This was a game that had everything; the only thing missing was the point we thoroughly deserved. The pitch was boggy and the grass was long and this didn’t help our passing game and it was Kinver who started the brighter of the two sides. James thwarted two early chances in goal who was deputising for the missing Ben. Kinver were lumping the ball over the top and using the wings to put high balls into the box and Sam and Callum, who had come off the bench for the injured Owen, were kept busy in these early exchanges. Once we had the ball some of our movement was superb. Dan and Jordan were working hard in the middle and Ross again ran the channels creating space for Harry who was playing as our main Striker. Our first chance came when Ross picked up a ball from Dan on the wide right he beat his man with ease and laid the ball back into Dans path but unfortunately the shot was blocked and the ball went for a corner. The game was very open and soon after our attack Kinver broke and scored from a corner. The lads as usual battled back really well and created two more chances with the second one producing a well-deserved equaliser. A driving run from Jordan found Harry wide left who played the ball into the box, Ross held the ball up well with his back to goal and flicked the ball to Dan. Dan scored from close range and at half time the score was 1-1.
Charlie and Owen came on at the start of the second half and the fresh legs seemed to give us an early advantage. The boys produced some excellent football for the opening 5 mins or so with some superb passing and movement. Jordan, Dan and Charlie were battling really well in the middle. Charlie intercepted a ball from out of the Kinver defence and found Dan with a superb pass. Dan in turn found Ross who ran into the box but was just beaten to the ball by the defender and we had to settle for a corner. Again Kinver broke really quickly and Owen had to be at his best when he was left one on one with the Kinver Striker but he did well and got in a great tackle. Kinver then scored what can only be described as a freak goal. After a corner James made a fine save forcing the ball onto the post and out for another corner. The ref however had to stop the game because the goal collapsed into a heap on the ground. After some frantic pumping from the Kinver officials the goals were restored but were no where near correct. The ref started the game again and from the corner James tried to tip the ball over the bar only for the goals to start deflating again, the crossbar moved backwards and the ball fell over the line and we were 2-1 down. Again however the lads showed great effort and commitment and with 3 mins to go Owen played a ball upto Jordan who found Ross on the edge of the box Ross played the ball into Harrys path and he neatly finished from just inside the box to make it 2-2. This would have been the fair result but lady luck still had time to deal us a crushing blow. With seconds remaining and pushing forward looking for the winner Jordan was scythed down from behind with a waist high tackle leaving him flattened on the floor, our boys immediately stopped thinking the ref was going to blow for a certain foul. The ref amazingly however waved play on and with our boys on the back foot Kinver broke away and scored the winner. FT3-2
SUMMARY: The lads were great today and didn’t deserve to lose this match. The effort and commitment were apparent for all to see. Again our football at times was fantastic but luck is not with us at the moment.
