3 matches in and still looking for the first win of the season. Little did we know that it was only 90 minutes away. We were expecting a tough match against Common Ground and at times they did test us, but every single LHC player put a shift in today and deserved the spoils.
With a few enforced changes needed, Robbie volenteer himself for left back and Bob swapped with Callum up front. The match started and LHC were in front within 2 minutes, when a long ball went straight over the Common Ground defence and landed to Brainy who placed it into the back of the net. Over the next 20 minutes both teams had some good pressure with Common Ground looking to strike from 20 yards everytime they had a bit of space. 25 minutes in though, Brainy latched onto a clearance and managed to dribble the ball right between the Common ground center backs. Running towards the keeper, he then slipped to his left and rounded the on rushing keeper to walk the ball into the goal. Fair play to Common Ground who continued to press and were rewarded with a goal after half an hour when a 20 yards shot wriggled underneath Carl in the LHC goal. The 1 goal lead for LHC only stood for 60 seconds though. From kick off we had won a corner and Callum lofted the ball into the back post where Bob headed this back across goal for Foxy to tap in from 5 yards. The rest of the half continued in the same fashion with both teams having a lot of the ball. Common ground clawed a goal back on 40 minutes when a miss hit goal kick fell stright to one of their strikers who put the ball away.
3-2 to LHC at half time.
The second half kicked off and it looked like the half had ended at the wrong time for LHC as Common Ground pushed for an Equaliser. They managed to find this after 10 minutes when a long ball down field was not cleared by LHC and the Common Ground striker chipped it over Carl. 3-3. The teams were level for a matter of 5 minutes. Bob chipped a ball forward to Brainy on the edge of the box. Brainy then scored on the half volly to make it 4-3. From this point onwards LHC had more chances with Webby striking a perfect free kick towards to the top corner of the goal from just inside the Common Ground half. Only the keepers outstretched hand kept the ball out. Bob also should have scored however the linesman wrongly (as every manager would say) flagged him offside and Callum hit a screamer of a volley but the ref blew for a foul. The last 2 goals came right at the end of the match. LHC broke away on the attack with Bob dribbling the ball down the middle of the park. Brainy screaming for the ball on his right and Lee like wise on his left. Lee did a great job in pulling one of the Common Ground defenders out wide leaving one defender marking both Bob and brainy. Keeping his run on side for once Brainy received the ball from Bob and slot home for his fourth goal of the match. 5-3. 2 minutes to go and LHc had not let up on the goals. Lee hit a freekick from our right side into the box for sub Jase to header into the Common Ground goal to finish the match on a high for LHC. LHC's own John Hartson look-a-like, Tim made his first appearance at the end of the match also. 6-3 to LHC at the final whistle. A well deserved win off the back of 2 good performances from the lads.
A great performance from everybody today. Special mentions have to go to Brainy for his 4 goals, Bob for the 3 assists, Andy, Matt and Groves who between them dealt with everything thrown at them, and Robbie who is now going to give Josh a run for his money at left back. A tough decsion for Man of the Match, but i had to go for Robbie in the end because of the way he was willing to play at left back and having an awesome game there. In a way it is a joint award for him and Brainy but unfortunately i can only name one person on the website.
Today's performance just proves what both Steve and I have been saying since mid August, we have a very strong squad at the moment and that was proved with the way players adapted to new positions and the way the subs performed when they were called upon. If ever anyone needed proof that every position is up for grabs then todays match showed it.
Revival fires up next, another win is a must to continue our promotion push!
Come on you reds!!!
