Match Review: SCC Firsts vs CBD Wanderers

• GK Ronnie Smollett
• DF Jack Cullinane
• DF Jahan Rezai
• MD Anthony Garreau
• MD Tim Walter
• ST Liam Shotton
• -- Andrew Hutcheon
• -- Matt Hulen
• -- Leon Marx
• -- Ben King
• -- Thomas George

• DF Tim Mellet
• MD John Norfolk
• MD Matt Zatto
• -- Thomas George
• -- Owen Monaghan

Adam Bowden continued his unbeaten run as stand-in manager for the SCC First team with a comfortable 2-0 win to secure a place in the Cosmoleague Cup Final. The match began at a high tempo and CBD playing a high line whilst seeking to press high. SCC handled this well and passed our way through the thirds well to create a few good chances. The best of these chances fell to Andrew Hutcheon after a patient build up and surging run forward from Jack Cullinane. Hutcheon pounced onto Cullinane’s incisive pass and finished beautifully lifting the ball over the keeper as he moved off his line to block Hutcheon’s progress. A goal down, CBD changed their shape and sat much deeper, seemingly happy to let SCC dominate possession. SCC didn’t respond well to the change. We didn’t show enough patience to draw the opponent out; gave away the ball too easily and didn’t play with enough width. Despite being a goal to the good, SCC’s players walked off the field at halftime showing signs of frustration. The second half started much better as SCC resolved the problems that thwarted their attacking intent at the end of the first half. Many chances were created but a combination of some good saves by CBD’s keeper and some profligacy in front of goal kept the scoreline unchanged. The second half deadlock was ultimately broken by Liam Shotton to provide a degree of comfort. To their credit CBD were always a threat on the break and created several good chances to get back into the match. SCC’s mercurial man between the sticks - Ronnie Smollet - was called upon several times to maintain SCC’s clean sheet. Both teams should have scored more goals but in the end a comfortable win for SCC was a fair reflection of the balance of play and chances created.