ByDanny Caro, Danny Caro
Middlesex Sunday Junior League Division One:
Assyria 0 - FC Team 4
FC Team claimed one of their best wins of the season to beat Assyria 4-0 away.
Another big test faced Mitch Young's men as travelled to fifth-placed Turkish side Assyria.
Coming off the back off a 1-1 draw with Wilberforce, Team wanted to get something from the game. They lined up in the usual 4-4-2 formation but Mitch Lassman moved back into right midfield to allow for the full debut of striker Andy Croll. Young moved out to the left and the same back four was intact for the fourth consecutive game.
Team started brightly and the early pressure paid off after five minutes they took the lead. A long ball up field from Dann Silverman was flicked on by Croll, Allen Curry stole a yard on the defender and showed great strength to shrug him a side, one-on-one with the keeper he coolly slotted it in the corner. This gave Team great confidence as it has been a while since they took the lead early on.
They continued to press with the midfield working hard and Croll winning everything in the air. However Assyria were dangerous especially down the wings but some strong goal keeping from Whitehead and good defending allowed the game to stay at 1-0.
The second goal arrived on the 30 minute mark. Gideon Moss took a throw in on the left into the box that found Allen Curry who controlled the ball and turned his man, the defender stuck out a leg to bring him down for a clear cut penalty. Allen-Curry stood over the ball and
blasted into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 to Team. The first half ended with Team having to defend a number of corners and free kicks which they did superbly.
Having spoken through how to improve in the second half during the interval, thanks to words of wisdom from Young and Moss, Team came out focused. The strikers were causing the Assyrian defence all sorts of problems. Croll and Curry both had efforts that went just over the bar.
The first substitution came five minutes in as Moss had to depart with an ankle knock to be replaced by Paul Currie. Currie got right involved with some brilliant headers and crunching tackles. Then the hat-trick came for Allen-Curry. Croll picking out his striker partner who broke down the right and moved forward into the box, then from a tight angle he unleashed a shot that nestled into the corner and sparked celebrations 3-0 after 70 minutes.
The impressive Croll was then replaced for a like-for-like swap with Richard Salmon. Salmon caused immediate impact flicking on Lassman's ball and chasing after it his shot just went wide.
Then on 75 minutes minutes the fourth goal came. Currie played Young in down the left, who played a great one-two with Allen-Curry and his first time left-footed cross was deflected by the keeper into the path of Allen-Curry who smashed home his and Team's fourth of the game.
Team's midfield were proving stubborn and hard working and their superior fitness was too much for the Assyrians to handle. Silverman was dictating affairs and the defence were in their zone.
Then on the 85th minute Lassman picked up a knock so it was time for the return of Jules Noti after nearly a year out of action. Noti threw himself straight into the action with some fine challenges.
Assyria's best chance came from a header from a corner but apart from that FC Team were the totally dominant force and on this performance would be a force for anyone.
A jubilant manager Young commented: "What an outstanding performance. The work-rate, organisation and quality of football was so pleasing. Kieran was simply untouchable, no-one could get near him. He was absolutely outstanding today. On this form I don’t think there is anyone in the league that could stop him. What is pleasing is that he is now becoming clinical as proven today. However although Kieran will get all the headlines every member of the squad today put in a great shift and I am very proud.
"We have nine games to go and we can’t get too excited from this result as we face the league leaders Copland next week. All I know that if we produce the same sort of performance next week against them then I am confident of getting something from the game.
"The squad is now finally settled with 16 regular members and seeing the likes of Noti back is a big boost for everyone, coupled with the latest additions of the two big strikers Croll and Salmon. We took another big step in the right direction Saturday and if we can keep everyone together then I believe the future is very bright for FC Team in County level football."
Next up is Copland on March 7.
FC Team: D. Whitehead, O.Segal, J. Korn, P. Kent, G. Moss (sub: P.Currie 50), M. Lassman (sub: J.Noti 85), D. Silverman, R.Sternberg, M.Young, A.Croll (sub: R.Salmon 75), K.Allen-Curry