A very poor performance got the defeat it deserved as the Lions' 100% record came to an abrupt end.
Line up as follows:
Dorian (GK)
Phil (RB), Simon (CB), Mark W (CB), Matt R(LB)
Kyle(RM), JP (CM), Dale (CM), Kevin (LM)
Brett (CF), Lee M (CF)
Back at Chrystie Rec which has the most ridiculous sloping pitch you've ever seen, but what was really unforgivable was the overgrown surface which made running a hazard in itself and controlling the ball a nightmare. As someone said, it was more like a meadow than anything else.
However, that doesn't excuse yet another poor start by the Lions, which saw the opposition dominate the early exchanges. We struggled to put two passes together and lost possession far too often giving the oppo plenty of attacking chances. We conceded the first goal from a corner where the attacker headed it in unopposed off the crossbar. We could have been further behind but for some wayward finishing from them and a cracking save from Dorian who then recovered well to grasp the bouncing ball on the line. JP put a great block in when the oppo had a clear sight of goal too.
When we got our passing together we did open them and Kevin forced a last ditch clearance off the line when the keeper was beaten. Too often though, our balls forward were too far ahead of our front men, leaving them chasing too many lost causes. We barely tested the keeper in the first half.
Dave rightly ripped into us at half time as we'd done the exact opposite of all the things he'd demanded from us before kick off. The oppo had far too much time and space in the midfield to pick their passes and we were fortunate to be only a goal down.
Scott and Adam came on for Kyle and myself. and as usual we started the second half better and Brett missed a great opportunity to level things when he volleyed over from inside the box. A few minutes later, Simon was dispossessed near the halfway line and we were suddenly in a two versus one situation. Their attacker got to the byline and pulled it back for his mate to get his second of the game. It was a heck of a blow as we were just getting back into it and deflated us somewhat.
Not long after that, they got their third with the instigator of the second, again getting to the byline but this time cutting in and blasting a shot into the top right corner.
Mark suffered a clash of heads with their two-goal striker and had to come off after a bit. Lee T came on and set up Scott with a great through ball which Scott them managed to put through the keeper for it to trickle over the line. We were still not as well as we could but we were creating chances. Lee M had a header just go over and Lee T saw a shot saved then Scott blasted the follow up over. Kevin hit the side netting after a great run at goal and late on Lee M rounded the keeper but couldn't control the ball enough to steer it into the empty net.
Throughout the second half though they seemed to have all the time in the world to win the ball in midfield and build up their attacks. We never got tight to them and they could have had more. It was a desperately disappointing performance and despite our previous wins we really need to take a long hard look at this because the warning signs have been there. Another slow start and this time we couldn't recover enough to get a result.
