With The Revs not looking forward to the game after a 12-2 battering in the reverse fixture, it’s fair to say it turned out to be a fantastic performance.
The Revolutions knew it was going to be a backs to the wall kind of game and try and take the game to them as much as they could. After all this was a team in top spot who had not lost a single game this term and only conceded 12 goals in total!
After a good defensive start, with the whole team putting in some good blocks and tackles, The Revs thought they had weathered the early storm only for Myers to distribute poorly looking for Evans on the wing. Their player intercepted with ease in the midfield and then broke, leaving a 2 on 1 situation, leaving a simple tap in to go one up.
The Revolutions brushed themselves down and went again but another individual mistake, by the ever reliant Allen, cost a further goal when he was easily disposed on the half way line leading to 2 nil.
When Pinkstone entered the fray he tried to rally the troops but they conceded a 3rd goal soon after. However The Revs kept going and managed to create a few chances of their own with Evans working his bollocks off upfront making some good runs pressuring the keeper and moving into space, including a stinging shot that the keeper could only parry out for a corner.
The Revs created further chances when Tyman played Pinkstone in with a perfect ball but with too much time to think about what he wanted to do with the final shot fluffed his lines and the keeper got enough on it to stop the ball going over the line allowing the defender to clear the danger. Also a rare mix up from the opposition in defence allowed Allen to sneak in but from 2 yards struck the ball with all his power instead of placing it meaning the keeper could throw out an arm and tipped it onto the bar.
Steane produced one moment of brilliance and tracked his man only to block off the line when Myers was beaten to keep the score to just 3.
The Revolutions went in at half time 3 down but with their heads up as they had made the opposition really work for their lead.
The second half The Revolutions huffed and puffed defending for their lives, which for the whole really worked. Pinkstone was superb, desering of his man of the match award, at the back and Tyman was in no mood to allow the opposition to have easy possession. Beardall and Steane soon started finding space and started whipping in terrific balls for both Evans and Tyman to narrowly miss chances, Tyman with a great header at the back post did not have enough on it allowing the keeper to gather and set the opposition on their way.
This was very much the tale of the second half, The Revs pushing on creating small openings and getting hit on the counter attack. Some of the opposition goals showed a superior side in full flow, stroking the ball about and producing top class finishes, whilst other occasions they had the rub of the green, including a terrific save by Myers that looped up over him allowing an attacker to tap in from point blank range.
Even at 5 or 6 nil, the game evidently lost, The Revs still pushed forward showing pride. Further chances for Evans, millimetres on several occasions from getting the through ball or just getting beat to it by the keeper who was clattered on one occasion, showed heart and desire from the entire team. Beardall produced fine crosses once again, so much improved over recent weeks and finding his range again, to baffle the defence at times. Allen pushed further forward as the game ebbed to an end and caused havoc with a lofted ball into the area from a kick in – against lesser teams there would have been panic at the back and some of these half chances converted for The Revs.
Eventually the final whistle blew and even though it was a loss, and a heavy one on paper, the boys came off the pitch in good cheer. They had improved on the previous result, competed and created lots of chances and showed that Revs spirit that is missing at times. It was clear that an improvement had been made which is all that is required at this point in their maiden season.
Unfortunately results went against The Revs tonight thrusting them into further trouble at the bottom of the table, but if they can produce this kind of intensity against the lesser teams then they still have a fighting chance of getting off the bottom of the league.
