Vedra went into today's game at Monkton again missing Jack but with an otherwise full squad. Once again they were playing a side they were yet to play and it was to prove a very tough test.
The game started with NSG on the front foot but James N, Millie and James H were resolute in their defensive duties to keep them at bay until the 7th minute when a short corner routine saw NSG go ahead with a shot under Logan. 0-1.
The game continued to see Vedra on the backfoot but throughout the half the tackles and blocks they put in were great to see. Logan was called upon in the 8th minute to make a fine save and James N made a great double block on the edge of the box. Ryan and Brayden came on in the 13th minute. Sam and Brayden were trying to link up but it was Ryan who was the busier substitute of the 2 having to make a number of tackles and blocks just after coming on. Even these efforts weren't enough though as NSG doubled their lead in the 18th minute with a good shot from the edge of the box. 0-2.
Vedra were had their best stage of the game towards the end of the half with Leo and Sam trying to link up with the hard working Brayden. Brayden had the only real chance of the half with an overhead kick over the bar after a long kick from Logan. The final action of the half saw an NSG corner. Sam and Ryan both made a block before Logan had to make an amazing double save to keep the score down to 0-2 at half time.
NSG started the second half as they had started the first, only this time more successfully scoring in the 26th and 27th minutes to make it 0-4.
Vedra were still trying to make chances and Brayden fashioned himself a chance in the 29th minute as his shot was saved for a corner. NSG extended their lead in the 32nd minute before Vedra fashioned their next chance. Brayden had a shot blocked and Millie, playing a new role in midfield, followed up to again have a shot blocked.
NSG were still very busy on the attack, hitting the bar and the post, forcing Logan into a number of saves and only a great goal-line clearance from James H stopped the lead being extended until the 34th minute. 0-5
Logan was called upon again in the 42nd minute before good closing down from Sam forced himself a chance which he hit wide from the edge of the box.
Vedra were looking a bit tired at this point and NSG took full advantage to score 3 more goals in the 44th, 45th and 46th minutes to make the final score 8-0.
Overall Vedra deserve a lot of credit for their efforts today against a side with no obvious weak points. All the players need to remember to work as a team and stick together and results will come. Logan took the Star Player award this week for his tremendous goalkeeping performance.
The team move onto a 9-a-side friendly on Wednesday as they continue their development.