V. Coddenham The Leopards pre-season got off to a victorious start with their victory over a small hamlet in Suffolk. Here are some of the post-match press comments: - "It was a bit like watching Brazil� John Cassy, Guardian "If Arsene Wenger is looking for a player to fill Petit's boots, he could do worse than turn to the Leopard's Fenn-Smith� EADT "Stevenson was everywhere" Coddenham News "Van den Arend should have scored more" The Leopards website Clearly, all the plaudits Patrick Inglis took last season for his successful captaincy were overcooked, as Les captained the side with great ease and we won 6-0. The initial stages were marked by incredible soldidity at the back (with dan G and Ben C to the fore), and dynamism in midfield, with Orlando putting in a performance David Ginola would be proud of and Heneage in sparkling form. Eventually, the hard work reaped dividends, when JC opened the scoring, after some clever work down the right between vdA and Brooke , with a stunning near post header . It was only thanks to a smart save by Michael Morris that we went into the interval 1-0 up and some sharp words were exchanged at half-time, with the defence and midfield offering the attack some tips on how to stay onside, and the attack suggesting to some of the more attacking midfielders that their runs were supposed to take them past the forwards from time to time. The Leopards came out suitably fired up, and it was not long before we went 2-0 up. Some typical harrying by vdA led to a mis-placed backpass finding Brooke, and the pint-sized maestro cleverly lobbed the onrushing keeper. The Leopards were now attacking with increasing venom, looking to kill the game off. Every time the ball was played forward, vdA looked dangerous with his pace, but not when he had the ball (he missed at least two golden opportunities, one effort hitting the stanchion and crossbar). Eventually, following one through ball by Cassy, a defender did the decent thing, tripping vdA up in the box, allowing him to open his account for the season with a coolly slotted penalty to the keepers' right. The Leopards defence and midfield were now dominating affairs, their superior fitness and technique beginning to tell. The defence looked supreme, continually out muscling and outskilling the oppo's attack. The midfield won everything, with Fenn-Smith, H Stevenson and A Stevenson dominant. Fenn-Smith played the holding role superbly, winning everything and changing the habit of a lifetime by not giving possession away just after he had won it. A Stevenson's performance belied the fact that he had been inactive in NY for a year, and he played with his usual ballistic power. The fourth soon followed, Heneage Stevenson firing home from 20 yards into the bottom right, after a fine cross-field pass from Rowland. By now Coddenham were demoralised, something not surprising given the torrid time their players were having. Rowland and Charles Stevenson both made the opposition look stupid, dazzling them with their silky skills. Cassy then scored his first ever goal from a 1-on-1, showing confidence by nutmegging the keeper. The Leopards fans began to chant "We want six", so what could we do? Heneage Stevenson played a delightful ball through to vdA, who had made a horizontal run to remain onside, and who ran on to take it round the keeper to slot it home with his oft-questioned left foot. When the final whistle went, the leopards looked heavenwards and wondered what lies in store for them in the upcoming season. Silverware may not be assured, but then neither is a starting-place for a certain Canadian passport holder, for whom fitness /senility seems an increasing problem, and whose boots were more than adequately filled by a combo of Charles Stevenson's defensive qualities and Orlando Swayne's inspirational ones. |