Slazenger Mens 3rd team finished the season on a high, after beating the league leaders on their home turf.
Slaz traveled out to Grimsby on the last day of the season, looking to finish on the same good form they had demonstrated the week earlier. The game started quicker than usual, with both teams looking for the illusive first goal. Slaz pressed hard, and were well in side Grimsby’s half within minutes. Great work from midfielder Andy Fisher controlled the centre ground, and distributed it out to Slazenger’s front line.
However, Grimsby were not top of the table by accident, and used some strong passing and coordination to put pressure on the Slaz defence. Credit goes to Mark Kitchen and Chris Hopkinson for some outstanding defensive work, denying them any chances.
It was Slaz who secured the first goal after several shots going close. Man of the match Isaac Fisher controlled the ball in the area, and slotting it past the keeper. The first goal seemed to wake Grimsby up, and they levelled after a 5 minutes with a passing manoeuvre finished by a scrappy goal past ‘keeper James Walker. With two minutes remaining before half time, a great drive from Alan Perry found James Bennett, who defeated several players before blasting the ball past the keeper to put Slaz ahead in spectacular fashion.
The second half was as fast a tempo as the first, but with Slaz in the driving seat for a majority of it. However with Grimsby looking to draw level, it was not going to be easy to hold onto the lead. For the second time in the match, the opposition drew level; a mix up in the D allowing a player to go unmarked, scoring their 2nd.
Slazenger kept pressing, with Paul Corney, Andy Fisher and Paul Johnson all going close. With 15 minutes to go, the ball broke from the Slazenger half. Isaac Fisher passed the ball out to Ian Hedges, who carried it into the D, setting up Captain Paul Corney seal the win.
After a rollercoaster of a season, the Mens 3rd string end on a high, with a strong mid table finish.
