Jagex Stamp on Welcome Mat

Wellcome 1- 4 Jagex

Fardell, Carl, Adam, Lovell, Murby, Winfield, Josh, Jay, Alex the Beast, Millard, Matt Parish, Adam Ryman, Sweatman

Jagex were able to secure a win against the formerly mighty Wellcome on a cold and windswept day at the field which is located in the vicinity of, but not at Chesterton Sports Centre (meaning you change in one building, then go on a ten minute hike, crossing a main road, to find the pitch). This week we had the pleasure of welcoming Ryan Winfield’s mates down from the Leeds area – who had all been down to visit him and had availed themselves of a few ales and some good local Cambridge cheer the night before. We also had a debut for Matt Parish and welcomed Andrew Millard and his incredible Movember Tache into the team – a tache so manly, it makes Chuck Norris quake in fear.

Early exchanges were dominated by Matt Parish, who settled into his role in midfield well, and looked a bit like a defensive minded Piers Morgan – minus the bouncy blonde hair. Sweatman also made himself known on the wings, interchanging nicely on one occasion with Adam Ryman. We had a classic hard men centre back pairing this week -with Pete Lovell and Murby at the back together, generally being great lumbering viking style oafs, terrifying the opposition into not challenging too much for anything.

Carl settled in at right back and helped run some early exchanges down the right, combining well with Adam Ryman to set up an early chance. Josh saw little of the ball early on, and looked initially isolated up front before a re-jig. Welcome never dominated, but were always competing in the early stages. One of my abiding memories of the early exchanges recalls Winfield going on one of his typical surging runs  – where he looks not entirely in control of the ball, or his legs, but still manages to keep moving in a forward direction and make something happen.

Murby went down under a challenge early in the first half, and was unfortunately out for the remainder of the game. Millard settled into the back line in his place and did a commendable job - with the master taking over from the apprentice (i.e. he's Jason's boss during the day).

Play was fairly even, until Jagex scored with a magnificent piece of combined play. The ball was pinged out right from deep, fed into the channel and Matt Parish skinned his man, lifted his head (if only Theo Walcott could learn to do this) and pulled it back to Josh, who volleyed in with a lovely strike that left the short, pudgy keeper about as much chance as he has of snogging Angelina Jolie.

Welcome woke a bit and put a bit more play together. Peter Lovell was trying to sit deep to cut out any chances, and was making himself felt in the air. Fardell made a punch from a corner - it wasn't that good, but I don't do it much. The Jagex second goal was a cracking piece of individual play from Adam Ryman, who surged forward, and eventually slotted the ball home cleanly. I didn't see it myself, but I'm told it involved some awesomeness, amazing play and cracking control that wouldn't look out of place in a game that Chris Kamara would be commentating on

Then we had some subs and a few Northerners came on and made a nuisance of themselves. This was a very good thing for the balance of play. Jay settled into a midfield/forward role, and saw a fair bit of the early play. 

Alex came on, and I'll be honest, he was a bit of a beast, "legally" using his shoulders and chest to hold off, damage or otherwise intimidate players. One chap had the temerity to dive in the box to try and win a penalty, including a little pirouette for good measure, a stifled scream, and a gesture towards the referee. As. He. Fell.

Alex was not amused, and said something along the lines of "get up, who do you think you are, Luiz Suarez" - which even had this chaps' teammates laughing.

Second half started, Jagex kept their shape despite moving a lot of their players around. Matt Parish was still dominating proceedings in the centre, adding a bit of steel and a spine to an occasionally weak Jagex midfield. He exchanged play particularly well with Jay, causing some fair trouble and putting the ball playing Welcome centre backs under pressure. Sweatman moved up front for a bit in something of a free role and helped link attacks nicely.

The back line changed a few times during this period, with Winfield moving out left and another Northerner, Adam, taking the centre back role. Adam was brilliant alongside Pete, showing full blooded commitment to win anything in the air, but also moving the ball out from the back ably, to help create attacks right from the back.

Winfield was still doing some stuff, but I'll be honest, at this stage we were all thinking who were these crazy Northerners and what jobs at Jagex could we get them? Consultant QA? Facilities? Hell, they can work in legal if they commit to play like this every Sunday. 

Welcome finally saw a bit of the ball, and from this, their only goal of the game came. A Welcome player, who may have acted a bit like Luis Suarez, handled the ball in the box, using his hand to beach-volleyball it it back to a player on the 6 yard line, who headed in, past a despairing dive from Fardell. Cue a little bit more Welcome pressure, which was finally relieved when Fardell barrelled out to clear one, Mignolet style, almost taking out Pete and the opposition player in the process. I don't normally come off my line, let alone straight into the two biggest players on the pitch.

Jagex then put the game beyond doubt with a 3rd. Josh exchanged with Jay, received the ball back and made a jinking little run before he was tripped. He took the honours, and gently slotted home to the keeper's right.

The final goal was another great individual effort, which saw the Northerners combine. Alex steamrollered out from deep, barreled his way past two players and then carefully picked out one of his Northerner chums, Jay, who had a simple tap in.

And that, gents, was that. We're very grateful to Winfield and his chums for giving us a decent number of players, Matt Parish made a cracking debut and Josh has settled into the team nicely. There were a few sore heads again - which is becoming something of a recurring theme. Roll on the Christmas fixtures.