Moor Mead Athletic 6 - Teddington Athletic Rockets 0
Moor Mead cruised to a comprehensive win in the first round of the Presidents Cup at a sun drenched Marble Hill. Last year they needed penalties to squeak by the Rockets, this time the match was over as a contest well before half-time. After the opening salvo the main dramatic tension on the sidelines came from whether England could hold off Australian pressure in the Rugby World Cup quarter-final.
Moor Mead dominated possession from the whistle. Will Sutton looked lively down the right, and Miles took advantage of greater space than usual in midfield to drive the team forward. The opening goal came from a lovely little one-two out wide between Will Sutton and Miles. Will’s cross was met by ZAC, who guided his header skilfully past the keeper (1-0).
Moor Mead were faster, sharper, and more comfortable on the ball than their opponents, and the second goal quickly followed. Tom latched on to a loose ball on the edge of the box, and his cross was diverted into the net by a defender for an own goal (2-0).
It was 20 minutes before Louis, playing in goal, touched the ball. At the other end, the chances came thick and fast. Miles shot wide, Daniel, Zac and Tom combined well, but Tom shot at the keeper, then Zac volleyed narrowly wide from a Tom chip, and Tom went close twice more.
The third goal was inevitable, and duly arrived when Miles burst down the left, setting up TOM for a side foot finish (3-0). Next, Shaifulah twisted and turned in the box to set up TOM for a fourth (4-0). Shaifulah was denied by the keeper, and combined with Tom to force another chance around the time England set the seal on their 40-16 victory in Japan.
Moor Mead started the second half in similar fashion. ZAC extended the lead, buying the ball into the bottom corner through a crowd of players (5-0). Thereafter, it was just a question of how many the Parakeets would score.
To their credit, Teddington continued to battle well, but were outclassed. Zac shot across goal, Elliot surged down the left, and was unlucky to his shot slide past the far post, and Will Sutton went close after a lovely piece of skill.
Shaifulah put a side foot shot wide, and Zac’s header was well saved from a Will S cross. Daniel got in on the act from full back, his shot from the edge of the box almost squirming under the keeper.
Teddington finally threatened, but Miles, now in goal, blocked the shot well. Other than struggling with the low autumn sun in his eyes, it was the only test he faced in 35 minutes between the sticks.
There was just time for the opposition linesman to throw his flag away in disgust after his offside call was ignored by the referee.
But Moor Mead didn’t need any largesse from the officials to wrap things up with a flourish. TOM powered a header home from a driven Elliot corner to wrap up his perfect hat-trick (left foot, right foot and header) (6-0),
All in all, an impressive day at the office for the Parakeets. Onto Round 2...