The Darks came into last nights game on the first two game losing streak in the year-long history of the D league team. With that in mind, as well as a less than impressive streak against the Deadmen (a loss and a tie in the previous two games), an almost full strength Darks team came out on a mission this night.
Before kickoff birthday boy Peter Tower gave a team speech imploring the squad to play up to our potential and not give an inch to the Deadmen. A tense first eight minutes saw both teams largely sitting back with few solid chances created for either team. That all changed as Daniel Smith, back into the squad after a week off with injury, came in to score the games first three goals with shots high and low coming off both feet.
With the lead in hand, the Darks took over the midfield and began passing the ball around with increased sharpness, giving the Deadmen virtually nothing in the way of possession an snuffing out the few runs made at them. Goals five and six came at the end of flowing passing attacks that saw each Darks player touch the ball with finishes on through balls at the post for Ty Kreft and Sam Stodghill.
The sixth goal of the night couldn’t have been any further from these team-constructed movements. As keeper Adam Marlowe collected a shot and looked up to find no convenient outlets he spotted a deep run by usual defender Daniel Sanders and hoofed the ball down field. With his back to the goal and a defender behind him, Sanders let the ball bounce once, swiveled around to his weaker left foot, and unleashed a volley that rocketed across the goal an into the upper right crossbar. Certainly the finest goal of his career to date.
Three more goals were to come for the Darks, but with 10 minutes to go the call went up to the stand tall on defense, and aided by some fine saves by keeper Marlowe the Darks were able to keep their first clean sheet in as long as anyone could remember.
A solid 9-0 victory that will hopefully put the Darks back on the right track as the session winds towards the Thanksgiving-eve tournament.
