving and dominated the midfield 8/10

Jon “Phil Neville” Galligan DM
Back in his “favoured” position Galligan put in a good display. He ran his socks off and very rarely lost possession 8/10

Toch “3rd top goal scorer” Singh AM
Quite start to the game but soon found his feet. Linked up well with the front three and won some important headers 8/10

Jason “Black men can jump” Reynolds-Blanche WR
Made the position his own since his move up. Scored a great goal and was formidable in the air 8/10

Shaun “Who can I start a fight with today” Harris WL
Involved in all three goals today and was always an outlet on the left. Coasted past players all game 8/10

Andy “Goal Machine” Saunders CF
Showed absolute bags of energy today, never stopped running and took his goal well 8/10

Subs
Dave “WHAT IS IT? NOTHING!” Ademakinwa WL
The game was made for him when he came on, 2-1 up and gaps at the back he came on and ran the defence riot. Great finish for his goal 8/10  

Man of the Match
Toch Singh