It was all about the new for Facelad as they started a new season, in a new league, at a new home ground, with some new face and new philosophy's. Playing against completely unknown teams each week will be difficult for the lads but they'll just have to be patient working out their opponents each week in the early stages. The match saw a club debut for Kieron Extence in goal, returns to the side for Matt Howell and Matt Saxby who had been out on loan last season (the latter starting on the bench) and finally the long awaited return of club captain Peter Clynes who had been out with a long term knee injury.
They actually starting the game pretty well with sharp enough play, good energy and a decent pressing game. It wasn't long before this high press paid off as Jerry Clynes caught the Radlett captain dawdling on the ball and toed the ball away to Matt Howell who slipped Clynes in for a comfortable finish with an on rushing goalkeeper. 1-0 Facelad. This seemed to settle the Faceladders, arguably to much and they seemed to become a little to relaxed. The game became more and more even, both teams playing nice enough football to look at but very little real quality in the final 3rd. Little battles were appearing on the pitch and Radlett seemed like they were starting to edge a lot of them, they won a free kick just inside Facelads half about 33 minutes in and delivered a deep cross. As Michael Coffer looked to jump and win the header he seemed to be the victim of a blatent push that the referee ignored, the ball then fell to the Radlett CM who struck a very clean strike into the net. 1-1, 33 minutes gone. The rest of the half petered out with very few chances.
HALF TIME 1-1
The second half saw Facelad on the back foot, they struggled to get their passing football going and this reporter can't remember a single shot testing the Radlett keeper. Radlett didn't create to many chances themselves so there isnt to much to report that really effected the game. The first moment being Radletts winning goal around 65 minutes in when they tied together some good passing on the edge of Facelads box and the forward eventually turned around the penaly spot and toed the ball into the goal, 2-1 Radlett. The second being a stunning block tackle from Michael Coffer that saved his team being dead and buried. A heartbreaking moment with around 20 left to play as Peter Clynes pulled up on his return as his knee injury left him unable to play again. Facelad had two good chances in the second half and they fell to the two players most fans would of prayed for Michael Alderman and Darren O'Brien. The ball fell to Alderman just inside the Radlett box who hit a snap shot down the centre of the goal that the keeper pushed wide. The last chance of the game was O'Brien's who ran through on goal and attempted a shot from a tight angle, the shot grazed the far post as it went just wide. Unlucky boys. Probably deserved a draw.
It must be mentioned that the Facelad back four all put in fantastic shifts, special mentions to Michael Coffer who gave everything looking like he would of thrown himself on a grenade if it stopped Radlett scoring and of course Jack Lawrence who faced a very pacey winger, containing him and putting in an all round fantastic performance. These boys did not deserve to be on a losing side.
