The first game we have no subs we get an injury inside the first 15 minutes and to compound our misery Brent's 11th player turns up at exactly the same time. Despite playing with a man down for 75 minutes, Meads could, in fact, consider themselves unlucky not to have taken away all 3 points from a game they dominated despite the numerical disadvantage.
Meads started the game quickly against the 10 men of Brent and could have been in front soon into the game with some half chances, over hit passes or miscontrols not quite allowing Meads to take full advantage. A well struck free kick from Owen was parried by the keeper and George saw a shot with his left go past the far post. The game was being played near enough exclusively in the Brent half with Eric and Sam dealing with any threat with ease. The game changed in the 15th minute when Matt went down after a bad fall in the Brent area, unable to continue with an injured knee, Meads were down to 10 men.
Even with the numerical advantage Brent were hardly threatening the Meads goal and Jake was able to sweep most balls going through with Dave and Rory providing excellent cover for the centre backs when they were caught out of position. The chances continued to come for Meads with George drawing a top drawer save off their keeper with a low shot when Owen had played him through. Ash had tormented his full back in the opening exchanges and continued to look dangerous when given the opportunity to run at his man, maybe something that was not exploited enough in the 2nd half. As the game went through the half Ollie and Andy were doing a good job at putting out fires in central midfield, which gave Owen the freedom to push on and look to create chances.
The interval came and Meads could have, and perhaps should have, been in front. The half time talk was clear; make sure we take good care of the ball and keep posession as much as possible as the chances will come.
The 2nd half could not have started worse with Brent taking the lead with a fortuitous free kick that found its way bang in the top corner from a full 30 yards out. The team was evidently rocked by the goal with Jake not having to make a serious save before that. The play became a little frantic with George being given the unenviable task of dealing with long balls up to him with 2 defenders on him straight away. However, in the final 20 minutes Meads started playing the football again, utilising Dave Ryan's ability to get up and down and create overloads on the left hand side. With Sam getting frustrated by the teams inability to score he decided to take matters into his own hands, having seen some half chances fall to the attacking players Sam had had enough and drove forward having picked up the ball inside his half. He floated past 3 challenges in midfield before using his pace to go past the centre back, now at the byline he cut the ball back and Owen was hand to fire his shot with his left in to the corner. The equaliser was well deserved and now Meads looked for the winner.
The winner was not to materialise in the final 10 minutes but the 10 men had performed admirably and could go away with their heads held high. Having watched the game from the sides for near enough the whole game I could say that every player put everything into Saturday's game and they were unlucky not to take all 3 points from a team that apart from a goal and a speculative shot that hit the woodwork offered very little all game.
A very good team performance under the circumstances, MOM went to Sam for his battling display in defence and also his forray forward that resulted in the equaliser.
Only one thing we want next week, some subs please...
