Mixed week for SSEES ends on a high

SSEES had a rude awakening after reading week against Queen Mary 2nds. The players knew before the match that this would be one of the toughest opposition they would face all season, and the luck of the cup draw meant their run was more of a short enthusiastic, but ultimately faltered burst.

A game at Shenley would have been welcomed by many of the SSEES first players, but the squad was disjointed with many unavailable for selection – such is the nature of reading week. Queen Mary looks composed, experienced and ruthless and the consolation from Filippo Casoni was a timid spark in a gutting defeat.

The squad did show their character however when they returned to the LUSL league. A fixture against King’s 3rds is perhaps what the team needed most – playing the Poly-strand rivals meant an easy team talk; win by any and all costs. Captain Matt Thomas emphasised the importance of showing their early season form, as another defeat would have meant three on the bounce.

Winger Myles Pyne opened the scoring with a curler from the edge of the area, before laying on another for Casoni who continues to turn out impressive performances for SSEES. King’s had plenty of the ball and didn’t deserve to go into the break 3-0 down, but Alex Goring latched onto Casoni’s ball over the top to keep his composure and lift it over the onrushing ‘keeper.

On yer ‘ed son

The teams changed ends and the intensity of the game continued with SSEES doggedly defending their advantage. A break up field saw Thomas felled just outside the area and he delivered the free kick that met Jorge Aguerrevere’s head and flew into the corner. It was just reward for the new center back who has brought solidity to the  back four this season.

Sloppy marking on a corner brought King’s back into the match, but the result was set after the fourth and SSEES are looking good in the midweek league. Not every team can say they’ve ground out a 4-1 win, let alone in a game as important as this.