This was going to be our sternest test in a few weeks, Alsager being a very free scoring team, riding high. Our Tigers had put in a few good accomplished performances of late, so a game to look forward to.
Now, if we just look at the score above, anyone not watching the game today would assume we took a bit of a pasting, but, whether i am classed as biased or not, i can assure any reader of this report that far from it, we could and maybe should, of scored as many as our opposition, such was the posession and territory we had, and to be totally honest, even at 5 - 1 down, i really thought we could get back into this game. Please read on and form your own judgement.
A full 11 squad to pick from, we started with Kai, Alex, Mark, Ben, Bryan and Arron, Max up front.
Straight from the off, we attacked with gusto, Ben fed Bryan, who moved inside the area, played back to Ben, who tapped in! 1 - 0 tigers, with only a minute gone! These first few minutes were as good as the previous couple of weeks, good solid play, but alas, and Alsager through ball caught us off guard, and the ball was hit in under Kai to make it 1 - 1 after 4 minutes.
Still, through the middle Mark was composed, passing through to Ben, Bryan and Max who worked the ball well up the field, the team were still trying to play, with Alex doing well cutting out a couple of dangerous attacks, but after 10 minutes a cross from an unmarked Alsager attack, and a shot saved by Kai wasn't enough as the rebound was tapped in to make it 2 - 1 Alsager. Before the team could re group, we were caught again, an Alsager attack saw a shot rebound off Mark or Alex, not quite sure who, and even the guys could do nothing about it, and bang, we were 3 - 1 down going into the end of period 1.
2nd period, and a few changes, Matthew came on for Arron, Sam for Max, and Lol for Alex, Ben H came on into the second period for Ben in the middle.
Yet again, we have seen it before, as the team adjusted to the changes we got hit with a long shot which flew in over Kai, no chance to save 4 - 1 Alsager. Now this is where my comments above come into play, 4 - 1 down but the team fought magnificently, Bryan had a shot saved, Sam shot wide, Bryan got through again, hitting the post, the rebound then hitting the bar! Ben and Matthew combined well for Sam to have a shot well saved.Bryan had a header cleared of the line! At this point with those chances the scores could of been level easily, i defy anyone to tell me otherwise. However, the chances did not go in and we were caught again on the break in the 19th minute, and it became 5 - 1 to Alsager instead.
Mark had been working hard, played a great ball down the line to Matthew whose lovely pass was shot wide by Sam, still the goals would not come back. Ben H was having a real battle in the middle, Lol stood strong but the period ended looking one sided, but it truely was not.
Third period, Bryan swapped with Kai, Max for Arron and Alex replaced Mark who had worked very hard alongside Lol.
We had 12 minutes to try to get anything back and loads of credit to all of them as we had 95% possession, after two minutes Ben H lovely pass to Max saw him hammer home! 2 - 5, Ben H then had a shot saved, Max again went close, Arron back on, hit the side netting. At the other end, Bryan made a one handed flying save to stop any more damage. we then had 4 more corners, but no more goals to come and Alsager managed to see the game out, winning 5 - 2.
A great game to watch, full of action at both ends, with the wrong result, to work on for the coming week is all about midfield tracking back to help their fellow defenders, but on another day, if we had scored our chances, we may have not worried too much on that score, but today did, if anything highlight that one fact.
Heads up, there was a great team spirit which has grown all season, so lets continue doing the right things and enjoy the run in to the end of the season. To our fabulous supporters, again it means the world to the guys on the pitch to see and hear you, many many thanks
Lyndon
