Another Three Points for Uprising
We returned to action on Sunday following a two week break, looking to record another victory after a 7-1 win over West End Predators last time out. Despite the lack of football over the last two weeks, confidence was obviously high going into this game against Kicks United.
It was a bright opening twenty minutes to the game from both sides but without either team creating anything by the way of goal scoring opportunities. That said, it was Uprising who were enjoying the majority of possession and we had tested the Kicks goalkeeper with some aerial balls played into the box.
There was high drama on 24 minutes when the Kicks number 12, Anthony tried his luck from long range with a dipping left footed volley at the Uprising goal. Darian Carty spilled the shot but was very quick to redeem his mistake by regathering the ball before it crossed the line.
In the 31st minute a good pass by Denny Derrick found Rene Thomas just outside the box, Rene dribbled the ball into the box and was then adjudged to have been fouled by a Kicks defender and a penalty was awarded to Uprising! Rene picked himself up off the ground and took the responsibilty of taking the resulting spot kick himself. With his left foot he powered the ball down the centre of the goal, sending the Kicks goalkeeper the wrong way to give Uprising the lead. Seven minutes later, Kicks were awarded a free kick 35 yards from goal, a long range shot was taken which was well held by Darian Carty.
We doubled our advantage in the 43rd minute of play with a very well worked goal. Darian took a short goal kick and found Tre Gumbs on the right, Tre sent a long ball forward to Yariel Fleming who in turn found Rene Thomas in the box. Rene took his time and then he produced a composed finish past the goal keeper to cap a fine move. It was very nearly 3-0 just a minute later when the Kicks goalkeepers attempted clearance hit Deon Burton with the ball narrowly going just wide of the post.
Half Time Score: Uprising FC 2-0 Kicks United
We started the second half on the front foot with Deon Burton finding Stephen Fiedtkou 25 yards from goal, Fu tried his luck with a shot but it went wide of the target within seconds of the restart. On 49 minutes Deon went close to scoring himself when a good team move on the left found the front man unmarked in the penalty area. Deon placed a low shot towards the far post but unfortunately it went narrowly wide of the goal.
Kicks were still in the game and a minute after Deon Burton's narrow miss they attacked our goal and delivered a dangerous cross from the left, but our talented young goalkeeper, Darian Carty, saw the danger and produced a fine diving catch. Following this, two very good passing moves in quick succession by Uprising created half chances for Fiedtkou and Thomas respectively but neither player was able to find the target.
Following a spell of pressure from Kicks in the 54th minute, we won the ball in our penalty area and broke with speed to the other end of the pitch, Rene Thomas crossed the ball in from the left which was met by Fu who shot wide. This was a fantastic move which showed our brilliant attacking intent. Five minutes later, substitute Shakeem Lewis who had just come on for Yariel Fleming, played a superb through ball to Deon Burton. Deon beat the goalkeeper to the ball but he was fouled which meant we were awarded a second penalty of the game. Rene Thomas stepped up again but this time his penalty kick was brilliantly saved by the Kicks goalkeeper to deny Rene his hat-trick!
In the 64th minute, Kicks had a great opportunity to reduce their arrears but fortunately for us their front man headed wide of the goal following a free-kick that was played into the box, this was a real let off for the lads. Eight minutes later and we were 3-0 up with Rene Thomas securing his hat-trick with not only the best goal of this game but maybe of the season so far - a superb shot with the outside of his left foot, into the far corner from just inside the box. A really fantastic goal!
Kicks went close to pulling a goal back in the 83rd minute when a cross shot from the left flashed across the Uprising goal and went out for a goal kick. Just three minutes later we almost extended our lead through a long range shot by Tre Gumbs which went just over the Kicks United bar.
The remainder of the game which included nearly four minutes of injury time passed by without any drama and ended up with the boys recording an excellent 3-0 victory. This was a real all round team performance capped by a hat-trick for Rene Thomas and a faultless performance by Nathaniel Gumbs at the heart of our defence.
Uprising line Up:
30) Darian Craty 5) Adrian Carty 15) Nathaniel Gumbs 25) Kymani Hodge 2) Yariel Fleming (16 Shakeem Lewis, 59) 4) Stephen Fiedtkou (18 Rayquan Gumbs 90+3) 6) Denny Derrick (12 Keonandrew Alexander, 76) 7) Javis Jones 10) Rene Thomas ( c ) 13) Tre Gumbs 26) Deon Burton