Well, a difficult one to call this week, in the hot sun, and a lunchtime kick off, we did not do too much wrong at all, yet on paper, we ended up on the wrong end of what looks like a comprehensive defeat, but for me personally, we were a lot better than last week? a funny, annoying game, football.
Full squad, and we started with Kai, Ben Hin, Mark, Ben, Bryan and Arron, Max up front, and right from the off we controlled the midfield, with Bryan playing Arron in, to Max, whose shot hit the post!
But in the 4th minute, a ball thorugh the middle and a defensive mix up, let Crewe Panthers have their first attack and they scored! 0 - 1.
However, the lads went straight back at it and Arron stormed his way through, over two challenges, but the third took him straight out in the box, Penalty! Max stepped up and hammered a cool finish into the corner, 1 - 1!
Tails up, and Betley back in control, good wing play by Arron forced a corner, Bryan claimed another one a minute later, Max and Ben, good passing, Mark composed and having a good game, just at the end of the first period, Bryan went wide after good work from Ben.
2nd period, Matthew on for Arron, Sam for Ben, Max moved to left, Alex for Ben H and lol for Bryan, Mark moved up into the middle and had a superb shot well saved, then again!
At the Back, Alex was concentrating brilliantly and put in a couple of last ditch tackles. Mark set Matthew up who won a corner, but no break through as yet. Even though we hit the post again and Mark was firing them in along with Max, with Sam unselfishly making the space.
At the end of this period, it was still level, although we had the better half again, there was to be no more goals
Third period, Bryan went in goal for Kai, Ben H back on, Arron also, and straight away we were on the defensive as Bryan had to react sharpish to turn the ball away for a corner. But from the resulting corner, Bryan came for the ball and missed it, dropping to a Panthers player, who tapped in, 1 - 2, a mistake, but it happens to the best, and to the lads credit, everyone supported Bryan and we tried to get back in it straight away.
Sam was fouled outside the box, a wicked free kick from Max was well saved, the lads were certainly working hard today, but, a fluke in the 32nd minute saw a cross come into our box, and the ball getting caught in the sun, saw it go over the fingertips of Bryan and into the net! 1 - 3!
Little time left but to attack, and try as we did, we seemed to tire just a little, and in the last minute, a Panthers corner was crossed to an unmarked attacker, who headed in unchallenged, 1 - 4! game over!
A dejected team at the end of the game, but strangely a better improvement on last week! As said at the start of this report, and in the words of Saint and Grievesy, 'its a funny old game'!
2 matches to play, then a well earned rest for summer approaching, so lets enjoy the last couple of matches to be played on the artificial surface at the soccer centre as we all grow up next season and play on the real green stuff.
A delightful, supportive crowd today (as always) many thanks, and hope no one got burnt!
Lyndon
