Game Week 5 v Leon FC

Rutherford were back in action after the Christmas break to face Leon FC away. With only 11 fit players available, some not having played for several weeks, it was going to be a big test against a team who caused some real problems in the earlier fixture this season.

Rutherford started with the same formation (1-3-1-5-1) but with some players playing slightly out of position or being asked to perform unfamiliar roles in the team. It's to the players credit that they took the challenge head on and applied themselves fantastically well to ease their way into the match and eventually take full control.

Leon had some half chances in the first 20 minutes, finding some spaces between the back 3 but after a minor repositioning, those gaps were plugged and Rutherford started to become an attacking force with Joseph Byers and Thomas Ingham starting to pull the strings in midfield and feeding Liam and Chloe in attack. It was Liam who opened up the scoring on 20 minutes and within 7 minutes completed a hat trick to take Rutherford into half time 3 nil up.

At half time we spoke about continuing to work for each other, keep our passing patterns together and score the next goal. All of which we accomplished and within 40 minutes of the second half, a Leon defender turned into his own net from a dangerous cross and it was game over. Chloe added a fifth late on with a well taken shot into the bottom corner. Leon pulled a goal back in the last few minutes as Rutherford were running on fumes having worked so hard with limited subs to use.

Given the circumstances of this game, this was a really positive performance, we passed the ball fantastically well at times, really putting some patterns together and creating some fantastic chances but it was the work rate and togetherness that stood out. The tracking back, making tackles and covering runs, alongside taking the ball in tight positions, under pressure with the confidence to play attacking football was very pleasing to see. Freya summed up the attitude best, clearing the ball off the goal line twice in 30 seconds when 5 nil up.

Man of the match this week went to Thomas Ingham who was playing his first game in nearly 8 weeks and out of position. He held the midfield together, won the ball and moved it forward simply and effectively. Well done, Thomas, brilliant performance.