A totally abject performance ended with a deserved thrashing and all thoughts of titles or promotion put on hold. Already being hindered by a number of injuries the last couple of weeks have seen members of the squad let the side down at the last minute or without any excuse not turned up on the day and for the last fortnight we have had only 11 players.
This week was no exception and luckily we had made an emergency signing and Abiola returned, having not played in the regular Season. Without these two and the return of Joe Akinola, who manfully played the 90 minutes despite being unfit and obviously carrying his knock still, we would have only had 8 men.
That said, we fielded only 12 against NPU and won easily so this defeat was not just down to lack of numbers or a lack of cohesion due to the number of changes of personnel. With a guaranteed place of joint top of the League to the winners only one side turned up and it wasnt us. Not fancying it from the off, we fancied it even less after going 2 nil down and completely capitulated in the first half, with no-one able to lift the side.
Black Lion started well and despite suffering an early yellow card were on top when they took an early lead. A cross into the box was headed clear by Chris Pepper but the header fell to an unmarked Black Lion player who volleyed well first time. Disaster then struck as Andy Bagnall's game collapsed as stand in keeper. Only moments after letting a simple shot through his hands and legs to trickle past the post he came out for an easy collect but opted to let the ball run for a goal kick. Black Lion's busy striker kept going though and reached the ball before it went out, finishing from a tight angle.
Heads then went down and we stopped defending, conceding two almost identical goals from long throws. We failed to deal on both occassions with the initial throw, each time allowing Black Lion player to nod on into the area. First they were allowed to tap in unmarked before Sam's poor clearance merely fell invitingly to the Black Lion striker to score his second.
Black Lion were now tearing us apart at will and scored a good fifth, playing through midfield before releasing their striker who unselfishly passed for a simple sliding tap in.
With the game gone after 45 minutes respect was the only thing on our minds as we came out but despite starting brightly we conceded with the first Black Lion attack, a quick break ending with their striker cutting inside Richard and curling into the goal.
At least we didnt give up and played much better in the second half controlling the game in parts and competing more, limiting Black Lion to only a few chances. When Joe's injury worsened we had to put him up front and this seemed to work for us, Abiola performing brightly now no longer starved of the ball and Joe won us the Penalty a good move ending with him reaching the ball before the keeper and going down under the challenge. Anthony didnt strike the penalty particularly well but it was accurate and the keeper couldnt reach it into the corner. Earlier he had cracked a trademark freekick against the bar which could have provided us with some more impetus but that was all goals.
Black Lion simply wanted it more in every part of the pitch, winning every battle and thoroughly deserved this result. Magic meanwhile will go back, lick their wounds and hopefully raise our game before a rot sets in.
Hardly a time to be considering a Man of the Match but Abiola had the sorry task of leading a line with no service and gave us additional workrate when moved into midfield.
