The first game of the new MDM Utd era ended in a disappointing defeat after much promise in the first 40 minutes of a battling game at home to Downley Albion Reserves.
Gaffer Thods was missing Scotty (Stag do) Jason (being Stokist) and Jordan (raving it up somewhere) so with only 12 to pick from only one player would miss out the starting 11.
Going back to a good old 4-4-2 Thods and Snowy started their defensive partnerhip like JT and Cahill (you either love us or hate us) with Foster and Lee T supporting at the back. Gaz and Wayne were flanked by Cookie and Spanish with the dynamic due of Ant and Liam up top, Morbs 'thank you please' our one sub. The side sporting their smart new all blue kit that even Gaz fitted into.
1st half - all was rosey as MDM played the ball around nicely trying to work play letting our wingers be the playmakers as we had numerous opportunities for balls into the box. We looked comfortable at the back as all Downley hand was a long-ish through ball once they worked into our half. Set pieces seemed the only danger but orgsanised defending by all meant we were rarely threatened and with Jake the ideal sweeper MDM were in full control.
Liam and Ant worked well up top by like our opposition we did not have to many clear chances, our possession surely would create something and it did half way though the first half as Ant was felled and up stepped Foster (whose previous dead balls were lacking the ability to find a blue man) to whip the ball towards the goal and into the far corner albeit by a fortunate deflection. 1-0.
The remainder of the half was pretty much the same with the final ball our only problem but then came the errors that had hindered us many times last season as twice we were caught dithering on the ball in the fullback position and twice the defence was breached as the away side broke away easily leaving 2 on 2. With just a 2 minutes before the break and we were behind.
Half time 1-2. (please note here the half-time chat needs to be on the positives and what we CAN do not what we did wrong. Focusing on two errors caused antagnonism which was not needed and will not be tolerated - rant over)
2nd half - now knowing we had to go for the jugular MDM opened up and the game became quite stretched, Downley sat back on their 18 yard box and decided to counter attack. SNowy and Thoday sitting back, with Foster and Lee T pushing on we had the possession again second half but could not break down a dogged defence as the final ball was either too short or too long. (note here - perhaps we should try and shoot from distance)
Downley probably could of been out of site if it had not been for some poor finishing and an awesome linesman in Lee Dumpleton but we were still in the game as Snowy and Thoday defended what they could and trying to start attacks. For all our passing though our equaliser was route one a big kick by Jake flicked on by Ant set Liam away who opened his body for once to calmly slot the ball wide of the keeper from 20 yards and into the net. 2-2.
We however gifted the away side a third goal soon after with their danger long throw expert launched a Rory Delap esc throw goalwards for Jake to misjudge the flight and in the bundle for the flick he could only palm the ball in. 3-2 and we were now up against it.
The last 15 minutes were pleasing that we showed the passion and urgency but perhaps it was needed from half time but despite putting their goal under seize we only created one real decent charge that Ant could not direct goalwards under pressure.
Final Score MDM Utd 2 Vs 3 Downley Albion Reserves
All in all some real positives in the way we played today lads. Decision making was our only problem today, sometimes playing the long ball when it should of gone short, or releasing the ball quickly rather then delaying. This was our downfall today but I cannot fault the effort and spirit with very little moaning on the pitch. If we can eradicate it totally and just think when we have the ball it will all come together next week.
Remember positivity and believe in how we are trying to play.
xxx
