Today saw the Ravens away to Yenton at Tomkinson Road. Having played Yenton in a couple of tournaments , I knew they would come out fighting and it wouldn't be an easy game. I was hoping for a better performance from the lads this week and our passing game was something we have worked on over the two training seesions. For the first ten or so minutes it was fairly even with both sides looking to create chances. The lads, as usual, took a bit of time to settle down with Cooky and Stevie working hard up front . Coxy and Ni in the midfield with Freddo and Willsy on the wings were easing themselves into the game. Our first chance came with a ball through the middle to Cooky who took a shot which was well saved by the Yenton keeper. At the other end Yenton found themselves in good posistions in the 18 Yard box but resilient defending from AJ and Knightsy together with two or three great saving tackles from Smithy and Marty saw the Yenton forwards denied. Round about the 17th minute mark saw Matty with a kick out his hands. With the wind behind us the ball soared past the halfway line and caught a Yenton defender unawares. He , in fairness to him, tried to head it away but unfortuntley for him it went back towards his goal. Lou, who had come on for Cooky, got on the end of it and outpaced all the Yenton defence into the 18 yard area. Seeing the keeper coming off his line, Lou struck it early and the ball found the net to make us 1-0 up. A couple of minutes later saw a re-run of the first goal with Stevie getting on the end of the ball this time and taking an early shot which went past the keeper leaving Lou an easy tap in to make it 2-0. At this the lads tails were up and we began to pass the ball a little better. Willsy, who had tken a couple of good corners and worked hard camew off for Harris and Coxy came off for Griff with Finnie replacing AJ in defence. I cant remember the third goal in any detail but I think it came from an attacking move down the left which saw Stevie take a shot with his left foot (which he reminded me of at half time, ) to slot the ball home for 3-0. Halftime soon came round and I knew it was going to be a bit tougher going up hill and facing into the wind. I did say to the lads they were letting Yenton having too much room to play and they needed to close down and pressurise them in all areas of the pitch. They took this on board (well done lads) and the second half saw the lads work harder closing down. An attacking move up the right saw Lou take a shot. From where I was I thought it had missed the goal and everbody else but I was soon proved wrong when Stevie tapped it home to make it 4-0. By this time Brad had come on for Marty in defence and made a couple of good challenges to stop Yenton breaking through our back line. I have to say I was pleased with Finnie and Knightsy at wing backs, they had a lot more composure this week and looked to pass the ball when possible. It didn't always come off but the right idea was there. A winning tackle from Knightsy saw Freddo pick up the ball more or less at the half way point. Some great feet and pace saw him take everyone on and he soon found himself in the 18 Yard area. With the goal area opening up for him Freddo shot and the ball nestled into the bottom corner to give us a 5-0 lead. A great individual goal. The lads by this time were really looking to pass the ball with Coxy particularly looking to get it out wide with griff playing a good holding role in the midfield. Soon after the best move of the game occurred with H and Lou doing one twos up the right wing which culmanated in H putting in a great cross into the box which Stevie tried to get on the end of but couldn't quite. If any move deserved a goal it was that one. Yenton continued to battle on and a good ball found it's way from the midfield to their striker, who skipped past the defence and shot. Matty made a good initial stop but the ball came out of his hands which was picked up by the striker who squared it for one of their other players to put away to make it 5-1. Again the sixth goal I can't really remember but suffice it to say Lou put it away for his hattrick. Soon after the final whistle blew to give us a well earned 6-1 victory. I said at the beginning of the report that I was looking for an improved performance and I think the lads gave us that today. All the defenders I thought played really well and were a lot more composed. All three wingmen worked hard and put some good passing moves together with H and Willsy putting some great corners into the box. The central mids were looking to get it wide more and all three strikers were looking to get goals and hit the ball early. There are still plenty of things to work on and you have to continue to work hard in training lads but a better performance today. Well done