Hallsy's Academy Report - Week 17

The Worthing College Football Academy based themselves at the new home of football, Hill Barn with both Men's and Women's side taking on opposition from around the south. Pensioners and dog walkers alike were treated to a feast of football with the weather for once being kind and the only rain around was that of GOALS, GOALS and GOALS. In all 22 goals were scored across the three matches and Worthing contributed to 14 of these strikes. The quality of football from all games was plain to see and wouldn't look out of place at the top table of Sussex County Football.

It was a great experience having both Men's teams playing side by side, so it gave me a chance to observe how well the 2nd XI have developed this season and on the basis of their performance on Wednesday they could easily challenge a number of teams at 1st XI level, which is great credit to Danny and all the players who have been involved. The 2nd XI hosted Uxbridge and needed to get back on track after a couple of lacklustre performances. The rust seemed to be shaken off at the 2nd XI came out 6-0 winners with another 3 efforts disallowed. The scorers on the day were Liam "Des" O'Connor, Zaki Rahman and Phil Charman, who all hit braces. A special mention must go to Aiden Dayer, who had a goal ruled out, which would have been his first for the Academy and a well deserved goal that will be when the time comes.

Meanwhile the "rain" was now torrential with the 1st XI putting eight past their opponents, local rivals Sussex Downs. After his first successful attempt of sports reporting Worthing stopper James Fernandes again takes up the match action...

Worthing College vs Sussex Downs
Half Time – Worthing 4-1 Sussex Downs
Full Time – Worthing 8-1 Sussex Downs

Line – Up
Fernandes
Boxall
Heward
Staines
Giammattei
Clark
Jearum
Rance
Standing
Mannings
Herbert

Subs
Dowell
Carey

Goal scorers
Herbert x4
Dowell x2
Mannings
Standing

First Half

For Worthing College this would be their 2nd game in 3 days so the team knew they would have to dig in deep to pull out a result today. The start of the game couldn’t have got any better for Worthing College as Herbert put them 1-0 up in the space of minutes. Following on from this a couple of minutes later Mannings done well down the left and put in a deadly ball only for Herbert to pop up again and finish nicely 2-0. Worthing were playing decent football which lead to their third in 10 minutes, Good play by Jearum and Clark winning tackles and it was Jearum that played a pin point pass to Mannings on the wide left who cut inside and used his pace and slotted it under the keeper 3-0. Worthing began not to keep the pressure on and this lead to Sussex Downs scoring, the left winger cut inside and played a ball into their striker who turned Boxall and fired past Fernandes 3-1. Worthing let Sussex downs come forward again for 10 -15 minutes but good defending from all the back 4 players (Giammattei, Staines, Heward and Boxall) kept them at bay. 4th goal of the half came from Clark winning a tackle in the midfield and playing the ball out wide to Standing who threading the ball to Herbert who beat one player and finished past the goalkeeper in a one on one situation. 4-1

Second Half

Worthing came out to the second half knowing that the job was still not done, so the team began to play keep ball and work on and off the ball. Eventually they were rewarded when Herbert got his 4th goal of the game breaking through and beating a couple of players and finishing. 5-1. Confidence was high from Worthing and manager Dave Hall made his first sub by introducing Dowell who was swapping for the hard working Mannings. Dowell immediately made the impact by getting on the end of a cross to tap in a well crafted Worthing move. 6-1. Good organised defending was key today and it showed in the confidence of all 4 defenders. On the other hand Fernandes was forced into making a low save when the defence were caught napping but the corner was cleared and Worthing were back in control. From the break Worthing worked it down the right Boxall doing well to find Standing who finished from the cross nicely. 7-1. Dave Hall made his final sub by bringing off play maker Clark and introducing Carey. Carey was already involved with play by pulling off a nice one 2 with Giammattei who fired the ball up field for Herbert to chase, no options for the striker who laid it back to Dowell who was lurking around 20 yards out and hit a shot straight into the top corner. 8-1.

To conclude a "wonderful" Wednesday for the Football Academy with the 2nd XI seemingly back on track and the 1st XI now unbeaten in three matches, scoring 12 and conceding just 2 in that time. Maybe we should give you boys a rest more often!!

Lets keep this run going!!

Onwards and upwards,

Hallsy