With the wet weather over the previous 24 hrs we were not expecting to
play but surprisingly no cancellation came.
Prep before game was poor, we had no info on when the game before us
would finish and some of the boys minds not seeming to be
on football. Gusting winds and a pitch that had been cut up badly from
the game before, not our ideal playing conditions.
Fleet Spurs have had a great run of results recently beating CPR Hawks
and Hook so we knew this would be tough.
After the first few mins of play it was clear the different styles of
play. Fleet tried to pass from the back but as soon as we put pressure
on them they played long to their number 9 to then feed to their very
strong and ridiculously fast number 10. Phantoms were playing the
possession game whilst Fleet were essentially counter attacking.
Fleet scored with their first attack, a very long distance wind
assisted shot went in the goal to take the lead. In the first half
Phantoms played some really clever football at times, particularly on
right side, but were often faced with a wall of defenders. We had a
long distance shot that lobbed keeper, which looked in, only for wind
to blow it left and hit the post. A few other dangerous moves were
created but only a couple of clear cut chances. However Fleet were
looking dangerous on the counter particularly with the number 10.
Half time chat was about getting one of our defenders to get tight on
number 9 to stop him getting his team mates into the game. Another
clever striker playing in the front of our defensive 3. We also need
to commit more player forward as Fleet were playing very deep and very
defensive. Second half I'd suggest we were the dominant team but Fleet
almost wrapped it up with a rocket shot that from edge of the box that
hit the upright. Chances came and went for
Phantoms, time running out. With 30 seconds
left we won a corner and every one bar RE was in the penalty box.
Great cross from EH, a scramble and the ball was in the net off
EHE. 1-1 final score, the boys shook hands where it was possible.
I said to the boys that they showed great character and last year they
would not have equalised as we are different team mentally. They need
to learn and fix some of the situations that go on the pitch.
