After our exit from the County Cup last week we returned to Thornborough for a league game with the expectation of putting right what went wrong the week before.

Franny decided to make a few changes to players and how we played. The team all seemed up for it in the changing room with some players even buying new Boots for the game (Shrek, & Terry being two of these players)…….hoping it improved their performance from the week before.

The game started well for the Trees with Homer, Nigel & Jon Hall seeing a lot of the ball and making some early chances. However, the first really good chance fell to Bruce. The ball was worked out wide to Homer who after beating his man went down the line and crossed in a great ball that was poorly clear and Bruce picked up the ball and struck for goal and with the keeper failing to reach the shot it was an early goal for the Trees. 1-0 and much like the week before. However, this week we again picked up the tempo and kept running at the Thornborough defence and within another 5 minutes Nigel had put his shot in the box in the bottom corner. 2-0 to the Trees and the confidence in the team was good to see.

Thornborough tried to get back in the game and were hitting balls cross field and over the top to try and beat our defence. Our defence was dealing well with the pressure. However, Thornborough switched the ball from right to left and as the ball was played over the top Shrek stumbled and even though Terry got across to put the striker off, he got his shot away out Jon made a fantastic save and put the ball over the bar. A save that would prove to be vital at 2-0 and ensure we kept Thornborough out of the game.

We continued to create chances and both Oli and Bruce in midfield were winning the ball and creating space for themselves and Nigel in get our football going. We again broke down the left with Homer continuing to make his man look silly and with another great cross into the box, Jerome won the ball and passed to Bruce and his strike hit an outstretched leg of a defender and went in. The ball like it was going in anyway, so number two for Bruce and 3-0 to the Trees.

We were still making chances and Thornborough were still trying to break us down at the back. Again they tried to switch the ball right to left and as the ball was played over the top Shrek again turned to catch his man and as he was running he fell over……again Terry managed to get across and tackle the player and stop the shot. Clearly the new Boots Shrek had got were in the sale and had NO STUDS!! Jerome was catching everything down and making life for the Thornborough defence hard and as he won the ball again, Nigel hit the ball out right and Jon beat his man to the ball and pulled the back to cross into the box. The ball came back inside and Jerome beat the defender to the ball and the ball bounced through to the keeper but Nigel beat him to the ball and lobbed him with a cheeky header. 4-0 at half time to the Tress and it was two for Bruce and Nigel.
The half time team talk was easier than last week and Franny set the objective of a clean sheet and more goals would be nice.

The 2nd half started and Thornborough were clearly trying to make something happen. However, both Oli, Bruce and Jerome were working hard to win the ball and make it very difficult for them. Bruce won another ball in the middle and passed to Nigel, Nigel beat his man and spread the ball wide to Homer, Homer beat his man and went down the line and after beating another player cut back inside went into the 18 yard box and with the keeper to beat passed to Jon Hall won was running in from right. Jon struck the ball first time and it was another goal….5-0 to the Trees.

Thornborough now looked a beaten team and Franny encouraged the team to keep going and that they did. Franny made his first change and took off Jerome and put Wigsey on and Bruce went up top. This time Oli won the ball and beat two men and with Bruce in space he passed to Bruce who turned and went for goal, with the keeper to beat his strike hit the back of the net. A hatrick for Bruce and 6-0 to the Trees. Franny took Bruce off and replaced him with little Cloggs and took off Oli and came on himself. We were still having a lot of joy out wide and with the Homer beating his man every time we kept putting the ball out left. This time Homer beat his man cut inside and went for goal and again with the keeper to beat he passed to Looty won was running in from the right and Looty’s shot found the net.7-0 to the Trees.

Now it is worth pointing out that earlier in the week Homer had had a bad car crash and wrote off his car. Before the game Franny checked he was OK and up for the game and he did have some doubts. However, the crash had clearly affected Homer as not only was he having a great game but he was passing to players in the 18 yard box………something you very rarely see!! The bump to the head seemed to have affected Homer. However, it was shorted lived. Homer was again put through on goal from some good work from Iain and Nigel and this time with the keeper to beat his shot hit the back of the net. 8-0 to the Trees and a great result for a result performance.

The score line could have been even better as Nigel tried in vein to get his hatrick. On three occasions he went through second half with the keeper to beat and each time the keeper saved. Any player could have got MOM for this game but due to the performance and the hatrick it went to Bruce. However, a special mention also goes to Jerome who worked his socks off for 60 minutes and managed to create the space and options for others to benefit from…..great performance Jerome.
The 8-0 performance is a record win for Bletchley Trees in the prem, so a great performance all round from everyone.

Thornborough 0 Bletchley Trees 8 (HT 0-4)
Scorers – Broadbent 3, Nigel Price 2, Looty, Jon Hall & Homer
MOM - Broadbent