BA Sunday met Royal Park in the 2nd round of the President's Cup at Concorde Centre.
Following 3 days and nights of incessant rain many of the team thought the game would be cancelled but amazingly the pitch was in good condition and the ref was happy for the game to go ahead.
Kingy and Daz had a strong squad to choose from and could afford the luxury of Josh pulling out at 0830 and still have 2 subs. The team had one change from last week with Robbie Blood coming in for Jez.
Despite being 2 divisions below BA, Royal Park were the better side in the opening twenty minutes creating a number of half chances. BA had gone into their 'lets have a look to see if they are any good' mindset and were failing to snap out of it. Eventually BA broke down the right and Mooney's cross was headed behind for a corner. Up stepped Robbie Blood to take the corner and his wickedly curling cross was somehow deflected in off Gav Long. 1-0 BA but it was hardly deserved.
As the half progressed BA did come more into the game without ever looking like playing at 100%. Half chances for both sides were created but neither keeper had to break sweat.
After 40 minutes Robbie Blood sent a decent ball over the centre half into the path of Kingy, the ball sat up perfectly for a volley, as he was about to connect with the ball, the Royal left back just got back in time to half block the shot, fortunately for BA the ball landed at the feet of Mooney who fired into the bottom corner and BA were 2-0. The half time whistle went soon after.
Despite being 2-0 the Management team were not happy with the performance. This had to be addressed in the 2nd half.
Despite the teamtalk BA began exactly the same way, and some may say worse than the first half passing was poor, work rate was average and generally the performance was a bit of a slog.
Deservedly Royal Park pulled a goal back. Kingy and Bish had linked well down in the Royal penalty area but the ball was won back by Royal and their sweeper fired a 50 yard ball down the BA right hand side , the left winger cut inside and found the centre forward, who rolled the ball into the corner. Three passes and in 10 seconds and the score was 2-1.
BA expected a Royal fightback but it never really came. The game continued as it had done for another twently minutes with neither side finding much rhythm. The next goal would be crucial.
Fortunately for BA it was theirs. Good work between Kingy and Chris Paul left the BA forward through on goal albeit down the right hand side of the penalty area. Seeing that there was no-one in the middle Kingy decided that a shot was the only option, as he connected with his right foot the ball flew like an arrow across the keeper and into the top left hand corner of the net, a fantastic strike and the game was won. 3-1.
There was very little time for Royal to get back into the game and the ref's whistle came as welcome relief for both sides.
Positives from the game were the result and a solid defensive performance, and the goal of course ;-).
Negatives. We need to start the game at 100%, we can't wait to see what the opposition are like. We need to impose ourselves on the game from the off.
All in all a good win and progression into the quarter finals.
