First League game since October(!) against a young team we'd already played and drawn against. Another stalemate, with few shots on goal, but the Lions can take heart from some solid defending and from the simple pleasure of actually playing a game. No Dave this week as his missus has just given birth (Congratulations to them both) so Brett did the team talk, etc.
Line up in a 4-3-3 was:
Phil (GK)
Dale (RB), Mike H (CB), Simon (CB), Julian (LB)
JP (CM), Mark (CM), Brett (CM)
Kyle (RF), Lee (CF), Richard (LF)
Although it was an away game for us, we were actually playing our own ground (albeit not on of our usual pitches) as this was already booked for another game.
The match started off well as we kept things very tight at the back. Sports liked to play the ball around and when we let them do that, they looked quite dangerous especially on the counter. We did a good job however on intercepting their through balls and clearing the danger, to the point where they had very few actual shots on goal, despite getting into threatening positions.
We didn't create too many chances either. We went close when someone - coudln't see who - got behind their defence but put the ball over close range. The ref gave us a penalty when Lee got sandwiched between two of their defenders. Incredibly though, the ref changed his mind as their lino said Lee was offside.
Just a few words about the ref. He gave a free kick against us for Simon swearing at no-one in particular, in the first couple of minutes. Fair enough there were kids about on the next pitch, but to give a free kick without warning us before the game, that he would come down so hard on it and without even a warning for the first offence was a bit anal. He never played the advantage for either team and gave several harsh handball decisions. The only thing he didn't do was actually book someone.
Rant on the ref over, we scored first through some good work by JP, winning the ball in midfield then making a neat little one-two before powering his shot low past the keeper's left.
We maybe eased off a bit, as their goal came through a lack of pressure on the ball. Our goal kick went unchallenged to one of their players and the ball found it's way to their attacker on the edge of the area, where he hit it hard and low into the corner. What was so gutting was that the half-time whistle went a minute later.
Second half, was more of the same to be honest. Very few chances on goal at either end. The one time they had the goal in the back of the net, it was offside. We got another penalty in the last 10 minutes when Lee again forced a foul in the area. This time there was no offside decision and Brett stepped up. The penalty however, was weak by his standards (apparently he was suffering from cramp) and the goalie saved it. Their defence stood firm on the rebound and though we got a few consecutive corners we couldn't force the ball home.
So a clean half at least and we managed to get back some much-needed confidence after our last outing on the pitch.
