Preseason Friendly v Whiteleas Eagles

This week Rutherford travelled to Whiteleas to face Whiteleas Eagles in the 3rd preseason friendly of the season and looking to improve on the last outing.

A slightly shuffle to the pack this week, Jacob and Penny in for Max Billingham and Elliott. Taylor Earl starting at centre back, Joe moving to left centre back and Connor to right centre back. Aodan remained in goal due to Jack feeling unwell prior to kick off.

Whiteleas had be relegated from division 7 last season and were due to be in division 8 this season but they have taken the decisions to split the squad in two and form a couple of division 10 teams for next season. The conditions were wet but mild with the grass pretty long and slick, the goals were, quite frankly huge, so the game was always going to have plenty of goals in it.

Rutherford started the brighter, making most of the attacking play and it was Jacob who got the goal scoring started, following in a rebounded shot to tap home. Next up was Max Johnson to score from inside the box, his 4th goal of preseason. 15 minutes in, saw the introduction of Max Billingham and Elliott, within a few minutes the two had combined to make the game 3 nil to Rutherford, Max Billingham scoring the first of what would eventually be a hat trick. A goal disallowed for offside was next before Whiteleas reduced the deficit with well taken goal. Max Billingham restored the 3 goal cushion before Mason added a 5th with a great piece of skill and left footed shot into the bottom corner. Whiteleas rounded off the scoring following a mistake at the back from Rutherford.

Half time changes saw Penny and Jacob back on for James Lee and Max Johnson following a team talk which focused on retaining the ball and keeping our shape. The players following this pretty well and it wasn't long before Max Billingham completed his hat trick. Next up was Elliott with a brace of goals either side of a Whiteleas goal following another mistake in the Rutherford defence. Final two goals from Rutherford were from James Lee and Max Johnson with a couple of whiteleas goals thrown into the mix.

10-5 the final score, but it could've been 20-2 if truth be told, Rutherford scored 10 but had a goal disallowed, hit the bar, post and had numerous shots saved but he Whiteleas keeper. Of the 5 goals conceded, only 2 were through excellent play from the opposition, the other 3 from mistakes in the Rutherford defence.

All in all, an excellent performance, an improvement on the previous friendlies and Shaun and I are very pleased with the progress of the team. That said, there's still plenty to work on and next week against the other Whiteleas team will be a far sterner test as I understand they are the stronger of the two teams.

Well done everyone, see you on Wednesday