The Facelad boys saw themselves stepping out to a floodlit pitch for a late Friday night game, playing their second game on an artificial pitch this season there was no excuses for any poor touches. The stage seemed set in what should have been a top of the table clash had it not been for a real blip in Facelad’s season. However they hadn’t lost in their last 3 games and the team were showing a togetherness that seemed to have long disappeared from the invincibles that had started the league campaign. Setting up in a 4-3-3 with Alderman playing as the false number 9 and Barton as the main holding midfielder Facelad looked to have near enough there best 11 out for the first time this season.
The first half kicked off and became apparent how Facelad were looking to play, with pace to burn on either flank in J.Clynes and O’Brien they would counter JRL at any opportunity. The front 3 were doing a difficult job though as they also pressed whenever they could, this was a difficult task with the CM’s ordered to rarely break formation. These tactics paid off around 20 minutes after a good solid start from Facelad defensively as they showed good organisation and communication throughout. They countered JRL after looking to do this since the game kicked off, Alderman managed to play O’Brien the ball on the left side who easily outpaced the Right Back and attempted to find J.Clynes across the 6 yard box. However the ball was deflected into the goal by one of the JRL defenders when attempting to slide in and stop the cross. 1-0 Facelad and a huge boost for their promotion chances.
Facelad looked to incease their lead after alderman beat the right back and wipped a teasing low cross into the box which met O'brien's diving header that stuck the woodwork and back out, A huge let off for JRL. However the lead only lasted around 10 minutes when despite looking more comfortable from set pieces not only in this game but in recent weeks. A corner was delivered and Muir came out to punch, which was actually great to see, but unfortunately it only reached the edge of the box and it was volleyed with real power into the bottom right corner of the net. 1-1. The game continued to be end to end in what must have been a thrilling game to watch particularly for the neutrals. With around 5 minutes left of the half JRL play was broken up by good shape and good battling from Barton in the centre of the park. The ball was offloaded to Knott who turned and found space to play a fantastic chipped through ball for O’Brien to run onto a bouncing ball and loft a mortar of a volley that saw everyone involved with their hearts in their mouth. It felt as if the ball was in the air for hours… GOAL!!! Great pass, great finish, great goal boys!
2-1. HALF TIME
Facelad made one change at half time, Jones on for Shaw bringing the side a lot more height at the back. The half started similarly to how the first finished, Facelad playing with endless energy and JRL playing big switches targeting Facelad fullbacks in the air. Most of JRL’s fight was coming down their right and C.Comerford found himself in a real battle throughout the game. A very competent performance in my eyes from the left back. However JRL’s most effective attack of the half came down Facelad’s right when the JRL winger delivered a cross to the back post that C.Comerford done well to block but unfortunately it fell to the feet of the forward who blasted the ball past Muir from little over 6 yards out. 2-2, what a game! The game continued to be back and forth with both sides going for the win. Ryan Comerford made 2 more changes during this time with Scott replacing Knott for extra legs and Grimes coming on for Coffer at the back to give Facelad a huge centre back pairing with Jones alongside. A warm round of applauds greeted both Knott and Coffer as they left the field. After these subs were made the game was into its final quarter. Despite Facelad’s high intensity pressing game tagged with swift counter attacks it was the JRL players that seemed to tire in the latter stages with Facelad finding more and more space on the ball as their passing football really shone. The front three were managing to run at the JRL backline more and more with their opponent’s midfielders looking leggy. JRL weren’t without their moments though and found themselves attacking Facelad’s box but a good challenge from Southgate broke up the play and the counter was on. The ball passed into Alderman's feet who dribbled across JRL’s half to the edge of their box, he spotted Scott's run into the left hand side of the box and slipped him. Scott looked across the box, declining to shoot, saw J.Clynes running onto the penalty spot…. GOALLLLLL!!! 3-2 Facelad! What a win, what a counter, what a game!
COYF!
