Today the odds were against us....
With soaring temperatures, players letting us down at the last minute, players playing with injuries, last thing you want is to have to play a well established team who are competing with the best in the premier division and are already in full flow with a few pre-season games under their belt.
First Half...
Straight from the word go we knew we was in trouble. ADF Machico were playing some lovely passing football, moving the ball from left to right and utilizing the flanks with both fullbacks happy to overlap. It wasn't too long before they struck - a drilled cross from the left and some scrappy marking allowed their striker to head the ball passed Lee. 1-0.
Then, you would have thought we would have learnt our lesson. Nope. A cross from the exact same position and another headed goal. 2-0.
Not the start we wanted. Our midfield was being swamped and Michael was constantly caught two against one. Something had to change, so we dropped Dazza to right midfield and went 4-5-1.
Suddenly it seemed like we was starting to find our feet in the game, with Jubz dragging defenders into the channels, Dazza getting a few decent balls across goal, winning a few corners and Ashley, Liam and Craig working their socks off to regain possession, the shape was looking more balanced.
Then before we knew it, Machico were on the break again, working the ball into the box and then forcing Lee Wills into pulling off a top draw save - a reaction save down to his left which he pushed wide and cleared out.
From then on it was a bombardment of shots, however Lee rose to the challenge and was keeping the score line to a respectable 2-0.
We thought we could see out the half until a lapse of concentration by Wayne Stephens who gifted the striker with a soft pass back which he calmly took round the keeper and slotted home. 3-0.
Half time couldn't come any sooner for the TEFA boys.
Second Half...
After a quick half time chat and taking on alot of water we got the half started.
And things looked positive, Jubz holding the ball up and trying to bring Dazza and Liam into play. But once again we was hit on the break and after scramble for the ball it dropped to the feet of their striker who blasted it low and hard into the bottom corner. 4-0.
However, we didn’t give up. With a nice move down the right flank Dazza was through on goal and forced a rare error out of the keeper which left him with an open goal which he kindly placed the ball into the open net. 4-1 - is it possible?!
No, unfortunately not. The adrenaline didn’t last long and before we knew we was on the back foot again.
Whilst all the outfield players were chasing shadows and trying our best to turn any last ditch tackle into an attack, Lee was pulling of more saves to prevent double figures.
Then when the ball was passed across the back four and we thought Michael had made a great sliding tackle, but the ball bobbled right in front of the Lee and into the net. 5-1.
With the heat beating down and the score 5-1, we was just playing for fitness now (sorry... praying for fitness!)
And as the game was drawing to an end, Ashley thought he would test Lee's reactions just one last time. By giving him a soft pass back - which surprisingly the striker beat Lee too and took it round him and slotted it away. 6-1.
Full time...
Second pre season friendly and although we was sent home with our tails between our legs, I think we can take a few positives from it. At times we did play some decent football, we all gained some good match fitness, Lee had a blinding game regardless he conceded 6 and no one gave up. We know we need to work on a few things and iron our a few negatives but that will come with time. Lets just hope our next game is not on a scorching hot day and against another top premier team LOL.
Well done lads, keep your heads up and that first win is coming soon.
