Tonight saw a return to competitive action for Spartak following a six week cricket break. Hopes were high that we'd be able to reverse our poor 2013 form of just one win since December, but the lack of practice showed as we tamely succumbed to a solid, but very beatable Ashurst side. Club captain Jaulim has made it no secret that the Top Corner summer league is very much the Capital One Cup of Spartak's fixture calendar, and as such it represents an opportunity to try a few new things without worrying too much about the results. So it was that a slightly experimental line-up took to the pitch this evening, featuring the radical stylings of Bruss on the wing, Bloomy at centre back, FeGo at left back and me up front.
Despite it being the middle of June the game was played in blustery conditions, as once again the giant pitch-side fan had been left on at full power, but the rain was decent enough to abate as kick off approached. We were against the wind for the first half and spent lengthy periods of play defending on the edge of our own box, but without ever looking in real danger. Bloomy and Seres were resolute at centre-back, and official club keeper Chaz wasn't tested beyond needing to sweep up a few long balls and claim one or two floaty crosses. Martin and Felix completed a back line that probably had more positives to take from the game than our attacking players tonight, and it was a shame that the solid defensive performance didn't eventually result in a clean sheet. Going forward we found it much more difficult, with rustiness evident in a lot of our play; under-hit passes and sketchy decision making being the most common offences as we struggled for fluency. We were able to string together one or two promising openings when Bruss and Rossi got forward, but there were no real clear cut chances, and unusually, we also couldn't create anything from set pieces. 0-0 at half time was about fair, but Ashurst would have been the more confident team at the break.
At half time we resolved to not do what we always do and resort to pumping long straight balls over top with the wind, and we had enough concentration to stick to this for 10 or 15 minutes. In probably our best spell of the match there was more time on the ball in the middle for Jim, Ed and Matt to start playing a bit, but frustratingly our moves seemed to always collapse at the critical moment that a bit of quality was needed. We then predictably proceeded to start knocking over-hit through balls forward for me and Ed to chase in vain, and tiredness started to show throughout the team. Then, a Spartak throw in an innocuous enough position in our own half somehow ran through to their centre forward, who was able to turn the otherwise dominant Seres and slot past Chaz from just inside the box. A devastating blow just ten minutes from time, and one that we were unable to recover from. Final score Ashurst 1-0 Spartak.
MOTM
A tight contest and several different nominations tonight, but MOTM goes to Sammy G for a disciplined and tenacious display in the holding role. Great energy and got stuck in well to deny their midfielders the room to play.
Votes:
3 votes: Sam Grant
2 votes: Adam Seres, Felix Gott, Matt Broughton
1 vote: Ben Bloom, Jonny Ross,
Selected comments:
'Sam Grant. Defended superbly.'
'Gutted to lose. No one was brilliant but thought the likes of Seres, Rossi and Sam did a lot very well. Of those three I'll go for Rossi.'
'Felix Gott. His best game for Spartak - won everything in the air, won some excellent block tackles and in the first half was Leighton Baines to Bruss' Stephen Pienaar.'
'Ahh feck feck bollocks feck. Really sick of losing. Thought matt was bright, felix and bruss workd well together but im going 4 seresy boy. Strong and won every header. X'
'Bloomy. Cut out lots, looked at home at centre back, cleared up well.'
'Thought Matt was excellent tonight. Looks a really good player and a very useful additional to the squad.'
'Thought you did lots running and held the ball up brilliantly. Sam Grant was pretty immense in midfield though. He gets my nod. I want to win.'
'Matt Broughton. Looked very tidy.'
'Our motto should change. Smash and lose one nil. Frustrating. Good showing from Sandro though. I vote him'
'In a game of utter turd Felix was the least like a turd.'
