Men’s 2s Match reports

Anchorians Men's 2s were at home to Ashford 4s last Saturday, with Ashford having proved a difficult side to beat in previous encounters. There were a few changes to the side, with some deciding that a cruise around Norway or family commitments were more important than a league game!

Captain Ben, sporting approximately 87% of a fresh new haircut, briefed the team and rallied them for the game.

Ashford started strongly, pressing high and probing the Anchs defence. Pricey and Byrney stopped anything coming through the middle, while Nico and Roger protected the flanks.

Having soaked up the initial pressure, Anchs were able to break through the press and move the ball through the midfield pairing of Ben and Mikey, alongside Tom and Risby.

Anchs scored first when Ashford made a poor clearance straight to Risby, who played a one-two with Dave in the D before nearly wiping Twigg out on his way to slotting the ball home!

This proved to be the only goal of the first half, with both sides failing to capitalise on some decent chances.

The half-time talk focused on moving the ball quicker to beat Ashford's press.

The second half was well contested, with Ashford equalising from a short corner struck from the top of the D. However, Anchs began to edge the game, making good use of their bench, with Paul and Twigg rotating to bring fresh legs into both attack and defence.

Anchs went 2–1 up when Roger crashed a ball into the D, where it was picked up at the back post by Ben and dispatched by Joel.

With pressure building and Ashford beginning to tire, Anchs won a few short corners. Some well-saved drag flicks meant Pricey switched to an old-fashioned stop-and-strike routine. A well-struck shot proved too much for the Ashford keeper, who could only watch as the ball hit the back of the net.

Full-time: Anchorians Men's 2s 3–1 Ashford 4s

Another win for Anchs, making it five wins from five games to start the season!

The Men’s 2s travelled away to Tunbridge Wells, seeking to extend their winning streak, knowing it was going to be a tough game with a slightly different line-up of players. The traffic was rubbish, our warm-up was rushed, but we came out with a bang.

Our first goal came through a short-corner strike, which was saved by the keeper, only for Tom to be ready with the rebound.

Tunbridge Wells did get a goal back through some good play, despite Anchs working hard across the pitch.

The second half saw several shots saved by the opposition keeper, but Risby eventually gave us the lead with another strike from a short corner.

I could mention each player individually, but it felt like a real team performance to get the lead, soak up the pressure and keep the opposition out.

A few special mentions though. Firstly, we couldn’t have got the win without an incredible game in goal from Phil, who kept so much out. Secondly, it was a MOTM performance from Nico, whose relentless effort in their first game for the 2s was essential to our victory.

4 wins out of 4! Bring on next week!

After a good win away last week Anchs Men's 2's welcomed Gravesham. After two very close draws last season we were ready for a tough game.

After a Paul team talk, Anchs were raring to go and started well, soaking up a bit of early pressure before winning a well earned short. A well worked short corner saw the ball shift to Dave who slotted it past the keeper. 

Some hard work in the midfield from Risby and Twigg (helping out in midfield due to us having 7 strikers) saw us turnover the ball a number of times putting pressure on Gravesham.

Anchs went two up when a good pass from Dave found it's way to Joel, who took it into the D and smashed it through the keepers legs.

Gravesham started to put pressure on Anchs and found some space in our D and forced a great save from Phil.

After some strong defending from LD, Ethan, Byrney and Pricey, Anchs broke from a great ball from Pricey to Joel who ran into the D, taking on a number of players and a reverse strike into the net.

Anchs worked hard in the second half and stopped a number of Gravesham attacks, with Mikey making some crucial challenges from midfield. 

A real team effort to keep a clean sheet saw hard work from Shep and Dan winning tackles around our own D and helping soak up the pressure and some last minute reverse picks from Byrney stopped Gravesham getting through.

Man of the match went to Byrney, Champagne Moment to Joel for his great reverse strike for his second goal. Prize Prat went to Joel for a reverse shot that cleared the back fence.

Thank you to Trevor Shave and Chris Lack for umpiring.

A great start to the season saw a second win for the 2's on a sunny day away at Old Williamsonians. Anchs started well and scored early, Ben with the ball into Risby who turned and smashed the ball in on the volley.

A great second goal from Ben who took a sideline ball and ran at their defence, a couple of quick passes between him and Twigg resulted in an easy tap in.

A third goal for anchs came shortly after with a great ball into the D from Dave to Risby who slotted it past the keeper.

OW's put us under some real pressure for the rest of the half and some good defending from LD, Pricey, Byrney and Ethan keeping them out.

Some great work as well in the midfield from Tom working back and marshalling their best player. 

Joel added his second goal of the game just before half time, a ball into the D took a deflection off their defender and everyone left the ball and watched as Joel then tapped it in on the line.

Some great saves in his first game for the 2's for James including a great one on one where he picked their forward beautifully.

Anchs we're down to 9 men in the second half when the Selby brothers decided to get green cards at the same time, firstly Ben for a poorly timed reverse tackle and then Mikey flattening their player while running on shorts, clearly unhappy that the opposition player did the Mikey move against him!

A third green card was then given to Ethan for what can only be described as a horrific challenge, as the opposition player tried to run past him, Ethan with the slightest of touches earned the green card and almost resulted in the DoD.

A couple of goals in the second half for OW's including a brilliant reverse shot in off the post but Anchs sealed the win soon after with a great straight strike at the short corner from Risby, leaving the keeper with no chance and us wondering why we didn't opt for the straight strike earlier!

A real team effort for the win with hard work from Shep tracking back and helping the defense. Twigg picking aerials and skipping around their defence easily.

Man of the match went to Neil Byrne, DoD went to Joel for putting all of his effort into striking the ball only to miss it and fall over, which then resulted in their second goal. Champagne was Chris Risby for his first goal where he volleyed it past the keeper.

Anchs 2’s started their league campaign with a convincing 5-2 victory against a youthful Blackheath side. With the average age of the team approaching 40, the pre-match words of skipper Ben fell on deaf ears and the visiting side dominated the opening exchanges. Only some staunch defending from Pricey, Mikey and keeper Phil kept Blackheath at bay. Things weren’t helped when the returning Pete picked up an early injury.

But the home side always looked dangerous on the break and Joel bundled in the opening goal after an excellent advantage was played by umpire Richard Pethick. Anchs pressed forward and scored two more before the break, the first from Chris and the second from Joel after a pass from Risby.

All looked good at the interval and early in the second half Joelcompleted his hat trick after a thumping cross from Risby was totally missed by the defender. With such a comfortable lead it was almost inevitable that Anchs would sit back a bit. And despite some immense work in midfield by Tom and Roger, Blackheath nicked a goal back from a short corner. There followed a comedy moment when brotherly love took an unusual turn when Ash and Chris fell in a heap when chasing after the same ball - stupid Risby brothers!

James then restored the 4 goal advantage with a diving slapped finish. Risby Junior then proceeded to blast a shot past the post with Joel free at the back post, rightly earning him the prize prat award for the day. Blackheath then applied some late pressure and even the twinkle-toed defending of Neil couldn’t prevent Blackheath getting a second consolation goal. There was time for veteran MOTM LD to give Phil a minor heart attack when deflecting the ball past the post just before the final whistle.

A great result for Anchs and a cracking start to the season.