Line Up: Tu – Erba (Ho) - Gjedsal – Warreing – Erba (Minorikawa) – Bucciali - Moccelin - Lacour (Dotta) – Diaz (Jelik) –  Michel (Lucio) – Magaud

Another good and solid performance from the Latin Warriors. We talked about putting pressure on our opponent, winning the ball early and making our chances count. The first half was a tough encounter and hard battle on the field but our movement and positioning was fairly solid, in particular defensively. We managed to shift the ball well through midfield but were lacking the final pass, shot or finishing touch to make our possession and control count. It has to be said it was very hard work, a lot of tireless running from our midfield and good transitional play from offence to defence ensured that we kept any Nippon attacks at bay. Eventually our opening goal would come from an unlikely source…the left foot of Darren…none of us knew he had a left foot. A great finish but the creation was solely down to Benji’s tireless persistence and determination on the left wing against 2 or 3 Nippon defenders, he delivered a good cross to the edge of the box and Darren controlled it and hit into the top right corner…great finish. A few minutes later and once again our pressing paid off as we won the ball in midfield, it fell to Magaud 20 yards out from goal and with a deft finish he guided the ball to the bottom right corner. In the dying minutes of the half another good opportunity just outside the box but my right foot not quite as accurate as Darren’s left foot as the ball just cleared the crossbar. Half-time Latini 2 Nippon 0.

Second half and we continued to put pressure on our opponents as Olive Magaud continued his good form and got his 2nd of the day. Nippon started to get more into the game and looked better going forward. They got a goal back before we started getting back into the game and another 2 goals by Angel and Magaud ensured a comfortable finish for Latini.

Overall a solid and good team performance by Latini. The scoreline just about deserved but very hard work especially in the first half ensured the result for the Latini Squad. Good performances from the back four – Chris, Darren, Raffa and Rob, good work rate from the midfield and good control of the central area by Yann and Olive Lacour but my man of the match vote has to go to Olive Magaud who got another hatrick and is looking in good goalscoring form at the moment.

Ref’s had a good game.

Thanks to Nippon for a good game, hard work for us and lets hope we can do the same in the cup game next week…