So Armada playing there reverse fixture against Sutton Bears so early in the season, with many of the other team fixtures already in place to take place yet. Armada turn-up to Light Hall School early but the lack of site/changing room access causes delays in the team getting warmed up as hoped for. Eventually, Armada get warming up and changed into their kits, just as kick-off is about to take place. The lack of organisation is to be desired to an acquired taste surely.

Much of the same squad from last week playing this fixture with a handful of additions back from a leave of absence. The squad line-up is a straight 4-4-2 and it seems last week’s blunder of a 3-5-2 formation has sunk into the managers head and he has opted for the best line-up today. It’s good to see Allen, Harvey, Pavy-Roban, Hawkins and Ogbonnah back for today’s fixture.

In-order to progress up the table, Armada will need to secure three points today. The game kicks off with Armada taking the first attack and they concede a very early corner, it’s floated in and a goal from the Bears, now what has happened there, Armada not paying attention or haven’t they started Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!.Yet another early goal conceded by Armada. That is a tough lesson to learn so quick in the game.

Armada re-group and start again, as the Bears press out, it’s there number 10 that’s causing problems as he runs at the defence, the defence is holding it together but as the number 10 skips past a midfielder Mohammad Gohari takes him out with a sliding tackle on the edge of the right hand side of the box. The referee pulls him over and gives him his first warning about his sliding tackles. Bears take the kick but nothing to pressurize the defence of Armada. Armada looking the more potent in-front of goals but shots are screaming over the bar and wide of the goals, so many opportunities not being converted, this could prove costly for Armada. Bears with an attack of their own, as they try to penetrate the Armada defence they make a mistake and a clearance by Mohammed Haares goes long up the pitch, it’s flicked on from Lamine Mekideche straight into the path of Mohammed Siddig who takes a touch and sends his shot past the keeper, Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!. Pleased with that goal, Armada showing that they can play counter attacking football as well. Armada back in the game again.

Most of the football is being played in the midfield area of the pitch, with Armada’s midfielders looking the more attacking to go in on air balls and intercepting tackles. Bears press out and catch an out of place Armada midfielder. Its sent long down the left wing of Armada, it finds a Bear striker as he pushes forward he has Martin Harvey hot on his toes making an attempt to put a tackle in, Harvey slides but the referee says he caught the player on the outside of the box, Free kick Bears. Bears unable to capitalize on the opportunity. Nearly Half-time and the referee signals 6 minutes left of the half left to play, with Armada wanting another goal so badly, its Armada that push to create another chance, as the ball is chased by Siddig, he takes two players on and passes the ball to Lamine Mekideche who drives at the defender and beats the goal keeper as well Gooooooooaaaaaaaal! . Armada in-front before half time, that’s another week going that this team have turned it around. Minutes to go and bears look shocked that they dropped their heads before half-time.

Armada restarts the second half with only 1 change made by the manager, Harvey is subbed off for David Ogbonnah to come on, no change in formation but a personnel change made, not that they needed it as they are leading the match so far. A quick goal in the first minute of the second half by a nice run from Stephen Cudjoe who cuts in and passes the ball across the goal to Lamine Mekideche, who doesn’t miss from there Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!. That’s 3-1 to Armada now and they are full of confidence. Armada relaxed and get caught minutes later as the Bears score another goal Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!, that’s totally shook the Armada team as where did that goal just come from.

Armada back to their usual spritely self’s again as they continue to attack the Bears goal, several shots from Mekideche go high and wide, it’s possible that he could have had 4 or 5 goals to himself and a set-up 2 or 3 goals as well. It seems he is trying too hard to score his hat trick. Armada still have fire left in them and counter through David Ogbonnah who feeds a great through ball to Stephen Cudjoe who heads at the goal and then instead of squaring it, he takes the shot on himself and score the 4th goal for Armada Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!. Bears pushing forward themselves now to try and get 3 goals to win the game, they get a freekick 35 yards out from the Armada goal after a foul is awarded by the referee. The midfielder steps up and takes a lobbed thru ball, it has power on the shot, the ball takes a bounce in the six yard box and ends up in the net Gooooooooaaaaaaaal!. How that managed to beat the defenders and the goalie is unbelievable.

Armada coasting for another victory today, but it’s not without a mountain of pressure from the Bears, they seem to have really fired themselves up for the last minutes of the game. The referee has added on 11 minutes of added time and as Armada brace themselves for the onslaught of attacks, it’s difficult to see how the Bears will get 2 goals back now.

FT: AFC Sutton Bears 3 – 4 Armada FC

Armada played another game with strategic precision, they played together in a calm manner, looking for each other and making themselves available for each other. Great performance from the team all round.

Manager’s comments after the game;
“Great to see the team coming together again this week to get another 3 points. We were slow to get out of the blocks but we managed to turn things around again. There is always room for improvements and were very aware of these, but as for the performance it’s a great feeling to see the team starting to get together more. Like minded players wanting the 3 points is encouraging to see and the fact that they work their way back into the game says a lot about them as a team now. This weeks MOTM is awarded to Stephen Cudjoe for his performance in the match, well done stephen you deserved this today”.

NEXT WEEK League Action: vs Halesowen Eagles, Halesowen Eagles will be on a high after winning another game in the Jeff’s cup. Armada will be looking to stop the recent run of success and we can be sure to have an entertaining game.

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