North London Crickets vs British Samurai 23/11/03

1.      R Hall

2.      S Ali

3.      C Nicholson

4.      P Mills

5.      JC Torres Nava

6.      M Burns

7.      S O’Hagan

8.      L Buffer

9.      G Nicholson

10.  B Wakeford

11.  F Cuevas (on for L Buffer at half time)

Crickets 6 V British Samurai 0  (Crickets earn a first clean sheet for the season.)

 Top of the Table Crickets completed a league double against British Samurai with an all-round solid team performance. Poor conditions meant Cricket’s physical dominance was always going to count for extra, and there were goals-a-plenty for Crickets who walked home with victory in the bag and their first clean sheet of the season under their hat. Crickets made just one change from last week as Mark Burns (filling in for Craig at the back of midfield) capped an impressive debut by scoring Cricket’s second goal with a low shot from close range, as Crickets hit Samurai on the break with a pace and fluency reminiscent of Arsenal of last season. The move started with the keeper and ended with high fives for Mark as Crickets took control with a two-goal lead early on. Steve O’Hagan had already opened the scoring from a Mills Long Throw inside ten minutes. Cricket’s scored for fun from set pieces as Mills’ claimed a total of three assists from Corners and Long Throws that British Samurai simply did not have the height to deal with. At 0-2 Samurai finally stood up to be counted, and fought bravely for 20odd minutes, coming close on two occasions. However Crickets defended resolutely and the clean sheet was earned first with a last-ditch sliding tackle from Nicholson, and later with an outstanding low, diving save from the young keeper Hall, who is realising his potential with more and more accomplished performances as the season progresses. But Samurai could not capitalise and on 40mins the game was won for Cricket’s with a move so smooth, the solitary spectator couldn’t believe it. JC collected in defence and spun a superb long ball inside the last defender to O’Hagan wide on the right, who crossed early and low for Wakeford, who was charging into the box at such speed, that he could not stop as he slid in to score with his leg outstretched, and nearly wrapped himself around the post. At half time Crickets could smell victory in the air and went for the kill as centre half Nicholson crashed in a thumping header from Mills’ corner. Cold and beaten, Samurai just wanted the punishment to end. Disarray at the back produced two more goals for Wakeford and O’Hagan to share, as Crickets once again proved they are worth their league position with a 6-0 win on a bloody cold, wet and windy day.