The psychological advantage that Phoenix possessed after stealing a draw at the deaf was apparent at the start of the second. They looked more upbeat, determined and positive in their approach to the game.
Facelad decided to go into the game against the wind, to give it one big half in the second half of the tie. The game starter a bit sluggish with neither side looking the more likely but with set pieces becoming more and more of a threat Phoenix piled on the pressure, Facelad could hold out no longer as even Tom Boynes heroics couldn't stop the gigantic defender bundling through with a powerful header, this gave them a huge boost as the momentum continued to be with them. Goalkeeper Muir and vice captain Coffer surrounded the referee and pleaded for what looked a foul to no avail.
Half time. 1-0 Phoenix.
Facelad make changes to attempt to get more positive and take the game to Phoenix. They give it one last go as they simply need to get a goal but pushing to many players forward for a corner saw Phoenix counter. It looked like it was about to be dealt with but confusion between keeper and defenders boyne and coffer the ball was toed past Muir. He desperately attempted to keep the ball out but only clawed into the feet of the Phoenix striker who only had to tap home from a yard out. 2-0 and Facelad looked a deflated side.
However after shouts of encouragement and a couple of more positive moves Facelad showed great character and rallied. They started to win corner after corner and that finally paid off with Clynes driving a flat ball in from the right hand side finding Shaw for a very good header into the top corner. Suddenly Facelad were back in with a fighting chance, every player seemed to get a second wind and energy came back into the side. Facelad pushed and pushed for the last 10 minutes of the game and just as time seemed to desert them. Alderman dribbled the ball into the Phoenix box and won a corner. Clynes delivered the first and it was headed out for another corner. Take 2, Clynes whipped a peach of a delivery over the keeper and seemed to have fluked a goal when a hand came up from a Phoenix player punching the ball clear. The side erupted! The ref paused, blew… Penalty! The referee brandished the red card and Phoenix were down to 10 men. Not that it would matter with seconds to play.
Alderman picked up the ball with extreme pressure on his shoulders, it took what seemed an eternity to get everyone ready for it to be taken. We all know which way he's going, hard low and left. He hits it clean as a whistle! Post and… Out! Devastation and shock on every face. Unlucky Alderman, unlucky Facelad. 2-1 and the first loss of the League campaign. COYF
