Slaz got off to a slow start and Normanby pressed slaz well, but Slaz were able to shine in parts of the pitch, with good ball control and distribution from Adam Drake and Isaac Fisher.
Dan Perry and Edward Richardson put the defence under constant pressure and Richard Tuddenham thundered 4 goals past the keeper.
Isaac Fisher got man of the match for his faultless and clinical performance again.
Ralph Toon had a great game in net and Johnny White had a good game in defence.
Slaz began with good ball movement around the pitch pitch but the tempo was not high enough to cause Normanby a problem. Similarly Normanby didn’t look strong on the ball but moved forward fast. Normanby took the lead of a far post deflection fire in the D.
Slaz looked strong up front and caused a lot of pressure but failed to create a lot of chances. Slaz got cut up before shooting and got a flick that Simon Chamberlain converted. Slaz continued to look slow and didn’t link well, Normanby’s speed continued to influence and the final score was 4-1.
Slazengers 1st have not beaten Normanby Park in many years. Today however Slazenger were on the back of not losing a game this year.
Both teams were off to a fast pace and tried to tire the other side out by moving the ball round the back. Both sides had strong midfields that looked like they could turn the game. But it was the slaz forwards that had the edge to them and popped a goal in that bounced up and over sticks from centre back Will Buckley to the right winger Dan Perry who slotted it past the keeper.
Slaz got a second goal from Jack Mumford.. Normanby came Back at Slaz and got a good breakaway goal before the end of the first half.
Half time was a talk about who wants it more for the next 35 minutes. Again Normanby Park came out hard and pressured the slaz defense creating good chances to beat the keeper, but James Cowden made some great saves in the corners.
Slaz got a third goal from Isaac fisher with a lovely chip over the diving keeper. Normanby got another to keep the pressure on, but Paul Wiper claimed one from a short corner with a dipping flick from top of Semi Circle.
Slaz were again thrilled with a great team performance. Man of the match went to keeper James Cowden for keeping slaz in the game at key times.
Slaz were off to a poor start with Normanby Park pressuring the defence and causing two early mistakes leaving slaz trailing by 2 goals to nill.
But slaz knew they were well in the game still getting a hold of their possession and distributing the ball well. Slaz dominated the rest of the first half but struggled to break the Normanby goal line.
Slaz were able to pull a goal back thanks to striker Richard Tuddenham. The second half slaz pressured on but were tiring and Normanby Park. Were able to break away and increase the lead to 3-1. Man of the match Simon Chamberlain kept a level head and gelled slaz to claim back another goal for Richard Tuddenham’s second goal.
Normanby Park kept the pressure up and got 2 break away goals in the later stages to wrap up the match. Adam Drake, Paul Wiper and Jonny White all had good games and battle hard against a physical opposition.
Slazenger 3rd’s travelled to Normanby Park on Saturday, knowing only a win would see them secure promotion. After a jittery start, a 6-1 victory put it beyond doubt.
Slaz took the push back, starting brightly, though with some early nerves. However this was easily overcome after good link-up play from John Sykes and Andrew Birkett forced a mix up in the circle, allowing Birkett to slot an opening goal home. However, as in recent weeks, Slaz proceeded to make life difficult for themselves, by struggling to do even the simple things well. Normanby Park punished them for the mistakes, taking the initiative, and grabbing a scrappy equaliser. The usual strong Slaz defence struggled to clear their lines and keeper Ralph Toon couldnt stop the simple tap in which resulted, during an otherwise faultless performance.
Slaz continued to work, and the more effective passing game began to make gains. The horbury side attacked several times, cutting deep into the home teams half. Attacks from Ste Roberts, Ian Hedges and Matthew Stacey maintained pressure and it was Stacey who grabbed a vital equaliser before half time.
The game was closely contested for in the minutes before the half ended and Slaz were happy to hear the half time whistle.
In the second half, Slaz regrouped and reapplied the pressure. With only a goal in it, there was always a threat Normanby Park would equalise. John Sykes had been threatening throughout the first half, with several shots on goal. This half however, he managed to grab the goal; a powerful strike was caught by an unfortunate defender’s stick, with the keeper unable to save.
With some breathing room, Slaz really pilled on the pressure. Slaz continued to defend as a unit, with strong performances from their back line: Paul Johnson, Mark Kitchen, John Toon, and Alan Perry. This allowed the midfield to hit the opposition on the break, causing real problems in the Normanby Park goalmouth and winning several penalty corners in quick succession. It was from one of these that Paul Johnson scored Slazenger’s fourth; the ball whipped out from Birkett, and slammed in from the top of the circle.
A fifth goal completed Sykes’ brace, with a great individual effort. Receiving the ball on the edge of the goalmouth, made space for himself and struck the ball fiercely into the corner. This was quickly followed by Matthew Stacey’s second of the game, with a tap in from the right post.
Final score Slazenger 6 – Normanby Park 1 which ensures Slazenger 3’s will be promoted as runners-up having won their last 5 games of the season.
