Hilltop 9 - 9 Wades

Update: After confirming goals scored, seems we got ten last night and the ref has miscounted. What a b@astard!

Even though we got a point from this, it felt like a loss. We totally out played them first half, so much so that by the time the second half started, over confidence caused a loss of shape & work ethic. It's bizarre how it happened and I could rabbit on about the game and try to figure out what went wrong but the fact is, it was like 3 teams played last night and we really only have ourselves to blame.

First half, we did some nice passing & movement (although we still should have made a few more chances count). Second half we didn't show the same kind of initiative going forward, people tended to run more with the ball down the flanks, rather then passing early and looking for a 1-2 down the centre. They did swop their keeper at half-time however, although to suggest this is a reason we dropped 2 points is lame, as we didn't test them at all really.

We are above Old Swan at the mo which is good, makes our next game vs them that more important though and if we can find 3 points elsewhere this season, we may have a respectable finish.

If you have any opinions yourself, you can make a post in the comments section of each match report!

Goals: David (3), Ken (1), Rob (1), Stimo (3), Ste (2)
Team: Burke, David, Dave S, Graeme, Ken, Rob, Ste, Stimo

Hilltop 10 - 0 CSKA

Default Win.

Hilltop 8 - 9 Broadway

We finished this game as we started, unorganised at the back and not covering each other. First time we've played Broadway, they came into the game above us and 2nd, the annoying thing is for most of the game we played really well, the best we have in a while! We were winning by around 5 goals at one point but for whatever reason, fitness, concentration, composure; we let them back in the game.

Off the back of last weeks dissapointment, it seemed as good a time as ever to move back to half-way defending with Graeme being back. While it took the team a few mins to settle (allowing them a 2 goal lead), once we relaxed and put our foot on the ball, we started some good passing and link up play. We had Stimos brother Dave playing for the first time and he did a good job covering the back. Allowing players like myself to push forward a bit more than usual and with the halfway tactic, Stimo way given more counter attacking opportunities.

Second half started as the first ended, we were playing a nice tight defence, covering really well for each other and when we countered, usually playing some good footy. Looking back, a key turning point may have been the incident with Burke and one of their players. I don't think we should give any f#ckers from the other team such mentions like this on here but I don't know how the guy only got a 2min sinbin. I felt the ref let us down a few times to be honest and his indecisiveness caused us to concede an important goal late in the game.

Anyway, the incident seemed to rally their team and when we couldn't make the extra man count, the return of the sinbinner applied more pressure to us and they broke us down.

Next time we should have Craig, Ken & Rob playing so i think those who played last night, will be expecting some revenge because we deserved more than we got.

Bring it on!

Goals: Stimo (3), David (2), Burke (1), Ste (1), Tim (1)
Team: Burke, Dave S, David, Graeme, Ste, Stimo, Tim

Hilltop 5 - 8 Old Swan

the derby match, personally i always expect a victory in this game. Old Swan are a decent team with two good players with speed and skill but rest of there team average. we came into the game with 2 key players missing(craig and ken) but had greame "the cat" back in goal so expectations before the game were high.
we started well moving into a early lead with rob providing the goals. hilltop looked quick and alert with good movement on and off the ball ..... but that wernt to last! weather it was we dropped in our performance or O.S upped theres we lost the lead and started playing silly long balls and giving the attcking player no support.
at the end of the 1st half we were lucky to be only a couple of goals behind with greame back in fine form keeping the scoreline not as steap. 2nd half started and as in the 1st we got a few goals early on coming from rob again who was having a great game also by keeping O.S's best player quiet. as the 2nd half came nearer to full time we lost any chance of gaining anything other out the game than a poor goal differance with silly mistakes and slow play in our passing and movement.
we really need to improve fitness were gettin out paced in too many games, weather you play 1 or 7 times a week we need to improve as individuals and a team, still alot of games left so lets improve and reach our highest possible league finish.

Goals: Rob (5)
Team: Burke, David, Foote, Graeme, Stimo, Ste, Rob

Hilltop 7 - 14 Celtic

We've had a few decent games against Celtic in the past, recently they tend to have us off and last night continued that trend! With 2/3 quick players, they exposed our defensive cover a number of times. John was in goal this week, covering the sticks for the first time and he made a number of good saves. Unfortunately for us, he had busted his little finger like 10 minutes before our game, so if they happened to wack the ball on his leftside, more often then not he was unable to keep it out.

So that coupled with our marking & their speed, meant they scored a number of frustrating goals. I think general fitness played a part too, our movement off the ball wasn't too good and as I said before, tracking was a bit off but it was obvious their players would try and burn through, so it's a shame we didn't cover each other a bit more.

We have a big game vs Old Swan next week anyway so hopefully we can pick things up and bag another 3 points! It's worth each of us saying a small prayer to speed up Graemes return as well ;P

Goals: Craig (2), David (1), Rob (1), Ste (2), Stimo (1)
Team: Craig, David, Burke, John, Rob, Ste, Stimo

Hilltop 9 - 15 The View

Didn't get around to posting this last week due to being out all day on Thursday but it's fair to say the better team won! Although we did give them too much respect the first half, it was a decent game and the result couldn't be argued with.

I might end up changing the score at some point, pitz webby is down so I can't check the official score :(

Goals: Craig (4), Ken (1), Rob (2), Ste (1), Stimo (1)
Team: Craig, David, Ken, Burke, Rob, Ste, Stimo