East win their first league game of the season

Harvesters 13 East secured their first league points of the season against a physically strong Omonia team.

The day started with a challenge as both Oscar and Bobby were unavailable. But the boys responded very positively and easily played their best football of the season so far.

Will Walker was magnificent in goal. On the occasions they did break through he was always alert and positive in his decisions.
As the game wore on he had less and less to do, but throughout the game he was always aware of danger and played with maturity and confidence.

The defence had a slightly new look with Flynn partnering Joe in central defence and they both looked solid for the entire match. Even on the odd occasion when Omonia broke through their strength and speed always eliminated the danger. Owen and Alek defended tigerishly as full backs, and were always offering themselves for a short pass out from the back.

Sam had an awesome game in the middle of the park and his partnership with Max is really developing nicely. The entire midfield used the full width of the pitch giving them much more time and space on the ball this week.

Joseph Kilpatrick played his usual energetic game and even came close to scoring a couple of times, and Cameron, particularly in the second half, ripped the Omonia defence to shreds.

Up front Niall and James put Omonia under constant pressure through their constant running and general hold up play. They played with the team in mind regularly setting team mates up in better positions when they may have chosen to shoot themselves.

The team quickly played themselves into the game and took the lead mid way through the first half when Max cut back a ball from the left and Cameron attacked it with his head (reminded me of Sanchez and Walcott for Arsenal's opener against Basel in the week!) . The classic lack of concentration straight after the goal gave Omonia a way back into the game. But just before half time a deflected cross from Cameron found James on the goal line to tap in.

Throughout the first half the passing and movement was superb and coming in at half time only 2 - 1 up seemed a bit unfair. The boys knew they needed to keep the same momentum in the 2nd half and after a few early scares quickly started playing with same assurance as the first half.

When James put the team 3 - 1 up the momentum was complete and East bossed the game right to the end offering Omonia very little of the ball.

The boys continued playing in a measured and well organised way rather than everyone trying to get on the score sheet which was very pleasing from the coach's point of view!

Further goals from James and 2 from Cameron capped a fabulous display.

Well done lads, this is the level we need to aspire to every week.