Its only January and following a thumping 7:0 home victory, Davenham have not only bagged a cup semi final but now a top 3 league finish too...........................and more amazingly, no games postponed due to the weather are the Moss Farm faithful dreaming?
Absoultely not dreaming, but Davenham did make a sleepy start to their third encounter of the season versus friends and neighbours Cuddington. The first twenty minutes was a bit scrappy with neither side really putting passes together. Alex Lonsdale and Joe Rogerson lead by example with fine movement and distribution, but the game did need a goal. Wadsworth played in an excellent threaded ball to the strike force of Kennerley and Stitch, for a very close attempt.........the Moss Farm faithful sensed that the all important first goal was just around the corner. The excitement and anticipation was building up. Then up stepped Luke Whitters to smash a trademark unstoppable goal from outside the box for his 4th goal in 4 games. Joe Rog continued to make excellent progress down the right flank and last ditch defending from Cuddington kept a number of half chances out. A few tactical changes to ensure a little more quality in midfield and importantly to provide an outlet for the midfield passes in the last third of the pitch was instantly rewarded. Davenham turned the screw and following a few excellent corners from Whitney and Biter Burrows, Kennerley did well to keep possession and fed a beautiful ball into the Hitman, Kirkness who volleyed home 2:0 and the Goldmen started to move into second gear. Moments later, Drinkwater floated a lovely cross into the box and a Cuddington defender punched the ball clear. PENALTY!!!!! The referee who has been excellent to date, missed the infringement, as the ball was apparently lost in the glare of the Moss Farm Arena floodlights no problem, some you win, some you lose. Davenham went on to dominate the rest of the first half and with the excellent defence of Greenwood, Hill, Burrows, Antrobus, Lonsdale and Forster, the goalscoring chances for Cuddington were kept to zero.
The halftime team talk focused on, not only an improvement in work rate and doing the easy thing well but more importantly who had forgotten the Jaffa Cakes?? Yes please own up, who did forget the Jaffa Cakes?
Come the second half a resurgent Davenham team took to the field. Drinky has been excellent of late and it was just reward as he latched onto an excellent Kirkness pass to thump the ball home. 3:0 to the Davenhamers! Joe Heaword kept the momentum of the game going with an excellent pass which found Kennerley in full flight. The diminutive striker lobbed the keeper and into the back of the net, only to be disallowed by the referee this left everyone scratching their heads as to why it was ruled out, but on the positive side further impetus was injected into the Davenham play. Danny Full Force Foster, made some important interceptions, and it was following good work from Danny, that an excellent pass was played into Kennerley, who played in Matty Stitch who in turn deftly placed the ball into the bottom corner 4:0 and the Davenham Dream team were now well on top. Rogerson completed his MOTM display with a breathtaking solo goal, beating two defenders before prodding the ball, past the Cuddington stopper, 5:0. Kennerley added a sixth with a thumping daisycutter of a shot, before Wadsworth assisted Whitney who added.......................................yes a Whitney special to leave the Mid Cheshire Maestros in Seventh Heaven!!!
And so the game finished 7:0, thats twenty goals for Davenham, and no goals conceded, in the seasons three games versus Cuddington. Not bad going and once more the Davenham defence showed why theyre the meanest defence in the league, having not conceded a league goal since the 4th December Danny Wallwork, Sam Hill, Sam Antrobus and Buzzer Burrows continue to play at the top of their game, week in, week out, showing how pride, great discipline and taking on board feedback from the coaches can be applied to produce quite simply, superb defensive play!
However, it was Lonsdale and Rogerson who shared the MOTM accolade, for their best performances of the season well done, guys!
