Played to the Whistle

Starting Line-up: Joe Haynes (goal keeper), Toron Everett, Ali Johnston, Jim Smith and Ollie Barrett in defence, midfield was made up of James Coles, Simon Jones, Ben Witt and skipper Fin Porter, leaving Mark Sawyer and Lee Slade upfront. Jamie Everett was CS’s only substitute.

First game of the league for Taunton CS’s 1st XI was against the young and strong side of Isca D, in the nice scenery of Exeter School on a hot day. After CS started pressing well, a counter attack lead to them going down 1-0 after pressing well. Not long after a short corner was won which Simon Jones was able to convert to bring the scores level. Just before the end of the first half, Isca were able to put another one in to give them the lead.

With several missed opportunities, with key crosses missed by Fin Porter and James Coles, it came down to a hard press in the second half to be try and claw it back.

Not long in to the second half, Mark Sawyer made the most of a sloppily saved shot and scored from a personal record of 3 inches from goal, to bring the scores level once again.

The next 20 minutes were tense and full of anguish, with Isca winning multiple short corneres, but were unable to convert on them with the fantastic defending from CS’s back line, and the other way a miss from CS’s skipper from an estimated 3 feet being one of the most dangerous moments for CS, with 2 minutes left on the clock CS were awarded their second short corner of the day, with Simon Jones able to step up again and score the clinching goal to lead CS to victory.

Man of the Match was awarded to Joe Haynes for a fantastic performance in the pads, with the honourable mention going to Jim Smith for being a solid position in the CS defensive line.

DotD was narrowly taken by the skipper for his missed shot when on goal, with the close second Toron Everett getting several votes for his Jesus Sneakers and demonstrating that he cannot drink water normally after coughing it back up during the half time team talk.