18/05/2026
Saturday 26th April 2026 (apologies for the HUGE delay in posting)
EAJFC Hibs 7 - 2 Grappenhall Sports FC
Yet another WOW performance from the lads! They bounced back superbly from last week to smash the current league leaders of the Mid-Cheshire Prem and preserve our unbeaten record at fortress Mesnes Park 💪
Pre-match, we talked about learning lessons from our previous game and getting the ball down and playing the football we know we can play. We also made a slight tweak to our usual formation and dropped Dawood into midfield to play alongside Jake and Euan to form a three across the middle of the pitch.
The lads started the game well and the midfield were retaining possession and we created chances almost immediately. We conceded the first goal from a bullet of a long throw, but the heads didn't drop. We continued to play the good football we had begun with and all over the pitch we started to get the upper-hand with our individual battles. With 5 minutes to go before half time, Jake produced a moment of quality, swinging in a high free kick into the box, which was glanced into the corner of the goal from Elliot. Our good play was rewarded and a massive confidence booster going into the break, but the drama wouldn't end there before the HT whistle. With a minute to go, Grappenhall launched an attack and as the ball bobbled up, their midfielder unleashed a long range shot which was tipped onto the bar by Tyler - another truly wonderful save. This ensured we went in at HT at 1-1.
We made a couple of changes for the second half, I asked Josh & George to swap sides, we gave Alfie a rest and we retained the three across the middle as it was working so well.
The second half started as the first and Grappenhall would grab the first goal when their striker nipped in to poke the ball past Tyler from a back pass. Again, the lads didn't let the setback phase them and the lads lead by our captain, Jake produced an unbelievable second half display. The onslaught started when Jake won the ball in the middle of the pitch and played a defence splitting pass into Josh and he smashed it home to make it 2-2, brilliant finish. Jake did this all day and dictated the play from the middle of the park. Reid then launched a trademark throw-in down the line to Josh who pulled it back for the irrepressible Dawood to slot home to make it 3-2. Dawood had been revelling in his new position as he terrorised the opposition with his strong runs, skilful and powerful display on the ball, and quality in his passing. They just couldn't contain him - they kicked and fouled Dawood, but he just kept getting up and would hurt them even more. Dawood would be involved again and would return the favour for Josh, he broke powerfully down the left hand side, beat their fullback and slotted the ball across the goal for Josh to poke home and make it 4. Grappenhall were becoming frustrated and were arguing amongst themselves, and we continued to turn the screw and heap more misery on them. Dawood won the ball in the middle, broke powerfully and played a lovely ball out wide to George, who showed brilliant composure to beat their full back, cut inside on his right hand side and curl a lovely shot into the bottom corner to make it 5. It was 6 soon after when George picked the ball up on the left and played it into Dawood, who got the ball out of his feet and played a lovely ball towards Josh who took the ball off the defenders toe and smashed a lovely left footed shot into the bottom corner to seal his hat-trick!!
We still had time for one more as Theo who had worked tirelessly upfront and had caused their defence no end of trouble all game, won a free kick at the edge of the box. Theo took the kick himself, which caught the top of the wall and spun towards Dawood. He was able to nod it to Alfie who finished it into the top corner to make it 7.
Goals
Josh ⚽⚽⚽
Dawood ⚽
George ⚽
Elliot ⚽
Alfie ⚽
Awards
Players 🏆Dawood
Parents 🏆Dawood
Dawood thoroughly deserved the two awards today and in the words of Lucas was simply unplayable! However any of the players could easily have staked a claim for an award as each and every one of them were superb, from back to front. A truly awesome display which I am sure made themselves proud, made their family proud watching from the sidelines and made their coaches proud.
I would also like to give a special mention to Alfie (with Euan as his support) who even when he was off the pitch was shouting encouragement to his team mates, whether that was for a good passage of play or when he could see a player needed a little pick me up 👏
