Reserves Romp To Big Cup Win

Swanage paid their respects to Jimmy Hollywood before the game with a minute silence. Jimmy has been an integral part of the club for the last 20 years and when I, like many other players, first started playing men's football Jimmy always offered lots of support and advice. He was hilarious to be around, he had an infectious passion for football and will be greatly missed by all at the club.

Swans welcomed Netherbury to Day's park for the Intermediate cup with both teams struggling for form. The visitors with no wins in 4 and the hosts 1 win in 5.

The game started well with Swans closing down the opposition brilliantly and reducing the visitors to long balls and few chances. Swans squandered many chances in the first half with Shots saved well from Kody, Peacock and Taylor. The breakthrough came after 20 minutes when Gideon Troy slotted the ball into the bottom corner after a nice pass from Taylor put in Peacock who headed back across goal for Troy to finish. H.T. 1-0

The second half started slowly with both sides looking like they'd drunk too much squash at half time. Netherbury equalised early on after their centre forward responded quickest to a smart save by Brad Smith. Swanage got the ball down and started to play football again, the pressing learnt by the players from Paolo at training paid off and Peacock scored an amazing chip. Taylor received the ball in midfield and nutmegged the centre back to put Peacock in on goal and from a tight angle he lobbed the keeper for 2-1.

From here the flood gates opened, Netherbury heads went down and the Swanage version of Klopp's. Gegenpressing drilled into us by the management team of Paolo and Dawson worked, with Kody, Taylor and Peacock chasing the ball down and forcing mistakes from the defence. This closing down lead to a free kick on the edge of the box which Brassington put on target and it squirmed under the goalkeeper, reminiscent of Le Tissier's goal against Man Utd's Massimo Taibi in the late 90s. 3-1.

The next 10 minutes produce many chances and the fourth goal came when Yerby capitalised on a poorly cleared corner to poke the ball home. 4-1. From here Swanage coasted, played the ball around well and looked very comfortable.

The fifth goal came shortly after when hard work from Taylor put Troy in again and Troy scored with a relaxed finished 5-1. The sixth goal was well deserved as Littleford ran onto a lovely through ball and slotted the ball away well. 6-1.
The seventh goal was almost a carbon copy of the fourth with Paul Yerby bundling the ball into the net after a poorly defended corner. It was the first time in 19 years that Yerby had scored twice in one game. Despite these goals lots of swanage players were left wondering who said he could go up for corners. Whoever it was is a tactical genius! 7-1.
The last goal came as Jack Grace ran on to a lovely through ball from Sam Peacock to slide the ball past the on rushing keeper to top off a great afternoon. 8-1.

Man Of The Match - Jack Miller, has played 4 different positions in the last 4 games and today he was excellent. Playing the holding midfield role he won every tackle, every header and it looks like he's found his best position.

Team: Brad Smith, Calvin Saunders , Billy Russell, Paul Yerby, Paulo Carvalho, Charlie Brassington (C) Jack Miller, Gideon Troy, Sam Peacock, Cidy Littleford and Nick Taylor.

Report By Nick Taylor