Barnesalona Cup
Lokomotiv Londres FC 2 v West Ken Kings 3
“Twas the Sunday before Christmas and those who were up, pulled on their boots and bowed out of the cup” – so goes the rhyme, and Loko’s trophy-less 2005 came to an end taking another set of cup hopes with it. In all honesty the signalmens’ hopes of progressing from the group were all but dead going into Sunday’s game but a win would have just about kept them in the hunt. However the chances of this happening looked slim as Loko once again lined up with no strikers against top-of-the-table opponents, against whom they had never managed so much as a draw.
To everyone’s surprise what ensued was an extremely close, hard fought encounter, which could have gone either way. Two soft goals were what cost Loko in the end, although before we slap ourselves too hard on the backs it must be said that WKK were also missing key players.
This time two weeks ago Jules still had a surplus of players but the onset of winter has really whittled the squad down to the diehards. From the thirteen last week only eleven, the bare minimum, were lined up to face the cold this time. Unable to experiment Jules opted for a standard 4-4-2, with Ismail once again looking sharp between the sticks, Rohan, Pete, Paul and Ivan at the back and Adrian, Doug, Dale and Nick in the middle. With no strikers for the second week in a row (where are you guys???) Jules and James began the game in attack. The revolving captaincy passed on to Doug.
Another beautiful but icy cold morning had left pitch three practically frozen solid; falling on it cut the knees open as if it were gravel on a primary school playground. WKK won the toss and picked first one end, then the other. Loko started off out of the sun and slightly downhill. Predictably the early impetus was with Kings as they looked to cement their place in the semis, and they created two good early chances for Hamed, who put a header just wide and missed with a lob over Ismail when it seemed easier to score. However Loko soon established themselves in the game with Pete utterly dominant at the back, bringing to mind a young Tony Adams, or Martin Keown in his Villa heyday. Doug and Dale got stuck in, breaking up the WKK attacks that were concentrated through the middle.
By contrast Loko began to cause havoc down the wings, with both Adrian and Nick on fine form, interchanging with Jules and James who both dropped deep. The Kings full backs seemed to have difficulty coping with the Loko pressure, and it told after about twenty minutes. Jules swung across a corner and Adrian jumped at the near post to flick it on across the goalmouth to the edge of the box, where it was picked up by James. With his back to goal, he shielded the ball and chested it down before spinning and shooting on the turn. It snuck through a throng of players from both sides and nestled in the far corner – a great first goal for James (pictured below), and a deserved lead for the signalmen.
Loko, hopefully having learnt from their (multitudinous) mistakes, didn’t take their foot of the gas. They continued to press, and enjoyed the lion’s share of possession for the rest of the half. Dale had a couple of chances: the first came when another corner was floated in by Jules and the club vice-captain rose above the defence, only to put his header just wide of the far post. The second was classic Loko as Dale took a swing at a loose ball but connected only with his standing foot – luckily at that moment a flock of geese flew over, distracting everyone, and sparing Dale’s blushes.
Loko then carved out their best chance; Rohan picked up the ball on the half way line and played it in to Doug in the centre, who passed left once more to Nick. The winger dribbled past his man before cutting back and sending a low cross into the six-yard box. Jules lunged and got in front of his man, making a good connection at full stretch, but the ball flew just over.
Loko were made to pay for not making the most of their dominance when, from a Loko corner, Kings managed to nick an equalizer. The ball was headed out of the Kings area to Hamed; with only Rohan back covering he was easily able to square it to another onrushing attacker. Nevertheless the Loko defence managed to get back in time to force him wide, but unfortunately his shot skidded on the icy ground in front of Ismail and the ball managed to slip under him at his near post. The clock ran down to half-time with Loko disgruntled to be level, something none of us would have predicted!
Half-Time Loko 1 v West Ken Kings 1
Loko were beginning to realise that despite a depleted squad, the team out on the field was more than matching the league leaders. Julian called on his men to keep demonstrating their battling qualities and attacking verve. With no substitutes the same eleven took to the field in an unchanged formation. With the festive break approaching and an afternoon of food football and booze in the offing the guys were clearly out to enjoy this dead rubber, a fact that was reflected in the nature of the performance. The passing was crisper and everyone seemed on good form, enjoying their football.
The second half started in the same way as the first with Loko looking dangerous on the break, Nick in particular getting forwards at every opportunity and slipping into an unaccustomed left wing role with ease. James was having his best game for the club and his good first touch and distribution were to trouble WKK throughout.
The match flickered between moments of incisive passing and scrappy battles for possession. But as it progressed Loko’s lack of fitness began to tell on the now heavy soggy pitch, the icy film having been burnt off by the rising sun and the two teams sporting endeavour.
The next goal was always going to be crucial and it fell to WKK via an unfortunate deflection. After a nice break from the royals their winger pulled the ball back to an advancing team mate on the edge of the area. He pulled the trigger and cashed in as his shot deflected off a defender past Ismail’s despairing lunge.
Having lost their lead in two successive matches Loko were mentally against the ropes and in need of some inspiration. And it wasn’t long in coming.
No sooner had the leaves settled on the WKK lead than James was turning adroitly on the edge of the box and laying the ball out wide to Adrian. His low ‘fizzing’ cross was in the awkward space between defenders and keeper and the only way out for one of the K’s stoppers was to toe-poke it with precision into the corner of his own net. Two all and game on.
The result was not to fall Loko’s way however as another soft goal came knocking and this time Ivan answered the door, dwelling on the ball and losing possession to one of the King’s men. From the ensuing attack the decisive goal was scored. Perhaps an unfair result and a harsh blow for the loyal 11 who had turned up when others had faltered. They were to show that character with a death rattle comprising of a 5 minute onslaught in the King’s half. Paul Dwinfour valiantly got forwards with Pete and most of the back line. Long throws and set pieces darted in but Dale’s header flew just wide and Julian’s volley from inside the D was tipped away by the opposing keeper.
And so the curtain came down on the year’s play and everybody seemed in good cheer, choosing to focus on the performance rather than the result, as well as the prospect of a charge at the league after the festive break.
Final Score Loko 2 v West Ken Kings 3
Manager Julian Milne's comments:
None Provided.
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Rohan
3. Ivan
4. Pete
5. Paul
6. Doug (c)
7. Adrian
8. Dale
9. James
10. Julian
11. Nick
Goals:
James (1)
30th Minute - A corner was swung in by Jules, flicked on by Adrian and James created space to score from five yards out.
Own Goal (1)
James knocked the ball wide, a low driven cross by Adrian was sliced into his own goal by the Kings defender.
Match Report provided by Rohan Tesh and Julian Milne.
