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MATCH REPORT
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Bonds brace and Sanderson hat-trick secure points for Sumners
The Beehive 1 vs. 5 Sumners Athletic…
Sumners Athletic got last week’s defeat out of their system with a comprehensive 5-1 victory over The Beehive in Edmonton. With Joe Smith and Grant Clements returning to action and Baggy Trivedi making his first appearance of the season, the 16-man squad had plenty of strength to it. Right from the start Sumners were intent on taking the game to Beehive as they attacked from the first minute. SAFC controlled the early stages with Kevin Coupland and Liam Crouch controlling the centre of midfield and winning the vast majority of headers and second balls which allowed the wingers to push on deep into The Beehive half. Sumners managed to keep Beehive pinned inside their own half throughout the early stages and soon took the lead. A corner was only half-cleared to the edge of the box where it bounced high. Andy Sanderson though managed to get his foot over the ball and keep his volleyed effort down which took a slight deflection on its way into the top corner despite the ‘keeper getting his hand to it - Sanderson’s first competitive goal of the season and what a way to score it! Sumners continued to dominate with both Sanderson and Andy Waddington looking dangerous in wide areas despite the pitch being very narrow. There were several half chances created and numerous corners and long-throws but nothing to seriously test the Beehive ‘keeper. Andy Rigglesworth then hit a 25 yard dipping shot that was comfortably gathered. As the half went on, Beehive began to come into the game a little more and had several corners and throw-ins of their own but all of these were gathered by the commanding Joe Smith. Beehive also had appeals for a penalty turned down when the ball struck Scott Coupland from a close range shot. There were a other few scares and Grant Clements and Scott Coupland had to make tackles inside the 18-yard box to deny shots on goal but overall Sumners deserved their lead at the break.
The message at half-time was to maintain the same level of commitment and effort but to get our passing game going again as it had been for the first thirty minutes. There were no changes to the team or formation.
Sumners started the second half somewhat slowly and found themselves under pressure early on as the Beehive looked for their equaliser but Smith and the back four remained solid and kept the Beehive at bay initially. Sumners were then denied a penalty after Dave Bonds went down under the challenge of a defender when through on goal and within seconds of that, the Beehive were level. Their winger found space thirty yards out and slipped a ball through for the pacey forward to run on to and hit a powerful rising shot into the roof of the net from an acute angle – quality finish but Sumners will feel it was all too simple. That goal seemed to galvanise Sumners and they began to attack again and take control of the game once more. A Liam Crouch corner found Bonds at the far post and he was unlucky to see his volley fly just over. Crouch himself then hit a low free kick that the ‘keeper held on to. Bonds, however, would not be denied with his next opportunity. A perfectly waited ball from Kevin Coupland released Bonds who, with the ‘keeper advancing, hit a first-time, sublime lob into the net to make it 2-1 for his first goal of the match. Scott Coupland then limped off having suffered a knock in the first-half and was replaced at centre back by Baggy Trivedi. Sumners continued to be the better side and continued to attack the Beehive and soon put some breathing space between the sides when they made it 3-1. Crouch’s long throw was flicked on to Bonds at far post who composed himself and hit a powerful shot across the ‘keeper and into far corner despite the defender’s attempt to clear it – another well taken goal. Sumners were now playing some great football and creating more and more chances. It was then Sanderson’s turn to get his second of the match when he worked space for himself inside the penalty box and hit curling effort into the far corner that flicked a defender on its way in. That made it 4-1 with Sanderson and Bonds now having two goals a-piece. More chances followed as Bonds hit a shot just the wrong side of the post and was then unlucky to see the ‘keeper make a decent save after a great run saw him beat two defenders before shooting at goal. There was however still time for a fifth goal and for Sanderson to complete his hat-trick. A long goal-kick from Smith was cleverly flicked on by Bonds and Sanderson’s first touch put him through on goal where he slipped the ball past the ‘keeper and into the corner of the net. That was Sanderson’s first hat-trick for SAFC and that came from him playing on the right wing – three quality goals. There was no time left and Sumners were left delighted with a great performance and great result but, most importantly, three points.
Jeff Coupland:
“That was certainly our best performance for some time and we are really please with how we went about the match right from the first minute. We controlled the centre midfield and were solid at the back which allowed our wide players and forwards to play some good football in the Beehive half. We really used our pace and movement effectively and troubled them constantly. We also showed good character when they equalised which was another pleasing aspect of the performance. Also, our work rate all over the pitch was first class and it was great to see our wingers and forwards working back so much to win the ball back when the Beehive had possession”
Squad:
1. Joe Smith
2. Marc Etherington
3. Joe Hughes
4. Liam Crouch
5. Grant Clements
6. Scott Coupland (sub – Baggy Trivedi)
7. Andy Waddington (sub – Dave Collins)
8. Andy Sanderson
9. Dave Bonds
10. Andy Rigglesworth
11. Kevin Coupland
Subs not used: Mike Ross, Dom Green and Jeff Coupland
Man-of-the-match: Andy Sanderson
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