SHADOWS VS ECCC - 26 / 1 / 07
Premiership
THE GAME of the night saw an inform ECCC take on title favourites Shadows in what promised to be an excellent footballing feast.
Team News
ECCC
Had a full 8 to choose from and in form Rich Lee was passed fit to play.
Shadows
At Full strength and included new african signing Mumba.
IT took just one second half goal to send Pre Season favourites Shadows to their second defeat of the season as they went down to the inform ECCC.
Shadows started off brightly with Brian going close twice early on, and in the 2nd minute should have got on the score sheet but the outstanding Rich Swaffield in goal pulled off two fine saves. The Shadows kept up the pressure with some neat passing making it difficult for ECCC to gain any kind of possession. R.Swaffield pulled of another two fantastic stops to deny Melusi and Brian again who must have felt a little frustrated
in front of goal.
The game went into a spell of keep ball with neither team creating any chances at all with both defences looking solid. ECCC were restricted to just long shots which failed to test Sucki in The Shadows goal.
With not long left Sucki went down on his problematic knee, it didn’t look too good as last season he’s broken the same leg, Jazz looked on perhaps fearing the worst, fortunately though the problem wasn’t as bad as first thought.
Shadows again began to threaten with the lively Melusi this time trying his best to beat Rich, with two efforts in as many minutes, but again The ECCC keeper pulling off two fantastic diving saves.
The Second half saw ECCC get at The Shadows a little more, closing down at every opportunity and forcing Sucki into saves from Brady and Rich Lee, Shadows realising they needed the win threw everything into attack. It was perhaps that reason along with an earlier incident when Melusi was hit in the face with the ball that promted the ECCC winner, a very sloppy back pass from a dazed Melusi allowed ECCC to break away, Rich Lee reacted quickest and slotted the ball past Sucki for the opening goal.
Muzzi then hit the Post and Rich Swaffield sealed the man of the match award with another 2 excellent saves to keep a much deserved clean sheet.
5star Promotions say: "We predicated an ECCC victory before the game, as ECCC have always been a very good side in past seasons but for one reason or another they have failed to live up to that billing.... but right now they are CLUB HEAT leagues best side. So credit where credit is due..... Well done lads!!"
Shadows manager Jazz said: “As much as ECCC deserved the win we still created chances and if some of those chances had been taken then it could have been a different story”.
ECCC manager Rich S said: "............Who are they again"
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