Following last week’s comeback playing 3 at the back, we thought it would be a good time to try it out for a full game. Whilst it is more usual to experiment in easier games, we felt that this game was certainly the best one to try out a different defensive system. We have lost 8-0 twice to Skegby this season, so what was to lose!
As expected Skegby pressed forward right from the start but our 3-4-1-2 formation held firm with Dom and Rob winning the early battles in midfield and the back 3 of Ryan, Wraggy and Elliot clearing up well. Even so, it was a surprise when the deadlock was broken after just 10 minutes. Wraggy broke up a Skegby attack and played the ball out of our area toward the left wing. Raffy, playing as wing-back gave chase. He collected the ball 15 yards inside our half and just carried on running. He skipped over a sliding tackle just inside our half, hurdled another 10 yards into their half and a third before reaching the edge of the box, where he unleashed a curling rocket of a shot that left their keeper stranded. One of the most incredible goals I’ve ever seen.
Skegby were on level terms on 17. We just couldn’t get the ball clear, it ricocheted a couple of times and ended up at the Skegby lad’s feet. One-on-one and an easy finish. They took the lead with a header from a corner and made it 3-1 before half-time with a great free-kick from 22 yards out into the top corner.
We got a goal back 4 minutes after the break. Dom throw a “bomb” into the six yard box, the keeper certainly hadn’t expected that sort of distance and fumbled. Zac had the simple task of poking the ball over the line. This gave us a real boost and we pressed forward more and more but couldn’t get an equaliser.
Skegby made it 4 on 62 minutes when they headed a corner kick into the net for the 2nd time in the game. They killed the game with two carbon copy goals in two minutes. Both came from runs through the centre and powerful shots into the bottom corner.
Another Dom throw created an excellent chance for Simon who saw his blast brilliantly saved. Skegby managed to make it seven just before the end.
Man of the Match was Foxy who linked the forwards and midfield superbly.
So did the new system work? Well we scored twice, we didn’t concede eight and to be honest, it was a far closer game than the scoreline suggests. We need to learn to defend corners, not give away free-kicks in silly positions and close down the runs through the centre. But again physical size and strength is probably the reason Skegby have won all but one of their games this season and it is something we just don’t have.
