Well done lads on the result, not bad considering how hard we made this for ourselves but i suppose we're used it by now after doing it for the majority of the season.
We started off pretty sluggish and knowing this was a friendly and a nothing game showed, we were missing a lot of our lads but its no excuse for the way we started off.
We didnt do too badly as in terms of the way the game was played, posession and passing but it took us to go a goal behind before we started to really threaten on goal. After the ball bounced in our box Riverside reacted the quicker of the two teams to poke the ball home and go 1-0 up. The marking was really poor for the first goal we conceeded and should'nt have happened.
Less than a minute later though the ball was passed up the pitch and after M.Healey picked it up on the edge and passed the ball to Morley a well placed volley in the top corner put us right back in the game.
We did have some good chances first half but non clear cut, most of the first half chances fell to Blackburn who was rampant on the right wing but his shots were just going wide of the mark, the positions he was getting into and the balls to him were excellent though.
Michael Healey also came close after some excellent hold up play and a turn on the edge of the box the ball was cracked against the bottom of the far post.
We enjoyed a decent spell of play and looked like we started to assert ourselves in the game.
Riverside pushed back though and after a ball was put in the box and the defence and keeper not reacting and communicating together the ball was squeezed in at the near post, again a gifted goal and one we should not be conceeding at this late point in the season.
Our team looked deflated after conceeding and this lead to us dropping our heads and clamming up, there was no-one talking and motivating each other and thats the main thing we lacked first half.
Riverside went in at the break 3-1 up and thought they'd have probably had the game wrapped up.
We came out the traps after a change made at half time and the difference showed we came straight out and after a one of A.Steels kicks was headed on by C.Mcgarvey, morley was quickly round onto the wrong side of the defender to volley past the keeper and take the score to 3-2.
We had another few chances but the Riverside keeper was having a good game and made some decent stops to keep them ahead.
Riverside had the oppertunity of a fourth when they broke down our right hand side, switched the play to the left and after a driven in cross was put in they restored their 2 goal lead to take it to 4-2. Although they werent having too many chances they were taking them when they presented themselves, which kept them ahead for most of the game.
We were still looking to get back into the game and after an attitude adjustment when we came back on after half time we were looking likely to score especially with Morley shooting on sight and challenging the keeper constantly.
We soon got ourselves back into the game though when Michael Healey played a through ball to A.Gibson who struck at the keeper but the save only bobbled back to his feet and left him with an easy finish, game on at 4-3 and only looked likely of going one way, with us looking the most likely to score.
The innevitible happened and after another chance was created by Michael Healeys assist for A. Gibson we levelled with only 5 minutes of the game left to play.
Credit does have to be given to Riverside they wanted the game more than us nd it showed throughout until maybe the 60th minute when we stepped it up and played our own game rather than theirs.
We didnt do too great but the game changed after half time, and it had little to do with the football it was mainly attitude and communication, we've done this umpteen times this season and we know regardless of the score we are never out the game as a team, friendly or competitive.
m.o.m was clear awarded to A.Morley as he was consistent all game and had some excellent forward play and shooting, and was unlucky not to score with a volley he attempted on the half way line. Aaron also done well to bag his first goals for the club and looks like hes going to be a good addition to the squad for next season.
We need to learn that was individuals we can have a massive impact into how we play as a team without even touching the ball.
Next game will be the Hunter Cup final at Stokesleys ground, 7:15 ko Tuesday the 17th.
Lets finish our season with a league and cup double and start the game well instead of chasing it.
COME ON THE LION!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
