Coast too strong for battling Guidepost.
Coast showed why they were a premier league side last season and will be up there challenging for the Serie A title, they were strong, fast and played some great football. To me it was one of our better displays as we matched them for long periods and on another day we may have got something out of it. Lapses of concentration at the start of second and third quarters certainly cost us.
Very even first quarter as the defensive line of Josh, Joseph & Harry coped well with the pacey Coast forwards, while at the other end Dylan was leading the line well and causing them problems, a good run on five minutes was well blocked in the end, while a couple of minutes later after a good ball from Josh, Dylan looked like he was going to score but a last gasp tackle knocked the ball out of play. From the corner Sam just knocked it wide. Aaron had to make a few good gathers in the quarter.
Second quarter and due to one players poor discipline meant the plans had to be changed and this cost us as a ball was not cleared well enough from kick off, and a good side Coast needed no second invitation to finish well. It was very tight after that with chances few and far between. Coast came the closest to scoring but two fine blocks from Aaron kept them out.
Start of the third and we started poorly again, Aaron knocking the ball out and from the resulting corner, we switched off and allowed there player to finish nicely from close range. It was now end to end stuff, Joseph made a good run put a nice through ball to Sam with his shot just going wide, a minute later and Aaron pulled off another fine save. On 30 minutes, Dylans excellently taken free kick was just kept out by a good save, and Elliotts strong shot then smacked the cross bar, Sams shot was then blocked.
Last quarter and again it was end to end stuff, we were now trying to push further up the filed, and got hit by a fine counter attack from Coast who passed it around superbly and was finished expertly to give them a 3-0 scoreline. Poor attitude then from one player resulted him being subbed again, the other seven though were battling hard, and we were starting to create some pressure, 42 minutes Dylan was put through one on one and the keeper did well to push the ball out. Two minutes later and again good football resulted in a corner, this was drilled in by Elliott, and this was touched on for Dylan to calmly knock the ball over the line. Dylan continued to cause them problems.
It was generally a good display from the boys but as we are finding out this is a very tough league, and we have to concentrate for the full 50 minutes. Dylan got the Away Coaches choice for man of the match for his hard work causing them plenty of problems, and along with Elliott was in consideration for the award, but today for his good handling and communication and some good saves home team coaches choice was Aaron. Joseph when on the field was most composed on the ball, and put in some good passes, poor attitude continues to be his downfall. Josh, James, Sam and Harry all had good spells during the game.
As a team we need to relax a little more on the ball, there were quite a number of chances today for players to look up and run with the ball, but we were rushing and giving the ball back to the opposition. We are at our best when we are calm and passing the ball around.
Lets keep our heads up and continue to be competitive in this tough league.
