Icarus Vets Squad v Thame United Vets

Icarus Masters fielded a strong squad against Thame United Vets on Wednesday 23 Aug 17.  Thame United, an experienced and talented Vets team, presented a tough challenge to Si Hays’s men as they continued their preparation for the new season.  Overall it was a positive night with Icarus competing well for 80 minutes before conceding 3 goals in the last 10 minutes when pushing for an equaliser.  The game began as a cagey affair, with Icarus keeping the ball well and showing patience looking to exploit the pace of Martin Blagojevic and Tony Spurle on the left hand side.  Indeed, it was this combination that resulted in the best chance of the first 30 minutes when Spurle released Ian (Taff) Evans who shot over the cross bar from 16 yards.  Jim Schofield went close twice from John Hetherington set plays, heading over the bar and straight at the keeper.   In goals, Neil Jones was distributing the ball well and pulled off two smart saves as Thame looked to hit the ball long in behind the Icarus back four, which was well marshalled by skipper Paul Merritt and the experienced Andy Constable.   Dean Brown, playing his last game before surgery on an injury, and Kev Knott were controlling the passing and tempo in midfield and Rich Goodyear provided superb width on the right.
 
Thame took the lead when their right wing back found space on the Icarus left and hit a low shot into the bottom corner.  They extended their lead in the second half against the run of play as Icarus began to get on top.  Icarus pulled a goal back almost immediately when Hetherington bravely headed in a brilliant Andy Keeley left wing cross.  The Icarus players were rotated on and off to give as many as possible equal game time in pre-season, and with Si altering the shape of the team to a back 3 to go for the equaliser, more space developed for Thame to exploit.  A rare sprint from a normally dormant and lazy striker combined with a tug of Rob Swinney’s shirt saw Rob on the floor and the ball in the net to make it 3-1. Sadly, the Ref, who was outstanding all game only saw an equal collision and tangle of feet. Thame were ‘on the rack for 10 mins whilst Icarus tried for the equaliser and were subsequently reinvigorated. Thame did well to exploit the new Icarus shape and available space scoring 2 more goals to make it 5-1, an unfair score line considering the possession and chances Icarus created.
 
With seconds on the clock, a clever run by Mark Gilligan saw the ball break to Hetherington on the far corner of the penalty box, he hit the ball across the keeper into the top left top corner to pull a goal back.  It was too late for a comeback as the referee blew to bring an entertaining game to a close.  Dave Gault, the new Assistant Manager proved invaluable once more ensuring the team were well organised with the kit/bottles and first aid kit, which was used to good effect on Gilly who suffered slight whiplash after 10 mins when smashed to the ground post an aerial battle. Gilly recovered well to play his part in Icarus’s 2nd goal. Man of the Match was hotly contested by some great performances all over the park but most impressive was Kev Capelin-Jones’ performance at right back. From the moment he came on he was the epitome of calmness under pressure playing both short and long balls with inch perfect precision. While defending he followed the gaffer’s guidance to the letter by not diving in and making the attacker make a pass.
 
Overall, Icarus could be pleased with a good night’s work, Thame United play week in week out and are a talented team, as the season progresses the experience gained in this fixture will prove invaluable.