Its always good to watch a team play with commitment and spirit. A team thats prepare to put in the effort, a team that wants to play football and a team that wants to win. Today we saw one.
Today there were two teams on the pitch - one that wanted to win and played some great football battleing for every ball commiting themselves forward in numbers and creating chances, and then there was Rocklands.
We were totally out played today. Sprowston walked through our midfield as easy as walking through a shopping mall, and our defence had as many holes as the local golf course.
With Matty out injured we started with Marc in goal. He pulled off some great saves throwing any limb into the path of the ball. Sprowstons first goal came when Marc saved only for the ball to fall to the striker who played the ball across the goal hitting the inside of the post before going in. A couple of mins later saw the home team double their lead after a defensive error left a simple tap in. Sprowston were fully in control and running rings around our players. Sam made a vital clearance off the line. Marcs error in judgement led to the third goal, when he decided to kick clear instead of catching the ball, Sprowston reacted by lobbing the ball back in, Marc scrammbled back he was unable to hold it before it crossed the line. Ewan and Eliot had a couple of half chances, but we were failing to cause them any real pressure. Sprowston were awarded a penalty, Marc went the right way and got a hand to it but was unable to keep it out. At half time we were 4-0 down but it could have been a lot worse.
The second half started the same way, Sprowston in control and the soon scored again, the striker controlled the ball with his arm (unseen by the ref or linesman) before slotting past Joe.G who was now in goal. Louis came off second best during a tackle and had to limp off leaving us down to ten men for about 10mins as we had no subs, before managing to come back on. Whilst he was off the pitch the home team used their number advantage to slot another one in. Our defence was playing far too deep and Sprowston kept us pinned back in our own half before the scored their seventh. One of our few breaks forwards saw Sprowston make a mistake allowing Marc the opportunity to lob ther keeper to score a consolation goal.
Sprowston got their 2nd penalty of the game as charlie brought down their striker in the box. Louis (now in goal) could only stand and watch as the ball was slotted just insde the post from a well taken spot kick. With time running out Marc was brought down by the keeper as he took the ball round him. The keeper was booked and the ref pointed to the spot for a third time in the game. Marc stepped up took the kick only for it to be saved.
Spowston were definatly the better team today. At times our players were mere spectactors.
Where was the football skills, the commititment and the desire that is shown every week in training. If it can be done on a Tuesday night why cant it be done on a Sunday morning ?
