Match Review: 1TM Latini FC vs FC Nippon

• GK Pete O'Brien
• DF Jordan Laing
• DF Taishi Fukuda
• DF Fraser Anderson
• DF Jonathan Cloak
• MD Samuel Taylor
• MD Jamie Roberts
• MD Jamie Townsend
• ST Jacob Saurin
• ST Luke Townsend
• ST Mike Sharples

• DF Iain Mul
• DF Jonathan Baker
• DF Ben Tomlinson
• DF Lee Bradshaw
• MD Ismail Bardach
• ST Alan Sarka

SIGNED OFF

The final match of the season saw us take on Nippon at 3pm on Turf City 1. Yesterday’s temperatures soared to a high of 37 degrees and the prospect of facing an energetic Nippon side in those conditions was a daunting prospect. Tactical Tally needed to do a fair bit of tinkering right up to kick off as we waited on a few late arrivals and Rat Rig pulled up in the warm up through injury. Nonetheless, we fielded a pretty settled first 11 and after a rousing team talk from Tally, we were ready for the challenge of winning the last 3 points of this campaign. Nippon started well and saw plenty of the ball in the early stages. 1TM were compact in defence with JCG, Frando, Racky and Taishi San putting a shift in. Ruby, Lego and Stinks worked tirelessly to break up play and as the game wore on, we began to find more space in the final third with Duplo, Flat White and Sharples being a real threat going forward. We managed to score with the last kick before the first drinks break, when Stinks sent Flat White through and he charged at the Nippon back line. Making the most of Sharples’ decoy run, Flat White dropped the shoulder to move past the last defender and buried the ball into the goal when 1 on 1 with the ‘keeper. Nippon replied strongly by winning a couple of free kicks in dangerous areas, hitting the post with one effort, but 1TM continued to defend well in numbers and created chances when we got the ball. On the half hour mark, more slick passing saw Duplo through on goal and he unselfishly squared it to Sharples who passed into the empty goal. Sharples turned provider a couple of minutes later when his low cross was met by Flat White with a great header. 3-0 Otter was introduced in the second half and he made an immediate impact after some good link up play with Flat White saw his shot hit the post but Otter was first to the rebound to make it 4-0. Nippon refused to give up and got a goal back through a penalty when sacred cow, Frando, was judged to have handled the ball in the box. 1TM continued to defend well and didn’t give up any further chances. MOM Sharples grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and scored 2 outstanding goals that showcased his quality and the fine form that he has been in this latter stage of the season to help build our goal difference. Final Score 6-1 Tally’s objective complete - we’ve taken the title fight to the last game of the season and hopefully Hotspurs can do us a favour on Friday night. Huge thanks to Nippon for the match and to the officials for managing the game. Big thanks to Boggy, Team Otter, Team Sharples, Tard, GB and Sherlock for coming down to support. DOD - Dev MOM 1TM - Sharps MOM NIPPON - Kike