With perfect weather for football on the downs, NCSF looked to continue their perfect start. The game start well for the pinks with arial dominance across the pitch and composure in the midfield to find the wings. After sustained pressure, the first goal came from a lofted pass from Shaun to Charlie who released Steve for a 1v1 which he dispatched well.
Old Cliftonians responded to the goal well, bursting down the wing and cut it back for a tidy finish, 1-1. Their tails were up and they managed to quickly find a second to take the game to 2-1 and forcing NSCF to reset.
The pinks started to gain a foothold in the game again and it was a tightly contested 15 minutes. Some usual Richie trickery in the box resulted in him being wiped out and a penalty awarded. The ball was placed on the spot, Adam made no mistake sending the keeper the wrong way for 2-2 and shortly after it was time for a break.
The battle continued with Wattsy entering the fray and it was the pinks who struck next. Phenomenal tracking back from Wilcox led to him dispossessing an OC player, and then sending a long ball up to Steve who beat his man with a cute touch and only had an onrushing keeper to beat, poking it past him from 20 yards to put us back in the lead.
Jake came on to sure up the defence but unfortunately, an OC winger played an audacious cross from the right, to a well-timed run at the back post allowed the striker an easy finish from 6 yards out, 3-3. The game raged on, and the pinks were determined to keep the perfect start going, Wilcox was running riot with 3 or 4 close attempts, and it would be his corner that led to the fourth NCSF goal. Whipping a ball to the back post, Bengolo flicked it onto Shauns head. Fitness prevailed when Steve and Charlie combined to set up Richie for a tap in to put the game out of sight, only for Richie to return the favour and set up Steve for his hat trick. A punishing score line against worthy opponents.
Goals
Steve x 3
Richie
Shaun
Adam
Assists
Richie x 2
Charlie x 2
Wilcox
Ben
MOTM: Steve Pugh