Engine did their usual trick of starting like rabbits in headlights struggling to get on the ball and following the man. We were under pressure and sitting to deep (hard not to when the midfield was losing the early battle I know) and before long a rash challenge from yan gave a penalty away , maybe I shouldn't have mentioned "throwing weight around" ;-) luckily for the engine the lad stepped up and blasted wide , and we escaped.
Their tiny right winger was causing big problems for us and the pressure continued to build with us struggling to keep up with their passing. Twenty mins in and some tricky skills from the Keni town striker drew Steve into making a challenge and another cast iron penalty was awarded. Nick made a great save but it fell to the lad who tapped home , one nil .
As per other games this seemed the spur on the engine who looked a different team from the kick off. Now Idi and yan we're getting on the ball with al winning some good ball in the centre of the park. Chances now started to come with Andy clem holding the ball up and trying to feed in jimmy (who was having an especially wingey half) . We were using the width of the pitch well, Idi missed a good chance and their keeper made some good saves. Nick made a world class point blank save and was solid throughout, we have two excellent keepers !!!!!! It may not have felt it but the last fifteen minutes belonged to the engine, if only we could have attacked some of steves excellent deliverys. Si was brought on for Dave who'd run his socks off against the number nine and formation remained the same.
The second half was so one sided it was unbelievable , from the sidelines I couldn't see any other result than us turning the game around and going on to win 3-1 . We were really passing the ball around well and Keni town were now second to everything . Idi was causing big problems on the left and jimmy had woken up and was causing problems. One heavy challenge saw al replaced by newbie tom and we continued to press on. Several chances came and went inc a brilliant save from the Keni town keeper from Steves long range shot ! I dont know what else I can say as it was that one sided but the goal wouldn't come, I'm yet to figure it out but something isn't clicking up front and its certainly not the fault of any of the players as everyone put 110% in. We will figure it out........ Formation was moved to 3-4-3 in an attempts to force the equaliser but it simple wouldn't come, they broke with pace and scored their second. Its ridiculous we lost this game and when it comes together someone's getting thumped.......
Points to note then guys
- we are to quiet guys, players have to talk to the players around them !
- we still can't attack the ball in the air, we must attack the good deliveries supplied by Steve and jimmy.
- keep positive . The second half was the best we've ever looked, to say they were lucky is an understatement !!!!!
- just to reiterate how we run things so everyone's clear. we have a squad which we are growing so that we have competition for places and are never short, players are picked on performances, regular attendance and the formation we are playing, no ones place is guaranteed but we try to be fair so everyone who shows gets a game however when we are really on top and chasing a gam I won't change things for risk of losing momentum......if we are comfortably winning then ill ensure the subs get some game time. either way ill always go for the win ......
Oh , and their number 5 and number 9 are first team players from Brum drafted in ....... ;-/
So, we'll played everyone ! We looked brilliant second half. Everyone watching commented on the good footy second half. see you for Murphys next week, bring your shin pads (and a gun!) cheers, woy
