Mens 3s "counter" to 4-1 win

The 3s welcomed Richmond to Heaton Manor on a wet and cold Saturday - winter is coming!

As ever with the 3s the team was much changed from the last match a loss away at Sunderland.

Although still early in the season the visit of Richmond was a critical game for the 3s show whether they would be challenging near the top of IL3 or struggling at the bottom. The team asked this question emphatically!

Jesmond started fast and scored the first goal of the game after only five minutes. Richmond had enjoyed some earlier possession but given a chance Jemsond stole the ball and broke quickly. A series of accurate passes split Richmond apart and James Ferrier was able to put Jesmond a goal ahead. The speed of Jesmonds counter attack would set the scene for the rest of the game.

As the half progressed Richmond started to come back into the game enjoying spells of possession and threatening Jemsonds D. However, Jesmond always looked the most liklely to score with the pace of James Ferrier and Nathan Teasdale and the guile of Oli James and Hamish Adamson continually threatening the Richmond goal. Mid-way through the half Jemsond countered again after winning the ball back in thier half a series of passes presented the ball to Hamish Adamson who fed Jack Brannen who scored Jesmonds second goal of the game.

The second half got going with Richmond on top. A spell of pressure led to Richmond getting a goal back. However, Jesmonds head didn't drop and encouraged by James Milne in defence and Jason Loney in Midfield Jesmond slowly starting to impose themselves on the game. It would be fair to say that Richmond were still on top in terms of possession and territory but they rarely threatened the Jesmond goal; as in the first half it was JPC that looked the more likely to score.

As the half progressed Jesmond continued to counter with fast and accurate passes resulting in a number of opportunities to score. Eventually Jesmond got a third and latterly a fourth goal - scored through Hamish Adamson and James Ferrier.

So the match finished with 3 points going to Jesmond. An encouraging performance that should set the 3s in a good position to challenge near the top than the bottom of the league.

The 3s lined up with back four of Folley (C), Turay, Milne and Stables, a midefield three of Loney, Brannen and Potier-Godhinho, and a front three of Adamson, James and Ferrier. Support form the bench was provided by Humpries, Teasdale + Ravenhall.