Rotherfield IronPort Raiders Gold 6 ~ Meadway 1

Coach Chapman challenged Gold to concentrate on control and the bright early start with well struck corners from Estcourt and a long range shot from Gay indicated it was a lesson well learnt.
Meadway scoring first did not inhibit Gold’s play which at times was enthralling. Street was to be given man of the match for his first half hat trick. However it was his first time passing out wide, which was the most, accomplished part of his game.
It was Peirson-Hagger who opened the scoring for Gold with a fine cross shot which took a deflection off a defender. The second came when another shot from Peirson-Hagger wasn’t held by the goalkeeper and Street was on hand to sweep the ball into the net.
Following some fine defensive work by Dockree, who is fitting well into this role, Street made it 3-1 to Gold having collected an intuitive pass from Estcourt.
Substitutions brought Back and Chapman into the game and both had an immediate effect. Street completed his hat trick after more fine approach play and Chapman scored his first after long shots by Gay and Back were well saved by the Meadway keeper.
Contrary to what the score might suggest Meadway produced dangerous attacking moments but Sweetman, playing well in his new role as Gold’s keeper, refused to be beaten again.
Being 5-1 down at half time Meadway’s response was to tighten their defense although it was after an attack that Gold scored their sixth. Chapman started and finished a fine move which included good one touch passing from Estcourt and Street.
Enough time was left for Aldridge to show good control and strong running and for Chapman to narrowly miss concluding his hat trick; Gold maintained their 100% record.
Team: Charlie Estcourt, Ben Peirson-Hagger, Matthew Aldridge, Matthew Chapman, Josh Gay, Sam Street, Danny Dockree, Max Sweetman, James Back