On a very wet cold Saturday morning the Spitfires took to the field for their second match of the season. We welcomed a new player to the team in Zaim and wish him all the best for the season.
The Sumas started the stronger having the best of the opening 10 minutes with most of the Spitfires struggling to get into the game and cope with the conditions. Connor, Austin, Lucas and Oliver were being called into action in defence and there was a collection of brave blocks and tackles to repel an early onslaught. It looked like we had weathered the best of the opening exchanges after James (10 mins in) pulled off a fantastic save tipping a long range shot over the bar. The resulting corner lead to a comical own goal when Finley ran across the front post to clear the ball he inadvertently toe poked it past James in goal. Truth be told the Sumas did deserve to take the lead, but not in the self inflicted circumstances that they did.
However, the goal seemed to spark us into life and the next 15 mins saw the our best football of the match with some great passing moves, winning the ball in midfield and Zaim and Thomas getting joy down the flanks. In addition, our set pieces looked really dangerous with Oliver's terrific set piece delivery. The problem was that we never made that period of dominance count despite shots from both Sam's, Zaim and Finley the score remained 0-1 at halftime.
The second half started badly conceding a goal in the opening minutes with substitutes getting up to speed in the match we got caught cold. Lucas in only his second game was putting in some great blocks and working really hard for the team. Then halfway through the second half a delightful through ball released Sam S and holding off the defender he bore down on goal 1 on 1 with the keeper he went round the keeper and finished from the tight angle.....game on!!!
So it was go big or go home and we pushed forward for an equaliser. We created a few half chances, but with the Sumas defence dropping deeper meant our counter attacks made less impact and we never looked like scoring. Then with 5 mins to go as we started to tire Austin put in a full throttle shoulder charge on the edge of the box to halt their speedy winger, it was one where he took one for the team as if he had got past him he would have been in on goal. However, we were punished from the resulting free kick when the ball drop after deflecting off the wall to their striker who turned it into the goal from 7 yards out.
At that point we looked shattered and Sumas scored a forth with literally the last kick of the match when they managed to get through several tired challenges and finish in the bottom corner.
Despite the scoreline there were a number of positives to take from the match. The defence of Connor, Austin, Lucas and Oliver played really well and repelled a number of attacks. Lucas on only his second match put in a MOTM performance, Zaim did great on his debut, Sam scored a great goal and for a 15 min period we played really well. However, the fact is that when we were on top we had to make the most of it and score and we didn't and we got punished. At the level we are now at we are on longer in a division when we can afford to give easy goals away or not be 100% on it and still win. The scoreline flattered the Sumas, but they were deserved winners and at the key times in the game better than us, however we are making steady progress in a difficult league.
