| 18th August 2008 | Well two weeks away on the Costa left me looking like a bronzed Adonis but it also meant that I missed two pre-season friendlies which was a bit of a pain. On the other hand I also missed two weeks of torrential rain, low temperatures and all round miserable weather. Who needs friendlies anyway?
The fact that I wasn’t at the games means that I really can’t give you proper match reports. I have had lots of texts etc telling me what went on (they are probably pretty biased) so I will try and summarise the two matches as best as possible with the information that I have. This won’t take long!
Bishops Caundle 6, PCFC 0
From what I can make of this, Palace were down to the bare bones due to holidays etc but had to play with 10 men due to a couple of last minute absentees (no names mentioned, but I think it had something to do with a night in Bournemouth for two of our award-winning youngsters….please let me know otherwise boys).
Bishops, promoted last year, were always going to be dominant and Palace went in five-nil down at half time. The second half was better, only letting in one, but the damage had already been done. The 10 men, as quoted by Phil Murphy, ran their proverbials off, so good effort lads.
Winterbourne Stickland 5, PCFC 6
This match came across as being much better going forward (as you can tell from the number of goals), but just as bad as before at the back. Conceding 3 goals in as many minutes can’t be good for anyone.
The team worked like Trojans again and goals came from Luke Perry (2), Rob Hoskins (Yeh, I have actually no idea how that came about either!) and Adam Guy (3). Yes, he did get a hat-trick and no we won’t hear the end of it. Maybe next time he and Rob Hoskins can do more than just sit in the opponent’s penalty area.
Only joking boys, great effort, good result and a slide down the goal scoring table for yours truly.
Bah Humbug |
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| 18th July 2008 | Palace Court Reserves 4, Dextra 3 |
| | Players: Parfitt, Stevens, Hiscock, Guy, Chinn, Biss, Duke, Murphy, Grimes, Hammond, Roff |
| | Subs: Jameson, Shane |
| | Scorers: Hammond, Roff, Stevens, Chinn |
| | MoM: Adam Guy |
| | Click here to comment on the match |
 | It doesn’t seem that long ago that I wrote the final match report of the 2007/2008 campaign, but here I am in mid-July dusting down the old keyboard for the 2008/2009 season. This means more time at the PC and less time doing what the wife wants (I’ve had enough of digging holes and washing-up…..those marigolds are a bugger to get-off!). Anyway, enough of my domestic life.
PCFC Reserves first game was played at Donhead against a team from Dextra engineering. This wasn’t the Dextra Lightning team we all love to beat, but an actual Dextra team (including our very own hitman Mark Cook) who wanted a run-out before playing against another local company. Palace had a squad of 13 for the outing, whereas the opposition fielded a squad of about 72 (ok, maybe not that many, but it did look like it at times) which evidently meant lots of rolling substitutions on their part.
Within PCFC’s starting eleven was Andy Duke who finally made the step-up from the First Team, since handing over the managerial role, to an entirely different level with the Reserves. I personally was concerned as to whether he would be able to cope with the increase in speed, skill and all-round discipline that is the epitome of the Reserves (hmmm, have I got that the right way round?), but his terrier-like (ok, Rottweiler type) aggression added a new dimension to the PCFC midfield.
Palace began well, winning the ball in midfield and stroking it around nicely into the path of the forwards. The wide players got a lot of the ball and were able to attack with the full-backs overlapping well so it was only a matter of time before Palace broke through, albeit from a more direct approach. A goal kick was controlled (for want of a better word!!) by Duncan upfront, who played a one-two with Richie Roff and deftly lobbed the keeper. 1-0. Dextra were playing a more patient game and after about twenty minutes of trying to scramble the ball away from their penalty area and the Palace attack, they broke away and scored via a deflection and a possible Palace Court handball. The score remained 1-1 until half time, but Palace squandered a few opportunities and were caught just offside on a number of occasions (I plead guilty for a few of those) so should really have been three or four up. More haste, less speed as my Granny used to say
Palace began the second half as they finished the first and were soon 2-1 after Richie Roff drove the ball into the far corner of the net past the outstretched hands of the keeper. The score was soon 3-1 ,as Richie Roffs’ nose predicted, with a goal coming my way. A nice piece of footwork on the wing by Danny Biss led to a cross that Will Stevens (me!) volleyed home past the keeper. Palaces fourth came shortly afterwards with Sam Chinn rifling low into the corner of the net. 4-1. The score should then have been 5-1, but a shot by me was scooped out from behind the goaline by the opposition’s keeper and play was allowed to carry on…bah humbug
After this things went a bit Amy Winehouse. Palace changed a few positions and found themselves lost in defence and were guilty of letting in another 2 goals, albeit deflected ones. Palace had more penetration going forward with Adam Guy surging forward at every opportunity and came close on several occasions and with their keeper pulling off a couple of decent saves.
Overall, not bad for a first outing. There were plenty of positives coming from the game, including the aggressiveness in midfield and the penetrative attack, which we will hopefully build on (especially if we keep an eye on the offsides) and become a stronger force in the season ahead. |
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