Sheffield Bankers

Date:	29 Dec 2007
Competition:	County Senior League Div 2
Home/ Away:	Away
Score:	5-1

Match Report

Sheffield were forced to make quite a few changes from the team that drew with todays hosts in the fixture last week. First team goalkeeper Jamie Holmshaw made his first ever County Senior League appearance as did Under 19 star Janni Lipka. The conditions were very difficult with a swirling wind but despite heavy rain the playing surface was in excellent condition. Early on it was Bankers who were making the better of it and Lloyd Gelsthorpe had to be strong to force Ben White wide and concede the corner. For Sheffield Danny McKenzie was looking lively on the left and Baba Eskante was a handful upfront. Gelsthorpe and Carnall at the back were doing really well to contain any threat from the Bankers forwards.

Janni Lipka had a good shot blocked after he had received the ball from McKenzie, and in the next action McKenzie robbed Griffiths on the left touchline and sprinted for goal only to see his shot sail over the bar. The opening goal fell to Sheffield when Eskante had an effort blocked, the ball came to Kavanagh who got to the bye line and pulled it back for Moore to score from close range. From the re-start McKenzie doubled the lead and Sheffield found themselves two goals to the good. This spurred Bankers and they got a corner from which the ball bounced up and hit Carney and the ref pointed to the spot. Lee Coddington took it and scored to make it 2 - 1 Sheffield. It then took a super goal line block to deny Moore his second and Sheffield their third goal; and he again went close with a header from Carneys free kick aimed at the back post. In the dying minutes of the half Lipka had to be alert to prevent their striker going through on goal.

Carney gave Sheffield a positive start to the second half with good passes into the fowards and Kavanagh put Moore in possession with a super pass but the cross cum shot was just wide. Kavanagh and Moore and Lipka were proving to be a useful partnership especially breaking down the right. Eskante was fouled in a dangerous position. McKenzie took the free kick, Moore ran onto it but the ball bounced in front of him but also over the advancing keeper to give Sheffield a 3 - 1 lead on 51 minutes. Almost immediately after the restart Sheffield regained possession, Carney was fouled and he took the kick himself. Taylor got his head to it and the keeper couldn't hold on to it and Sheffield were now 4 - 1 up. It was all Sheffield now as Bankers heads dropped and the conditions worsened with driving rain and black skies. Portaluri and Linnell replaced Taylor and Kavanagh and they combined well on the right and Portaluri nearly scored at a tight angle. Eskante then received the ball in midfield and scored a great goal to seal the vistory. Moore and Linnell then combined well to set up Chapman (on for Oliver) who shot wide. McKenzie was looking to get his hat trick when he skipped past a defender and his shot was wide with Moore and Portaluri queueing at the far post.

A superb win in awful conditions and great to see new faces coming in and doing a really good job.

Team: Holmshaw, Gelsthorpe, Taylor, Carnall, Carney, Lipka, Kavanagh, Oliver, Eskante, Moore, McKenzie, Portaluri, Linnell, Chapman, Purkiss