04-08-09
Team 66 completed their pre-season campaign with a 2-1 win over local team Harrison Town in a lively affair at Squirrels Heath. Both sides had their chances in an even first half. But Team 66 began to dominate after the visitors made changes at the break. Jason Bates saved Luca Davis’ penalty early on in the first half. But soon afterwards James Millet broke down the right wing to cross for Dan John's to crash the ball into the top right corner leaving the goalkeeper stranded. Thomas Koumas came close on 8 minutes shooting hard and low accros the box but the ball just brushed the wrong side of the post for the Harrison Town striker. Team 66 saw out the half to make it in safely 1-0 at half time.The second half had just kicked off when Martin Keynes waltzed through the Team 66 defence passing to Koumas who struck a fantastic shot towards goal. All Bates could do was parry it into the net. The warning signs had been there before half time and Harrison Town deserved to be level.
A nervy five minutes passed with both teams having chances. Tom Freer for 66 from a corner cleared off the line by Thierry Evra. Then former Team 66 goalkeeper Alan Miller for Harrisons Town producing an excellent save from Bates. But the breakthrough came on 16 minutes. Ben Kent fired home through a crowded area to make it 2-1 and, in the dying minutes, John's almost squeezed in a shot from an acute angle but former Team 66 goalkeeper Alan Miller got finger tips to it to push it round the post.
After the match manager Chris Cooke had this to say:
"It was a good performance but we do still need to improve our defence. Harrison Town gave us a good workout and reminded us not to underestimate any opposition."
Team 66
Bates, Cleg, Cooke, Freer, Husain, Millett, Kent, Figo (14 - Rodwell), Serkan, Johns, Sinclair
Unused Subs: McLeod, Swarbrick, Harewood, Greaves
Harrison Town
Miller, Evra, Robertson (10 - Norris), Badoui, Thomas, Sidwell(10 - Beckford), Camara, Defoe (10 - Southall), Keynes, Davis, Koumas
Unused Subs: King
