FINAL SCORE:

Sunday Session..........5 Tantamount FC........... 0

Report by Sam Charman

If ever a team had a hold over another then surely Sunday Sessions have practically headlocked Tantamount over this season. Having never even scored against Sessions and been humiliated 10 and 12-0, the Mount were looking for some pride in their last league fixture and I'm proud to say that's what they delivered. After taking a severe bruising in the previous game, few of the Tantas were up for starting this one. It was fortunate then, that Tantmount new boy Chris "Noaksey" Noakes was making his long awaited debut. The gaffer had attempted to sign Noakes in the January window, but he had fled Maidstone due to personal issues. Noakes looked composed in the centre of the park, offering an option going forward as well as putting in the hard yards to get back. Sunday Sessions however are a great one touch side and their goals came from nice one touch passing in the final third, which is so hard to defend against. Tantamount made them work for it though, all three first half goals the result of very good play by Sessions rather than weak play by the Mount, as is so often is the case against this oppositon, you just have to admit you're against a far better team.

The second half was slighly more even. James "The Cat" Spencer again on top form and Sessions struggled to add anything against the well organised Mount defence that also began to play with some freedom up front, one notable highlight being  a 4 man passing move straight through the heart of the Sessions team. O.Howarth and Charman tried in vain to work out a clear chance but it wasn't to be, too often forced down the wings by the experienced Sessions squad. In the dying minutes of the half Sessions added 2 quick goals, the first looked like a clear push in the back on Pilcher and the second a close call for being in the area. However The Mount should take heart and credit from making a quality side work hard for the points. Everyone has seen the improvement of the Mount over the Season and 5-0 against Sessions is their best ever performance. It was refreshing to see both squads shaking hands at the final whistle Charman even being prodded in the back specifically from the goal keeper for one final handshake. Both teams have demonstrated a mutual repsect for each other over the season and it was a fitting way to end the first ever Tantamount FC League Campaign.

Noakes - made his long-awaited debut

SCORERS: None

Manager's Comments:

LINE-UP: Spencer; B.Howarth, Noakes, Rose; Moody SUBS: Pilcher, Charman, O.Howarth

"We can take some small comfort from keeping it down to 5, our best ever score against the Sessions. It could have been less but they added a couple late on which is a shame, although when a side have the passing and finishing ability of Sessions, they are capable of scoring at any time from anywhere. Hopefully we won't be playing them again for a good few seasons. Noakesy came in for his debut and played fantasically, it's a shame this is our last game of the season otherwise we'd have him straight back. There were some positives; we played good football at times and put together some good passing moves. What concerns me is that we ended the season with four games without a goal. In the second half of the season we scored 5 in 12 games, compared with 9 in the first 12, and that's something we desperately have to work on. It's not merely a question of finishing, we need to work on our passing and movement in the opponent's half. We can look forward to the cup game, pitting our wits against the Division 1 champions, and then start next season with a clean slate. This season has been a steep learning curve but I've seen enough from the players to suggest that we can get more points on the board next season."