The Headline just about sums up everyones feelings, after this game ended in our first defeat of the season, and took our 100% record with it. Lower Street Colts were our opponents, and very good they were to. For the first time this season we were up against a team that were on our level. It was a very quick start from both teams with lots of strong challenges going in from Lower Street and from some of our players. The early chances were evenly spread between the two teams although we were defending more than attacking for long periods of play. Our defence were giving as good as they got and were willing to put their bodies on the line to prevent Lower Street from scoring. Tyler had to be on top form again and didn't disappoint with a great tip over in the 13th minute when it looked goal bound! Supporters from both teams could see this was going to be a tight affair and the praise from the away supporters, for our team was nice to hear. They clearly hadn't come up against a team that played football in a good, fair and competitive manner. A breakthrough for us came in the 26th minute when we broke out from defence and played a slick pass and move which ended with Connor crossing for Jack to tuck the ball away,1-0. Our injury jinx was in good form today with Taylor, Sam and Gerald all carrying injuries into the game. This was added to when Andrew, who was playing well at centre half, went down after a challenge with a nasty ankle injury. This disrupted us for a while and we got caught out in the 32nd minute when Lower Streets winger got in round the back of us and finished well to equalise, 1-1. The ref was having a bad day for us, and was giving some strange decisions and in our eyes WRONG! We were denied a penalty when Connor was through one on one with the keeper only to be taken out by the defender and goalkeeper combined! No pen! H/T 1-1 We were looking tired at the start of the second half with three of our back four carrying injuries which meant we looked vulnerable. Ryan had another good game in midfield and was throwing himself into tackles. Sam was really struggling with injury but was a rock at the back and wouldn't give in to his injury, which was just as well, with andrew off the pitch injured we had no one as sub. We did create some chances but we had to change our formation from 4-4-2 to 4-4-1-1 to try and drop off and get the ball from the midfield who were in a real battle. Another poor decision gave Lower Street a free kick which was fired into the net leaving Tyler with little chance of saving it, 1-2. We were now up against it and to make matters worse Gerald pulled up with an injury which meant he couldn't continue. Andrew bravely put himself back into the action and played through his own injury to keep it 11-a-side. While we pressed for an equaliser we came undone with a ball over the top which was latched onto by their forward who tucked the ball away to make it 1-3. We were not giving up and if anything this spurred us on to try and get back into the game even though time wasn't on our side. We had a couple of half chances before we got a break from the Ref when he finally gave us a decision (albeit in the last minute).... Penalty! Ryan bustled his way into the box and was taken from behind by the worried defender. Jack stepped up and dispached the penalty.2-3 But it was just too late in the game to finish the fight back... F/T A very good spirited performance from us considering our injuries and lack of players against a very good Lower Street Colts team, who will be challenging us for the League come the end of the season. So chin up lads and we go again next week and get back to winning ways!
