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After winning their first game of the year against Hadley Green in the Junior Cup, it was time for the Geese to focus back on the League. After dropping three points against Broxbourne Athletic, the Geese had to get back to winning ways and maintain pressure on the chasing pack.
With Paul Dodd missing (shoulder), the Norris brothers started upfront. Brad was given his second start as a goose, replacing Adamo (sub), still recovering from neck and other injuries. Rob Cully returned to goal, but only after Tony Cedrone cleared the dollop of dog excrement next to his post, which was pretty fresh and waiting for its goalkeeping victims.
The Geese started well, not anticipating an easy game against the struggling Northmet on a boggy Goff’s Lane pitch. But within five minutes, they were one up. Skilful Sicilian Tony Vullo got forward for a Matt Cully long throw and headed home the flicked-on ball to get his first goal for the club. Many predicted Vullo would bag a goal soon with some impressive performances of late and at odds of 30/1, father Sammy V scooped £150.
After lasting celebrations, the game resumed and then stopped. Wicks had found some more pooh-pooh. The ref (who actually had a dog), condemned the foul act and scooped up the turd with a spare Paul Cully Tesco bag. With the pitch playable again, the Geese could get back into action. Craig Norris received the ball and bore down on goal, spotting Cedrone making a run on the far right, Norris crossed perfectly to allow Cedrone to place in the ball from an acute angle to make it 2-0.
At such an early stage, the Geese found themselves in a dominant position. Still hungry for more, Turnford kept creating chances and once again Craig found himself on goal, straying slightly to the right, crossed for Matt Cully who found himself with an easy tap in, but made it look hard by scuffing the ball and nearly missing. At 3-0, Northmet were crumbling like Rob Cully’s complimentary council Hob-Nobs.
Turnford Geese continued to outplay their opponents, with Northmets attacks coming to nothing. With the end of the half nearing, the Geese hit Northmet on a counter attack. Wicks collecting the ball in defence and passing to Cully out on the left, who quickly spots Brett’s run behind the defence, Brett left one on one, simply places the ball under the goalie and into the net for the Geese’s fourth.
The half-time whistle sounds and the geese lead comfortably, outplaying their opponents and feeling four should have been more. Paul Cully praised the performance of his troops so far and ordered the Geese to finish off the game in style by playing good passing football. The geese commenced the seconded half unchanged.
Northmet started the second half with more desire, creating a few chances, but were easily dealt with by Captain Neal and his defence. Turnford Geese raised there game and literally bombarded Northmet with attacks. Matt Cully causing problems with his inhuman throws and corners from the left and Chris Cedrones daring runs and corners from the right, one of which saw Neal’s header cleared off the line. With so many attempts the Geese finally found a goal, Brett was put through on goal, shrugging off the last man, sidestepping the keeper and passing the ball into an empty net. Brett celebrated his second by standing still and falling into the turf, emulating the fall of the Sadam Hussein’s statue and reign in Baghdad.
Northmets players now conceded defeat, their heads dropped and a few started whinging, but was dealt with by the rather humorous referee who often forgot that he possessed a whistle, preferring to commentate on the game. More chances saw Craig Norris beat a man on the right side of the box, but the keeper saving his low shot and Bradley Hewitt heading just wide from a looping Cully corner.
Paul Cully made his first change, bringing on Adamo Castiglione for Bradley Hewitt at right-back, reliable Brad playing well with neat passing and a solid performance. Hungry Craig Norris, who had set up the majority of today’s goals wanted one too, after the move which saw Craig take on the whole of Northmets defence alone but losing out, Craig finally bagged a goal. When the extravagant Northmet goalie proceeded too far up the muddy pitch, his poor clearance fell to Cedrone who attempted to lob him but fell short to the tall centre-back who mis-controlled the ball, falling for Craig to put in the bottom corner against the blushful, slightly chubby, but surprisingly agile keeper to make it 6-0.
Craig “Butcher” Belsey was then unleashed on to the pitch, replacing Andy Perry who had been struggling for fitness of late, but performed well today. Butcher went out right with Cedrone covering Perry in centre midfield in the “destroying” role. With around ten minutes left, the geese could see in the game at a commendable six goal advantage. But Northmets players just wanted to go home. Sloppy defending saw Brett Norris collect the ball, marginally onside, with nobody insight. Brett took his time and eventually slotted the ball low and in for his hat-trick, with the keeper not even diving, 7-0.
Only minutes remained when Cedrone set Cully free down the left wing (and also trips up the chasing defender) for Cully to pick out Martin Belsey who swings his lanky left leg at the ball and pounds it into the goal, giving the keeper no chance. At 8-0, the geese had broken their biggest win record. Manager Paul Cully was very pleased with the team today and hopes to emulate today’s success playing the same team next week away at Enfield playing fields.
Ratings - R Cully 8, B Hewitt 8 (A Castiglione 7), C Wicks 8, N Dodd 8, T Vullo 8, M Cully 8, A Perry 8 (C Belsey 7), M Belsey 8, C Cedrone 9, C Norris 8, B Norris 9
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