Report

Sunday 1st May 2011 and the Predators travelled to Staining on a sunny but very windy afternoon.. The Predators as so often before got off to the worst possible start finding themselves a goal behind before they had even touched the ball. Staining attacked straight down the middle of the pitch and no tackle was made before the ball was in the back of the net. 1 – 0 Staining.
The Predators reacted well to that early disappointment and began to settle into the game, Alwyn Flynn crossed from the left and found Jacob Mullin whose shot was saved by the keeper but it was Staining who looked like increasing their lead and would have done so but for the efforts of Ben Smith who cleared on his own goal line with barely five minutes of the game played.
A minute later keeper Nathan Lee kicked out of his hands and the ball caught in the wind sailing far into the Staining half. Flynn chased the ball down and forced a corner. Flynn took the corner which resulted in a scramble inside the Staining six yard area where Rhys Chippendale reacted quickest to poke the ball home. 1 – 1.
The goal gave the Predators encouragement and they began to take the ascendancy, Harry Wilson had a long range effort from outside the penalty area saved by the keeper. A cross from Cole Collinge was met by Wilson and the keeper was again forced to make a good save.
With twenty minutes played the Predators won a free kick on the left touchline. Nathan Pyatt crossed towards the near post and found Collinge who deftly flicked the ball past the keeper. 1 – 2 Predators.
Staining.
Staining however were also creating chances despite playing into the strong wind and once again the Predators defence were being too easily caught out by balls played in behind them. Three minutes before the interval the ball was played over the Predators defence and the Staining striker ran towards goal before switching the ball across the penalty area were two Staining attackers were waiting, unmarked to finish off the move. 2 – 2.

Half-time : Staining 2 – 2 BJFF Predators

Once again the Predators were slow to start the game and within two minutes found themselves behind as they allowed a Staining attacker to run unopposed into the penalty area from the Predators left flank and he fired the ball high into the far corner of the net roof. 3 – 2 Staining.
Mullin tried a shot from distance a minute later but the shot held up in the strong wind and floated into the arms of the Staining keeper.
The keeper cleared the ball and set up a corner for Staining. The high cross was punched away by Lee only to fall to a Staining striker by the penalty spot and his strike hit the back of the net. 4 – 2 Staining.
With eight minutes of the second half played, keeper Lee made a fine save diving full length to his left to push the ball around the post. The corner was headed partially clear by Flynn but only onto the head of a Staining attacker who nodded the ball into the net unmarked at the far post. 5 – 2 Staining.
Time and again the Predators failed to judge the flight of the ball as it sailed over the defence towards goal. Lee was again forced to rush from goal to make a one on one save but the rebound fell to Staining and the ball was struck into the unguarded net. 6 – 2 Staining.
Eleven minutes into the second period and Staining made it seven as a cross from the Predators left wing caused a scramble by the penalty spot, the ball was hit goalwards and Lee made a diving save only to see the ball go in off the right hand post. 7 – 2 Staining.
The Predators managed to battle the wind and forced an attack of their own resulting in Oliver Mellor’s shot across the goal hit the far post.
However it was Staining who were the looking by far the stronger team assisted by the wind and more poor Predators marking as they allowed another attacker to walk through the defence unchallenged before striking a shot which was blocked by Lee as he came off his line. The loose ball fell to one of three unopposed Staining players and the ball was in the back of the net. 8 – 2 Staining.
With time for one more Staining goal before the referee blew for time. Lee was again forced from his line and his kicked clearance held up in the wind and was hit straight back over his head and into the back of the net. 9 – 2 Staining.
In the final minute a double save by the Predators keeper prevented the indignity of a double figure scoreline.

Full-time : Staining 9 – 2 BJFF Predators

Coaches Man of the Match : Not awarded
Parents Man of the Match : Not awarded

Apologies for the delay in posting this report but it takes a long time to reflect on a performance such as this following the magnificent performance against the league winners AFC Blackpool the previous weekend.
However it should be remembered that before the season began a number of our loyal Predators supporters feared we would witness a number of days and results like this. The lads have proven those doubters wrong and developed well over the season and we should dwell more on our successes such as the recent four match winning streak which saw us score 20 goals and concede just 4.

Carl Duckworth 5/5/11