Werder Weekly 2008 - January 25

Photographs from today are in the Werder Weekly slide show

Date

January 25, 2008

Participants

Dominic Hutchinson, Simon Hutchinson, Munir Merchant, Wayne Smith, Steve Tucker

Report

Both players described the goalless game between Dominic Hutchinson and Munir Merchant as “uneventful”. There was lots of change of possession as the players struggled to push forward, Dominic did manage eight shots on goal and Merchant three. “Munir’s defense was pretty solid,” was Dominic’s only comment after the game.

The first half ended goalless as Simon Hutchinson’s strong defense thwarted Wayne Smith’s attack. Both players offense struggle, Smith only managed three shots on goal and none of them really an easy or “sure” shot. Then came two quick goals from Smith, in the seventh and ninth minute of the second half, which won him the game. The second shot chipped Simon’s goalkeeper, struck the far post, rebounded across the face of the goal to strike the near post, and then bounced off the back of the keeper into the goal.

Steve Tucker’s control of the ball made it hard for Smith to build an offense. Alas, Tucker could not convert this possession into decent shots on goal, taking four shots and only two of those were on target. In the first minute Tucker’s shot went under Smith’s goalkeeper, fortunately for Wayne, the keeper made enough contact with the ball to redirect the goal bound shot onto the post. Smith scored the only goal of the game midway through the second half.

Simon scored only one goal in the first half as he struggled to get the better of Merchant’s defense, and the polish that had been used on his bases caused his figures to glide more than he was use to. In the second half Simon pushed five and six players into attack, which paid off as he managed to split Munir’s defense making a gap wide enough for him to push a figure through to take a shot and score the second goal. The third and final goal came from a quick break with less than a minute left. Merchant saved the shooting player with his goalkeeper and the ball went into the opposite side of the goal.

The second game between Smith and Tucker was the “game of the night”. Wayne scored the opening goal midway through the first half. Instead of caving, Steve responded by pushing the ball over Smith’s shooting line on the left wing and scoring with a spectacular chip over the goalkeeper. Wayne kicked off the second half and scored within 30 seconds by going right through the middle of Tucker’s defensive line. Smith extended his lead to 3-1 just a few minutes later. Steve responded by pushing the ball down his right wing, outnumbering Smith defense close to the shooting line. With a few deft quick flicks he pushed the ball through Smith’s defense, and blasted the ball off the far post and into the goal, narrowing Wayne’s lead to just one goal. In the remaining five minutes Smith kept pushing forward trying to extend his lead. While he managed to force three corners the time got away from him, and the game finished 3-2. It has been a long time since Smith conceded two goals in a game.

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