Today was "Super Sunday" with the top four teams in the division playing each other. Unfortunately it was the Lions who were the big losers of the day, suffering our first defeat since the second game of the season to bring our unbeaten run since then crashing to an end.
The line-up:
Phil (GK)
Adam (RB), Simon (CB), Danny (CB), Julian (LB)
JP (RM), Brett (CM), Mike G (LM)
Jon (LF), Darren (CF), Lee (LF)
We all knew about Esher, dropped only 2 points in 7 games, highest goals scorers, etc, etc. The way we've been playing recently, we were confident we could get a result from this we knew it would be a much sterner test than the last few weeks.
We started off well, putting them under some pressure and getting some early shots in. Darren (who could have had a hatful of goals) was put through on goal early on but pulled his shot wide of the mark.Mike had a great opportunity when a squared ball found him bearing down on, but his low shot was driven right at the keeper who cleared with his leg. Other chances went begging, with headers going over the bar and shots going wide. It was the same old problem of us having loads of shots, but few on target and even fewer really making the keeper work.
They had chances and their first goal came from a ball over the top which was taken down (quite brilliantly it has to be said by their main striker who held off our defenders to stab the ball just under me. I got something on it which held it up, but he just ran through and finished it despite Simon I think it was getting a touch on it whilst trying to keep it out.
After that it was pretty much all us for a spell with a spate of free kicks conceded by the oppo. Despite putting plenty of balls in, we just couldn't get the ball in the back of the net.
1-0 down at half time but we were still in it and only really given them the once chance which they'd taken.
A couple of changes made for the second half with Kyle and Mark coming on for Adam and Jon. JP went to right back for Adam, Kyle and Mark up front on the right and holding in the middle respectively.
I think we may have had a couple of chances before their second goal, but to be honest, I can't remember much before then, because that's when the wheels came off. JP did well to chase back their attacker and hold him off to win the ball by the corner flag, whilst Danny came in to support. Then for some inexplicable reason, the two of them stood there for what seemed like a very long time, looking like they were wondering what to do next, until JP nudged the ball in the general direction of Danny. The oppo player who was still right next to them said thank you very much, got the ball and squared it into the area to their danger man. I got out to him and got one block in then another, but he got it to his mate who put it in. I was not a happy bunny.
Their next goal was better shot, but still a defensive nightmare. Their left winger who had a mean-looking Mohican, and an even meaner long throw, was also not too shabby on the ball. He made a run down the wing and avoided challenges from JP and Mark before curling in a shot that brushed my fingertips on its way into the goal.
Some heads may have started to go down then as for all our efforts at the other end, we just couldn't make the breakthrough in front of goal. Their last goal was a penalty conceded by Danny who caught their striker when he turned him. The penalty was pretty much straight at me, but much to my disgust I could only parry it into the net. We were probably fortunate on occasion not to concede more as I had a few nervous moments with high balls, but after playing so well in the first half, we'd really let ourselves down in the second, with defensive mistakes and not taking our chances. Esher were not four goals better than us in quality but we did ourselves no favours whatsoever.
