Hi Ladies / Gents
Please find below the match report for the 50s home league game against Range Rovers on 26 Jan.
We started this game having not played a league game since before Christmas but on the back of good training friendlies against Bexley and internally.
We knew we had to be at it from the off and we had confidence going into it. Unfortunately, Range Rovers were the stronger team at the start and we were forced onto the back foot. We were aware that their striker was high quality and would give our defence a good work out and so it proved.
Almost from their very first attack it was obvious he had quick feet and was keen to turn and get the ball on his left. He took the ball on the turn and moved passed Phil as though he wasn't there and sent a shot high passed Steve.
We tried to get going but our passing was off and we appeared sluggish on our feet. Range Rovers always seemed to be able to move passed and around us. They were pressing high and didn't give us any time on the ball.
We started to hold our own and were getting a little possession but they were doubling up in the midfield and were able to keep us out wide. We created a couple of chances but our shooting was much like the rest of our game and off with these going high and / or wide and not really troubling their keeper.
When we were settling into the game, we gave away possession on the right and they counter-attacked through the middle. They overloaded the midfield making the most of a two on one before hitting a hard drive passed Steve into the top corner.
We continued to toil and finally got our press to work. We stole the ball just inside our half and a swift ball around their defender set Gareth clean through but unfortunately he pulled his shot wide. We were now enjoying our best period of the game. We were awarded a free kick just outside of their box and a touch back to Gareth saw his shot go agonisingly wide of the left upright.
A few minutes later we were given a second free kick but on the other side. With Gareth set back, Range Rovers were expecting a repeat of the first kick but the ball was sent square to Phil in space but unfortunately he scuffed his shot and it flew off to his right.
We thought we had got a deserved breakthrough with the final kick of the half. The ball broke to Jason in to the right of centre of the goal and he hit a low had shot as the referee blew for half time. The shot nestled into the corner but the referee was adamant he had blown before and didn't award the goal.
Steve had pulled off several smart saves and had kept us in the game or we could have been facing a much bigger task.
We agreed at half time that we need to improve our passing and that we were being overloaded in the midfield so we needed a defender to push onto the extra man they had coming forward.
We started strongly and pushed them back starting as we had finished off the first half. Jason was finding space down our right and a ball from Gareth found him in space. He cut inside and tried to square the ball back to Gareth. The ball took a deflection off of the defender and then hit the goalkeeper before dribbling over the line and in.
A few minutes later we could have been level. Rovers were suffering from indiscipline and had been caught running 3 times in the first half. When the fourth offence happened we were awarded the penalty. Gareth stood up to take it and struck the ball hard and low to the keepers right but he got down well and pulled off a great save.
We were definitely now on top and as we pushed to get back on terms, Gareth pulled up having turned his already injured ankle. There was no way he could continue and we had to make a substitution and change players positions around whilst trying to keep the same shape and formation.
At this point, we started to struggle again we lost our shape and our ability to hold the ball or pass it. We sat deeper and deeper and invited Rovers on. We still managed to get some offense going with Jason hitting the post and bar but they came close too hitting the woodwork twice themselves. Their third goal came from a quick turn and shot from their striker and the game was gone.
We pushed higher exposing ourselves at the back but despite our best efforts we couldn't find the target. They scored two quick goals at the end of the game giving them a victory 1 - 5. Overall they deserved the win and we didn't play well but that score somewhat flattered them.
It wasn't our best performance by far but we never gave and continued to give everything.
My thanks to Mike and Richard who were both unused substitutes.
My special thanks to the supporters who turned up in horrible conditions and endured wind and rain with the occasional hail shower thrown in for good measure.
The Player Of The Match was Steve Earle
Paul
