18 First Half Battering (3)

The fact that Manchester Red had a two goal cushion didn't help matters. After getting their second goal, they started pressing heavily. Teeside didn't seem to have an answer for their relentless pressing, conceding shots.

If not for the goalkeeper making some key saves, Manchester Red should've had five goals by now.

"Fuck it!" Omari muttered. He went to mark a player but the player just passed the ball away. That was what he had to cope with for basically the entirety of the first half that had passed so far.

34'

Manchester Red got another chance to extend their lead. David Gore sent a through pass through the center, finding Anthony Forson who was in the midst of the two Centre backs.

He cut back, catching the two defenders off guard and aimed his shot at the bottom right corner.

The goalkeeper did well to get a palm behind the shot and pushed it outside for a corner kick. Omari sighed in relief when he saw the goalkeeper make the save.

The save didn't make any difference though. Manchester Red scored another goal from the resulting corner.

David Gore sent a cross into the box, and Micheal Oyedele rose highest to place a firm header into the bottom right corner. The goalkeeper made no attempt to make the save. He couldn't have, the onslaught of players clouded his vision and by the time he caught sight of the ball, it was too late.

The crowd watching the match seemed to be in ecstasy. Once again, they nearly shattered Omari's ear drums with their screams.

'Goooaaallll! And Manchester Red are running away with it. Brilliant cross from David Gore, brilliant header from Micheal Oyedele, beautiful goal. There's not much that the goalkeeper can do about that, he can only watch the ball as it enters into the net'

'I have to say, it's a one sided mauling so far, Manchester Red have been so dominant, asking questions of the Teeside defense and so far, they've failed to answer those questions'

'The Teeside manager looks quite angry. Not how he would've expected the match to turn out. His players have played so terribly. I think he'd be looking to make some changes at the start of the second half'

'It may be a little too late by them. Manchester Red are three goals ahead and the first half isn't even over yet. If Teeside keep playing like this then we might as well pronounce Manchester Red the winner of this encounter'

The commentators didn't hold back in their criticism Teeside's performance in the first half so far. The Teeside players muttered disapprovingly when they heard the criticism but deep down they knew that the commentators were saying the truth.

They were a bunch of shit players playing shit against a well drilled team.

Omari for one didn't want to accept the words of the commentators. He grit his teeth as the referee signaled the continuation of the match with his whistle.

They didn't even get a chance to make any form of attacking play after the center pass. Anthony misplaced a pass that was meant for Joshua.

Micheal Oyedele pounced on the stray ball and dribbled to the edge of the penalty area, skillfully driving the ball away from the legs of the Teeside players that attempted a tackle.

He chipped the ball to the right and Emery Williams who had been lurking quietly fired the ball home with a one time volley.

'And Manchester Red score again! Terrible football all round from Teeside, Anthony misplacing a pass. Micheal Oyedele gives us all a glimpse of his talent, going on a solo dribble all the way to the edge of the penalty box and setting up Emery Williams who positioned himself very well. There was only ever going to be one outcome as soon as his legs connected with the ball'

'I think the Teeside players will be livid with themselves. Allowing their opponents a bunch of easy goals. They exposed themselves to threats from the opposition and couldn't deal with it. Man Red four, Teeside nil'

'From the point of view of the average spectator, I think it's quite clear that Manchester Red are going to come away with this one. They've been everything that Teeside haven't been so far in this game. Quite clinical too, taking chances as they come. There was almost no way that they were going to loose'

'The Teeside team look quite disappointed with themselves. They don't seem to possess any drive to go further in the game. The referee might as well just blow his whistle and award the win to Manchester Red'.

45+1'

Teeside got one final chance before the first half was over. Jack sent a long pass to Joshua. Joshua skillfully dribbled his way to the edge of the box before sending a king cross over to Omari.

Omari trapped the ball one time and found himself face to face with the Manchester Red right back.

Step over.

Omari's legs flashed over the ball. He wanted to cut inside and place a shot but the right back didn't give him space to get the shot away. Omari furrowed his brows.

Step over.

His legs flashed over the ball once more. Still, there was no space to dribble into the box. He gritted his teeth.

Step over.

His legs flashed over the ball once more. This time though, he didn't stop after the step over. He continued moving his legs over the ball in a series of complex leg movements. Finally, the defender left an opening between his legs.

If Omari was just a normal rookie player, then he would've attempted to nutmeg the defender, but he'd been watching matches since he was two years old, analyzing tactics and gameplay strategies with his dad. Who didn't know that trick.

The defender was goading Omari to nutmeg him so that he would cover the distance between him and the ball before Omari even got to it.

Omari acted as if he wanted to kick the ball between the defender's legs. He dragged the ball back, catching the defender who had already closed his legs off guard. Instead of dribbling into the box, Omari cut to his left.

The defender that had already decided on a course of movement tried to change the trajectory of his body movement midway. His body collapsed to the floor due to his attempt at something impossible.

Omari sent a left footed cross into the box. Although it was of fairly decent quality, Anthony still managed to connect a header to the ball. Manchester Red's goalkeeper getting his fingertips to the goal attempt.

Every single Teeside player felt themselves saying the same words as they watched the shot get parried over the bar.

"Shit!"

'What a save by Manchester Red's goalkeeper, keeping the match at four nil. He stretched to his right, saving another one of Anthony Waller's attempt'

'And that looks like it'll be the last action of the first half, the referee has blown his whistle'.