Kiwi FC v Wadham College Old Boys

Kiwi FC v Wadham College Old Boys FC (Win 4-2)
Saturday 28 October 2006
Wandsworth Park 14:00

Kiwi FC continued their good run of form this weekend with a strong win on the back of a sensational second half. The team welcomed the return of veteran Sam Foley to the side, who accepted the challenge of playing in goal when our goalkeeper did not arrive.
Kiwis again started the match slowly and allowed the opposition to play more of the game in the Kiwi half. The Wadham captain looked to be the danger man for his team and he made space for himself on a few occasions. However the Kiwi defence was staunch and he was unable to mount any serious chances on goal. Kiwis started to find their feet and began to move the game further up the field to their advantage. They strung some good passes together and made space for themselves against the cumbersome Wadham defence. Wadham’s goalkeeper though was strong and he swept well behind his defence and managed to close down the Kiwi attacks. He was however lucky to still be on the pitch, after getting away with a foul in the first 5 minutes when he tripped up the last Kiwi player as he was in on goal.
Wadham were the first to break the deadlock however when they earned a penalty. It was well taken and for the first match this season, Kiwi FC were the first to concede. The scoreline remained the same until half time, but Kiwi FC knew that they were doing the right things and that it really would just be a matter of time until they found themselves on the scoreboard.
Indeed that time came sooner than anyone expected. An average kick off saw James take the ball forward himself; he made some progress but lost the ball. He followed up though and managed to get in the way of the defender’s clearance; the ball rolled straight into Nick’s path who was in on goal. He drew the goalkeeper and finished well on his left foot to put Kiwis back on level terms, within 30 seconds of the start of the second half.
The Kiwi onslaught continued again right from the kick off. Wadham were still in shock from the first goal and it showed. From the kick off, a poor attempted pass to their right back was intercepted by James, he raced down the left and cut into the box. His attempted pass back to Gav in the centre hit the outstretched arm of the Wadham defender, the referee pointed to the penalty spot. The ever reliable Gav stepped up to the spot and his finish was clinical to the bottom left corner of the net. Kiwis were up 2-1 and Wadham were stunned.
Kiwi FC continued to control the game after that, again Cappy and Dave were solid at the back, Steve A and Gav controlled and midfield and James and Nick ran hard at the front. Steve Mc and Chris D gave plenty of width and options down the left. Nick O and especially Sam Foley, now playing in the outfield, showed some great form down the right.
More goals seemed like they would come, but it was Wadham’s turn to put themselves back into the game. In what was really their only foray into the Kiwi box, they swept a free kick in from the right and found an unmarked player at the far post; the ball came of his chest and wrong-footed the Kiwi keeper and just edged in. It was a soft goal but it still counted and the scores were level at 2-2.
Kiwis made a double substitution with Bede and Greg coming on for Nick O and Chris. They both worked hard and their presence had an impact. It was not long before Kiwis were back on top. The attack building from midfield; James took a pass and then another couple of touches himself, he beat his man and teed up a shot on his right foot from about 20 yards out. His low drive beat the outstretched arm of the keeper and Kiwi FC had the advantage again.
From there Kiwis never looked back, they continued to create chances for themselves and were never really threatened at the back. Though it did not look like they would need it, they pressed hard for their fourth goal to put the game well beyond the oppositions reach. When it came it came again from the boot of Nick P; a well delivered Kiwi corner was not dealt with by the Wadham defence, Nick was quick to react and smashed home the ball through a crowd of players for his second of the day. That made it 4-2 and it Kiwis knew they had it in the bag.
Kiwi FC continued their pressure until the end of the game and although it looked like they might, they were unable to extend their lead even further. The ref’s whistle put Wadham out of their misery and the Kiwi Juggernaught marches on.
The win consolidated second place on the ladder, but with form like this, Kiwi FC have now got their eyes on the title.