SUNDAY 16TH AUGUST 2009
PRESEASON FRIENDLY
ACORN FC VS BEACON FC
Acorn FC's pre-season kicked off with a game against familiar opposition in the
form of fellow JFC Division 1 outfit Beacon FC. Acorn having had a good pre season in training, were hoping to get off to
a good start and the game gave the manager a chance to look at the squad for the upcoming campaign.
And it was Acorn who got off to the better start, trying to play their blend of
passing football on an incredibly bad pitch. Gavin Smith was enjoying an unfamiliar roll in the centre of the park with David
Snee and full back Micky Nicholson and Winger Danny Hook linked up well early in the first half to create a couple of chances
for strikers Adam Dixon and Marc Steel.
Adam Freeman also went close after good work on the right left Danny hook with a
chance to cross for Freeman, who saw his header go wide.
But after a twenty five minute spell, it was Beacon who took a surprise lead, indecisive
defending left the door open and after a good save from keeper Lynch, the rebound was tucked away for 1-0.
Acorn tried to come back, but on an overly long pitch, there football was hard to
play, and Beacon settled into the game over the next 10 minutes, and managed to capitalise on a lapse in communication between
the midfield and defence, when David Snee headed over Andrew Easton, to put the beacon striker through for 2-0.
However, after halftime and some reshuffling in positions, Acorn again started to
press on and twenty minutes into the half, good work down the left saw the ball cut back across the box for Danny Hook to
score his, and the Acorn's first preseason goal. 2-1.
And with 15 minutes remaining, the left flank proved to be fruitful again, as another
ball into the box wasn’t dealt with by the defence and winger Freeman stole in to grab the equaliser. 2-2.
But with little over five minutes remaining, the ball over the top proved to be
Acorn FC's undoing as the Beacon striker lifted the ball over the stranded Lynch to seal a victory for the away outfit. 3-2.
So what looks like a disappointing result on paper, turned out to be a very worthwhile
warm up, and a lot of positives can be taken into the next friendly on Wednesday the 19th at home to Jug and Barrel, especially
with players still to return and plenty of games to be played before the real business starts on the 6th of September.
Early days in the season, but big things are hoped for by all this season with a
more than capable squad and high spirits in the dressing rooms.
WEDNESDAY 19TH AUGUST 2009
PRESEASON FRIENDLY
ACORN FC VS JUG AND BARREL
Wednesday night saw Acorn FC take on Jug and Barrel in the second friendly of the
pre season at home. With a good crowd turning out to watch the match, and a much better playing surface than the previous
game, the home side were looking forward to a stern test, which Jug and Barrel, a good footballing outfit, were more than
willing to provide.
The manager had to make some decisions, with all three first choice centre backs
missing from the squad, so Lee Whitaker and Marc Steel were drafted in to play at the back with Nicholson and Jackson holding
their full back positions for a second game running. A midfield of Hook, Waites Hunter and new signing Phil Marshall, started
the game with Snee and Dixon up front.
But it was the visitors who started the better, taking advantage of a back line
that hadn’t played together before. The away side passed it better for the majority of the first half and broke the
offside trap after 15 minutes to slot home past keeper Lynch for 1-0. And ten minutes later they doubled their lead after
more sloppy work at the back.
Manager Whitaker made some changes, dropping Dixon into a back line and pushing
Steel up front. Soon Acorn started to retain some possession and created a couple of good chances from some tidy passing football
as well as a string of corners. However Freeman, playing on the wing, and Whitaker both failed to convert and the home side
went in at the interval 2-0 down.
The second half saw Dixon and young Luke Hunter partner each other in the heart
of defence, with Snee and Steel up front, this change in the back line proved to be key, as Acorn passed and retained the
ball much better and really turned the screw. And ten minutes into the second period, Adam hunter latched onto a loose ball
to arrow a right foot drive into the top corner, leaving the keeper no chance, for 2-1.
After the goal, Acorn looked a much more settled side, and Hook and Hunter were
enjoying much more of the ball. Mick Emmett came on to sure things up in midfield, and with twenty minutes gone, Waites, who
was coming more and more into the game, cut inside and drilled a low shot into the bottom corner to restore parity for the
home side. 2-2.
Shortly after that, Emmett gambled on some poor defending to complete the comeback
and notch his first for the season. 3-2.
More chances came Acorns way, but the result looked comfortable for the last twenty
minutes and provided the lads with their first win of the pre-season, and a real boost of confidence for the manager.
So a much better footballing encounter and another impressive comeback. This win
should prove to be a steady building block for the next game at home to Real Santos on the 23rd. A great second
half performance from the boys, with some people playing in unfamiliar positions. Good times around the corner this season.
