Facelad came into their last game of the season with a buzz around the club after a huge win against table toppers JRL, The game being played at a neutral ground with the other promotion hopefuls Barnet harts on the pitch next door to add even more excitement to the occasion, the job was simple both teams win, promotion was there’s.
With several changes needed due to the sheer closeness of the two matches, facelad were forced into starting a little differently to previous, the false 9 role was gone, back to 4-2-3-1 for facelad.
With Apeol clearing showing it was the last game of the season facelad got to work with some good penetrating runs from Lawrence, Scott and clynes but nothing coming on such great moves, but finally the deadlock was broken and it typical O’Brien fashion put some great pressure on the ball, loose pass stolen by Southgate who looked as cool as a cucumber with a finish into the bottom corner sending the keeper the wrong way.
With the whites in control of possession and the tempo of the game, complacency cost the whites with a loose pass and a good counter attack led to a great chance for apeol, with the centre forward bursting passed the injured Mayer to get the equaliser.
Facelad fought back with some good work by Clynes and O’Brien down the left led to a bouncing ball into Scott from the 6 yard line who blazes over the crossbar a chance wasted, Apoel were as ever direct with there play but had some joy with a lofted long ball over our Lawrence’s head which Shaw dealt with by conceding the corner but what followed was a huge wake up call for facelad going into half time.
A deep corner met by apoel target man led to facelad going into half time 2-1 down.
With facelad making two changes at the brake with Michael Barton coming in for J. Knott and Scott coming off for Alderman, facelad pushed for the win.
Facelad played with a lot more fluency and desire in the second half with chances wasted by alderman with a weak effort which the keeper dealt with ease and several occasions where the final pass wasn’t quite right,
With a few bookings and several fouls committed you can see the frustrating in facelads play as time was ticking but finally a decision went our way, alderman to whip in a deep cross which was perfected met by O’Brien to equalize.
Several moments later O’Brien turns supplier as he beats the left back for pace a drives a low teasing cross on the 6 yard line just out of Alderman’s and clynes reach.
With Lawrence and Comerford getting loads of crosses and drives into advance areas facelad were going for it. Several chances squandered but a free kick, Clynes and Alderman stand over it, its clynes turn to strike one after alderman narrowly wide attempt earlier in the half, clynes strikes from distance, is it… has he… No what a save by the keeper at full stretch pulls off a great save, Clynes quickly collects the ball and wipes in a deep teasing corner, there’s headers, thumbles, what a scrap! the controversy continued as the ball found itself to Southgate, volley, keeper is on the floor and palmed away but defender on the line, he convince the referee well but disguising it as if he headed the ball but we all knew, players surround the referee it has to be, nothing another corner but this time the apoel deal with the chance easily.
After the heartbreak of being conned out of the game finally the chance feel again, comerford to alderman to clynes who played a one two with alderman who bursts into the box, legs gone poor effort, keeper saves but O’Brien picks up the rebound… SAVED! It falls to grimes who has an open goal but then,, whistle blows for a foul on the keeper, poor decision but summed up the referee’s performance, promotion hopes diminished, a valiant effort, heartbreaking but the season ends without the fairy tale ending
Facelad 2 v 2 Apoel.
