Barnesalona League
Lokomotiv Londres FC 3 v Munchen 3
Sunday was Loko’s third crack at Munchen this season and, after two frustrating 2-1 reverses it was a case of ‘third time lucky’. Despite being without any of our four strikers and missing our two first-choice centre halves Loko dug deep and were rewarded with a draw: three shots, three goals – now that’s efficiency. Munchen will be disappointed with the result after dominating the match and never having conceded as much as a point to the railwaymen in four previous meetings prior to Sunday. There were a few tears at the final whistle as news filtered through that it also cost them their place at the top of the table. We all agreed that they had probably been licking their lips at the prospect of a tasty victory and ended up choking on a gristly stalemate.
The increasingly wintry weather seems at last to be taking its toll on the squad with only thirteen shivering souls limbering up on the frosty, foggy pitch before kick off. With Jules still unable to keep goal due to his hand injury and Steve Martin absent Ismail pulled on his favourite old colourful jersey. Rohan and Ivan were full-backs with Dale and Nick covering for Pete and Paul. Jules had no choice but to go for a 4-5-1 formation, with Doug as the holding midfielder, Adrian and James in the centre and Ali and Dave as wingers. The manager himself played as a lone striker, with Christophe and Paul Kelly on the bench.
The match was on pitch two with its unhelpful slant and Rohan, captain for the day, opted to play uphill first, out of the sun, after winning the toss. Loko weren’t quite as slow out of the traps as usual and managed to keep Munchen out during the opening barrage. The defence were playing well, winning headers and shutting out the Munchen forwards, although in the opening period those guys did twice send powerful efforts either side of the Loko goal. Their best early chance came when, after a scramble at the edge of the area, one Munchen player was left with the goal at his mercy, but his shot went straight at Rohan who was covering on the line and who managed to deflect it wide. Shortly afterwards the ball broke again, this time to the giant Munchen midfielder, who drove it low at the corner - but Ismail got down quickly to keep it out.
After about 25 minutes though the chances seemed to dry up as the Loko midfield began to shake off their hangovers and put a foot in. James, Doug and Adrian started to win a few headers but also crucially a greater share of the second ball. The catalyst for Loko’s attack came from the heart of defence. Nick picked up the ball just on the left hand corner of the box and went on a mazy run down the left, playing a double one-two with Ali before crossing the ball to Jules. Although they snuffed out Loko’s attacks Munchen seemed to run temporarily out of ideas and squandered their majority share of possession by pumping long balls into the corners; meat and drink to the Loko back line.
The reward for tenacity came five minutes before half time. After a small period of pressure Jules laid the ball off in the centre about 25 yards out. Sprinting onto it ahead of the Munchen midfield and facing the corner flag Dave (pictured below) struck it sweetly with the outside of the boot and everyone stood and watched as the ball traced an incredible parabola and nestled between keeper and post. A better version of his strike in the thrashing of Barnes, it surely ranks as goal of the season so far – people were even hanging out of their windows along Rocks Lane cheering and clapping, and somewhere a dog was barking for joy!
And more was to follow. Barely two minutes later Jules again provided the platform when, as he shaped to shoot, he was brought down on the edge of the area. No one was about to argue as Dave took charge of the free kick; spotting that the wall was in completely the wrong place he blazed the ball straight at the exposed left hand side of the goal. The keeper flung himself over and got a hand to it but could only help it on its way. Amidst the renewed barking and cheering the Loko players steeled themselves, and the remaining three minutes until the interval were played out with no scares.
Half time Loko 2 v Munchen 0
Both sides were clearly stunned at the score line going into the break. The Loko players looked at each other wishing the match could end there and then. Despite looking forward to playing downhill there was a degree of trepidation at the prospect of a 45-minute total onslaught. Manager Jules reminded the players of the disadvantage they were at with the depleted squad, and that they were ahead against the meanest defence in the league. The full backs were instructed to stay back at all times and the midfield to continue disrupting the flow of play in a bid to frustrate Munchen. Paul Kelly came on for James in midfield.
As expected Munchen came storming straight up the hill looking sharper already. Loko, determined to defend their lead, sat too deep up at the top for all the world like a jealous dung beetle on top of his hoard. Munchen realised that they could play the ball around in the Loko half and their cutting edge was back. Loko had hardly any possession and created virtually nothing. Dale led the defence by example, winning everything in the air, and both he and Jules kept Ismail’s goal safe at the corners. Loko battled manfully for ten minutes, but just when it seemed as though Munchen might be frustrated they made the breakthrough. A speculative through ball was picked up by their captain and no.10, who shrugged off two challenges and burst into the area before walloping the ball into the far corner.
Five minutes later and Munchen were level. A long throw was flicked on into the area; Loko failed to properly track their players and were dragged all over the place leaving the no.10 to claim his second with a simple cross-goal header. Loko’s heads didn’t go down though, and they continued to compete. Paul K added some freshness to the midfield and seemed to be on the ground scrapping at every opportunity. Nevertheless Munchen weren’t to be denied and the continued pressure told yet again. This time it was a low cross from the right that left the defence standing like statues and the Munchen man danced through to tap home at the near post.
Now the fight seemed to leave Loko, and as Munchen looked to kill off the game it was only two individual stops that kept Loko in the hunt. Firstly a far post cross that was headed powerfully back across the six yard box was cleared off the line by Ali who had to react sharply to get his head to it. Soon afterwards a snap shot - heading straight for the top corner - was superbly saved by Ismail who had only a split second to see it. As Loko continued to cling to Munchen’s coat tails resolve began to return to the side and Jules threw his weight around up front in an effort to create an opening. He also threw himself balls out into the path of a clearance and play was briefly suspended – but then Jules only has one speed: balls out.
As the game neared its conclusion and with Loko still trailing 3-2 Jules ran into the box and was brought down. The ref decided not to give the penalty but justice was not to be denied. The corner that had seemed such scant consolation was cleared only as far as Dale on the edge of the box, who unleashed his frustration with a powerful drive that cut straight through the crowd of bodies and pinged off the foot of the man on the post and in. Celebrations were short as Loko, not believing their good fortune, knuckled down for the final five. These passed frenetically but without major incident as Munchen seemed over-eager and snatched at their shots. The ref finally blew for full time leaving the Loko players jubilant and their Bavarian counterparts dejected.
Jules was full of praise for Loko’s obdurate defence and refusal to capitulate, and was delighted with a result that any of us would have taken going into the game - despite the loss of a two goal lead. As a Brucey bonus the news came through that Barnes had failed to beat Hendrix FC and were thus still below Loko on goal difference, with the Loko vs. Madras game still to be played. Hot stuff!
Next up an essentially dead rubber in the cup against WKK, followed by the Xmas lunch, and a well-earned two-week break.
Final Score Loko 3 v Munchen 3
Manager Julian Milne's comments:
"I knew we were missing key players going into this game and with all our strikers out I had to alter the formation in accordance. Playing 4-5-1 isn't always a defensive set-up, especially if the two wide men push forwards. It makes it difficult for the opposition to break us down and with our defensive record I believed we had progressed enough this season to play a more 'tactical' match.
This worked in the first half as Munchen, for all their possession, didn't create many clear cut goal scoring chances. Both Dave's strikes were brilliant and put us in a great position at half time. The crucial thing at this level is how many cheap goals you concede. We and our opponents shared the best defensive record in the league and considering we lost our first match 7-1 that is quite an achievement and testimony to our improved form and organisation.
However, the second half was mediocre at best. Heads went down as soon as we conceded the first. The second and especially third goals were really soft and we just didn't have enough credit in the bank to let them in. More importantly, the spirit of the team simply isn't good enough on certain levels. I cannot fault the players for effort but in terms of vocal encouragement and body language we have a long way to go. When the tide was turning against us few players stood up to be counted although I could here the usual whinging remarks.
Everyone was frustrated when the match started to slip away. It's how you react to that frustration that is important. It is time to start supporting each other out on the pitch. I am determined to drill this into the guys and get the spirit right in the squad.
In terms of the result I was really pleased. Munchen were top of the league and it is the first time we have taken a point off them. We rode our luck at times but boy have we scored some belters this season.
Next week we play WKK and a good chance for us to pit ourselves against another top team and continue our development."
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Rohan (c)
3. Ivan
4. Nick
5. Dale
6. Doug
7. Dave
8. Adrian
9. James
10. Julian
11. Alistair
12. Paul K (Replaced James 45 Minute)
13. Christophe
Goals:
Dave (2)
40th Minute - A brilliant bending shot that curved into the top corner from the edge of the box when under pressure from the defender.
42nd Minute - A powerful strike from a free kick on the edge of the box.
Dale (1)
80th Minute - A corner was only half cleared to the edge of the box where a low powerful drive squeezed through the crowded area into the bottom corner.
Match Report provided by Rohan Tesh.
