Shucking Fite performance
Match Report by John Ignatius Fiorentini
Mexoc went into this home game against bottom of the table, Rockville of Wallasey, buoyed by the previous week's 7-3 away victory against the same opposition. Unfortunately, the outcome of this match was to put a severe dent in the title aspirations of the Mexoc players and management team.
Mexoc dominated the first half for long periods with wing backs Ablewhite and Faulkner making numerous foraging runs down the flanks which created a plethora of chances, none of which were converted by a succession of culprits. At the same time, credit must go to the octagenarian Rockville goalkeeper who made a succession of excellent saves, the pick of which was with his feet whilst lay on his back from a shot by Smith. The Rockville goalkeeper was ably supported by the frame of the goal on three occasions - Pearson, Causley and Smith the unlucky individuals.
Eventually the Rockville resistance broke on the half an hour mark after a period of sustained pressure from the home side. A high ball from Smith created confusion between a Rockville defender and their goalkeeper, and Causley nipped in to pass the ball into an empty net. Further chances were missed to leave the home side leading at the half-time interval by Causley's solitary effort.
Mexoc started the second half confident that more goals would come with patience and better finishing. Within 10 minutes of the restart they found themselves 2-1 down and facing an uphill battle against an increasingly confident Rockville team.
The first Rockville goal came from their second corner of the game, five minutes after the restart. Faulkner diverting the outswinging corner past his own goalkeeper Johnson in the Mexoc goal. Five minutes later, Mexoc found themselves 2-1 down following a strike by the Rockville centre forward which left Johnson with no chance.
Mexoc finally awoke from their half time slumber, and the introduction of Parvin in place of Gogol seemed to have provided the desired effect as Mexoc pressed forward in an attempt to take something from a match where they should already have been out of sight.
Faulkner and Causley combined down the right wing before a Rockville defender inadvertently diverted Faulkner's low cross past his own goalkeeper to level the score at 2-2.
Eager to capitalise on this breakthrough, Mexoc pressed forward in greater numbers and took a deserved 3-2 lead when Causley fired in a 20 yard volley following a weak defensive clearance by the Rockville defence.
At this point, returning Manager Fiorentini decided to employ some of the Catenaccio practices which he had learnt on his extended travels of the Italian Riveira. The plan backfired spectacularly.
Two defensive mistakes in the space of 6 minutes allowed the Rockville team, now reduced to 10 men following successive fouls on Regan, to regain the lead. Johnson having no chance with either strike.
Despite 5 minutes of frantic attacking towards the end of the game, Mexoc were unable to get the equaliser they deserved, and were left to rue the numerous missed chances.
How a team can win a game with more goals than shots on target is a mystery, but Rockville came away winners of this outcome, leaving the Mexoc players and management with plenty to ponder before their next game against the Bee Hive at the Simpson Ground on 15 November.
