Casuals and Pelham underperformed and lost out in the Junior Interdivisional Final to Brewers FC, losing 2-0. Pelham knew it would be a tough game as it appeared Brewers were a different proposition from last season having only conceded three goals in the league this campaign. Prior to the game Pelham had performed out their skin on the Sunday to win 3-0 away at Sawbridgeworth Town whereas Brewers had lost 2-0 to Westbury Wanderers in a cup game. The start of the game showed that Pelham had given a lot in that previous game as Brewers saw a lot of the ball. However Pelham did have their fair part of possession but again tired legs showed with some sloppy play and not much movement off the ball. For all of Brewers possession they didn't really create too many chances and a bit part of that was again down to the partnership of Mark Jolley and Steve Willett carrying on his top performances in his new found centre back role. Howver they did creat the first chance of the game and took it well. Brewers broke after a Pelham attack knocking the ball long to their big man up top. Holding the ball up briefly he then managed to get a shot away which was saved well by Dan Monk but his save unfortunately landed at the feet of the unmarked Brewers winger who struck the ball home on the rebound to make it 1-0. After that goal Pelham had a couple of chances to level the score themselves thriygh Dan Boyce and Steve Callan but annoyingly they were only really half chances. The half time whistle blew which drew a close to a pretty poor first half from both sides where not too much happenedde, however Brewers would go in to the changing rooms the happier of the two sides. Some harsh words were spoke at the half and both teams took to the pitch for the start of the second half. The second half was better for Pelham and they saw more of the ball. Could be the fact of Brewers tiring but after the first half Pelham would take it. Again not many chances for either side in the second period and it was a game of not much too remember. However it was Pelham who created the next big chance after some good workdown the right hand side, Jamie Richards found himself through on goal but was unable to find a finish. Pelham got in a couple more times after that but again only on a half chance and once again were unable to find a finish. The next goal was going to be vital and it ended up going to Brewers, perfectly timed just after 80 minutes. After some chaos on the edge of the box the ball once again broke to a Brewers midfielder who lashed the ball home through a group of bodies and in to the back of the net. Pelham tried to make one more roll of the dice but it didnt quite happen for them and it just wasn't their night in the end. Maybe it was the fact they put too much in on the previous Sunday but it just didn't click for them. One of those nights unfortunately and although at the time it felt like Brewers were all over us and we played dreadful, looking back on the game it was actually a game of very little chances or little good work and although brewers deserved the win they certainly didnt play that much better than us or blow us away. The loss still feels disappointing because we played nowhere near where we know we can and that game could easily have gone the other way. However we can't dwell on it too much and we now move on to our progress in the league. There is still a massive possibility of back to back titles and if that was the case it would certainly go some way to help this final result seem a tiny bit less disappointing. Man of the match was a tough one and it was a toss up between Willett and Sammy. However i've just edged it to Sammy and although he didn't have much of the ball in the game whenever he did he took on 2 or 3 Brewers players and caused them trouble, probably should have changed it up a bit earlier to get him in to the game a bit more.
