A Return of Form

Starting line up: Joe Haeyns in goal, back line from left to right; Toron Everett, Ali Johnston, Jim Smith and Harry Elsmore, the tough Central Defensive Midfield mantle was taken up by Ben Witt, Starting midfield saw Jamie Everett on the left and the first appearance of Rob Santrian for CS, Simon Jones took his regular position of Central Attacking Midfield, leaving Lee Slade and Mark Sawyer up front. Starting on the bench was Sam Woodland to play upfront and Skipper Fin Porter to maintain his role in midfield.

After winning the coin toss, 10 minutes into a strong looking CS's opening half and new starter Rob Santrian took an early muscle injury and came off, leaving skipper Fin Porter to take the field.

With some quick play from a CS that was able to string pass after pass together, this all culminated with Lee Slade putting it around the East Devon keeper to secure the lead.

The midfield and defence held strong for the rest of the half, but as the second half opened, too many players of CS got caught up in the East Devon corner, with an intercepted pass giving them the break they needed to flood the CS defence and equalise.

The push was on for CS to pull back in the lead, with some fantastic passing work and stellar runs from most players on the team, a rebounded shot from Mark Sawyer saw Simon Jones putting away his first of the game to take CS up to 2-1.

A tiring East Devon and an unrelenting CS, with drive after drive into East Devons defence proved too much to bare again, with CS winning a short corner. A good injection from Lee Slade found Simon Jones who flicked his second goal of the game.

Final score Taunton CS 3, East Devon B 1.

Man of the Match went to Jim Smith who bulldozed his way out of the CS defensive line time and time again to provide the ball to the midfield and was even caught at one point taking the ball from the CS 16, all the way to the opposing D.

An Honourable Mention for Sam Woodland who was forced to play a position outside of his comfort zone, which he did with fantastic enthusiasm. Some great break away moments were seen from the close quarters man as well. Unfortunately Sam Woodland also picked up a green card for a deliberate back stick, but fortunately for Sam the Umpire only saw it happen once.

With 12 of 13 votes, Ben Witt secured the DotD for being green carded twice. The first offence was slamming an 11 year old face first into the ground, in what Ben Witt would later describe as a perfectly fine 50/50 ball. The second green card was a bit questionable, in a rather bizarre turn of events, after the ball had clearly bounced off of Jamie Everett’s foot towards Ben who instead of using his stick to stop the ball and give it back to East Devon for the free hit, stopped it with his foot, which the Umpire decided was a professional foul and Witty found himself in the sin bin once again.