Slazenger 3rds started their league campaign on Saturday against Normanby Park and in swealtering conditions were unfortunate to only come away with a draw.
The game started quickly, with both teams eager to take control early on. However, it was Slazenger who put the pressure on in the early minutes of the game. Wingers Alex Calderley and Robin Brearton provided the width, making cutting runs, and chanelling the ball across the pitch.
Several chances went close, with strikers captain Paul Corney and Tom Whitaker making the keeper work in the heat. However, they were unable to find the net. Heading towards the end of the first half, Normanby Park broke away, and defeated keeper Giles Field putting them 1-0 up against the run of play.
In the second half, Slazenger composed themself and continued to build on the fluid game thy had been playing in the first half. The pressure paid off, with centre midfielder Andy Fisher breaking the deadlock with a powerful strike past the keeper.
This was followed up in quick succession, as a cross from Ian Hedges picked out Paul Corney, who burried it in the back of the net.
The third came from a fluid move worked from Slaz’s half. Centre back Paul Johnson fired the ball up the field, finding Calderley, who’s cross set up Brearton to put Slaz 3-1 up.
As the game came to a close, slaz conceeded 2 in quick succession, the second being controversial enough to put a dampner on what had been a great first outing for Slazenger’s third string.
Slaz thirds travel to meet Harrogate 6th’s at 10:30am in their first cup game of the year.
