Chaps keep first clean sheet of the season

Report

Chaps reshaped to a 3-5-2 formation for this weeks important Bridgewater Cup game against AFC Millfields, with a large number of returning midfielders to accomodate including long time absentee Mike Tansley. Founder Paul Farr was also back in the squad though had to start from the bench as the defence from last week's win retained their spots. With Jones missing through surf fever, Watkins moved out to the right and Chaps packed a classy midfield with Cromwell, Feasey, Whalley and Tindall. Mosedale deservedly kept his position up top alongside Dowsett, and for the first time in this writers' career he was officiated by a female referee. Who knew?

Chaps started the game as they meant to go on, with some excellent passing and communication throughout the team, especially from Farr who ran the line in the first half. The first three goals came within half an hour, and all began from the back. Slater winning possession for the first in the right back area, and Penny with two calm as you like depossessions to set Chaps playing at the right tempo for the following two finishes. Tomolinson then hit a glorious 50 yard ball which caused chaos at the back for Millfields, they couldn't deal with the curl and accuracy on the strike and it struck the defender on the back and bounced in. So 4-0 to the good, all under the instruction of linesman Farr, what a solid team of defenders we now have. It should be noted that Dowsett scored the first 3 goals to give himself yet another hat-trick, again in under 30 minutes.

Chaps seemed to take their foot off the ball and invited pressure onto themselves, but this could not be allowed to happen since they were chasing a goal difference deficit that needed to be overturned to give them any chance of progressing to the knockout stages of this cup.

The second half began much as the first half did, with Feasey notching a goal for himself early on, but Chaps slowed and allowed Millfields to have more of the ball which caused them a few problems. This wasn't helped by the unexplainable decision to remove Penny from the heart of defence on the stroke of 60 minutes. Having not put a foot wrong, he initially suffered from shock which delayed his pitch exit, but all was in good hands as a ready made replacement in the shape of our founder and saviour Farr came on to fill his position.

Chaps bagged themselves 4 second half goals with Dowsett taking his tally to 16 in 7, an incredible stat. Whalley produced a fine turn and shot from the edge of the area to dip into the far corner of the goal, while Feasey - unlucky to only hit the post with an earlier 100 yard lobbed effort - finished off a great team goal that resulted in a pinpoint cross from Dowsett on the left, finding the man in question rushing into the box to volley home a controlled finish.

Brief appearances for Dutton and Tansley both returning from injury is a boost for the club, Dutton appears to have learned some new tricks as he demonstrated a precise dummy in front of goal to fool the onrushing keeper, but sadly also himself. Tansley suffered a worrying knee injury in training but looked very sharp on his return and will surely have a bigger part to play as the season develops.

Man of the Match today went to Watkins, but for Chap of the match it is hard to look past Dowsett, 5 goals and an assist. It does seem criminal to give the award to a forward after earning our first clean sheet of the season, so I'm not going to. Instead I'm giving it to Feasey bear, and I'll tell you for why. In the second half especially today, when Chaps needed to keep a clean sheet, the opportunity at times was threatening to disappear as Millfields changed their formation. Feasey stepped up a gear, battled hard for the ball and put in a number of crunching tackles to protect his defenders, which makes him one of the best defenders himself. His goal was superb, he hit the post and the bar with previous efforts and he is a lovely guy.

Well done Chaps, we're still in the mix!