Barnesalona League
Real Madras FC 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1
Dominant Loko robbed at death.
It was a bright sunny morning at Barnes Common and the perfect weather for a Sunday morning game of football. Both sides arrived on time, warmed up and got ready for the serious business of winning three points. Dale, captaining the side once again, lost the toss for the third successive week and Madras chose to stay as they were, meaning Loko was playing into the sun as the game kicked off.Loko had a decent team out and Rohan (Pictured above), as caretaker manager, due to Julian's continuing absence, chose to go with a 4-3-3 formation and attack from the off. Ismail kindly went in goal again, a back four of Rohan and Ivan in the centre, with the full back slots being filled by Paul Kelly and Adrian. A midfield three of Nick on the right, Dale in the centre and Dave W on the left, were given instructions to play tight and allow Stefan and James to drop back from attack and exploit the space on the wings. Roger continued playing the out and out striker role to excellent effect.
Loko, as the case has been for most of this season, got off to an excellent start and pressed Madras back right from the first whistle. Some excellent interchanges between the front three and the midfield was looking good and the midfield shape held well, with two of the middle men joining the attack each time with one of them sitting defensively just behind.
The first chance of the game fell to Dale inside the first five minutes, a corner was whipped in by Adrian and the ball was flicked on by Roger at the near post and fell kindly over the defender for Dale five yards out, but unfortunately it came at him a little quick and he screwed his shot wide of the post. He knows that a player with his ability should be taking chances like those. The next chance also fell to Dale, who after James and done some terrific work down the left hand side of the box, sent a lovely ball to the back post where it was met with a firm header over the bar, the better choice would have been to allow the ball to fall to Roger but the chance had gone.
Loko created a number of great chances in the first half and should have taken the lead early on and settled the nerves, however, when Madras did occassionally break in to the Loko half, they did look threatening, their number 14 played exceptionally well and a poor backpass by Paul Kelly enabled him to round the keeper, but as he had been forced wide, Rohan made an excellent sliding tackle and the ball went out for a corner.
The reprive did not last long however, five minutes before half time a long free kick from the halfway line, avoided everyone and with Ismail getting in a muddle, the ball bounced over him in to the top right hand corner, against the run of play and with only their second shot of the match. It was a bitter blow when the majority of possession and chances had fallen our way.
Half-Time Score Real Madras FC 1 v Loko 0
The second half started as the first half finished, with Loko on the attack, and that continued for the next 45 minutes. It was a barrage of pressure at times and Madras were performing admirably in defence, chasing everything down and throwing bodies and limbs in the way of shot after shot.
Roger, James and Stefan were creating numerous chances and Roger ran through on goal on a couple of occassions and hit a couple of shots just wide of the post and one across the face of goal which most people thought was in. Stefan hit a few long range efforts and James was using all his creativity around the box to supply the ammunition to fire.
It took a wonderful thirty yard strike from Stefan (Pictured below) to finally get us on the scoresheet, he lined it up and struck it cleanly with the ball dipping just over the keeper and it hit the back of the net to everyones delight.
Half-Time Score Real Madras FC 1 v Loko 0
The second half started as the first half finished, with Loko on the attack, and that continued for the next 45 minutes. It was a barrage of pressure at times and Madras were performing admirably in defence, chasing everything down and throwing bodies and limbs in the way of shot after shot.
Roger, James and Stefan were creating numerous chances and Roger ran through on goal on a couple of occassions and hit a couple of shots just wide of the post and one across the face of goal which most people thought was in. Stefan hit a few long range efforts and James was using all his creativity around the box to supply the ammunition to fire.
It took a wonderful thirty yard strike from Stefan (Pictured below) to finally get us on the scoresheet, he lined it up and struck it cleanly with the ball dipping just over the keeper and it hit the back of the net to everyones delight.
With 25 minutes still to go the game was on and we continued pushing for that vital winner which would have given us a welcome three points. We drove forward and 
Nick imparticular was impressing in a central midfield role, using his fitness to support the attack and help the defence, he was winning all his headers in midfield and appeared to finally find a position which he finds comfortable and natural. Stefan was also playing well, dropping deep and carrying the ball up the left flank in support of Dave W, who was quietly going about his work with the usual effeciency.
Nick imparticular was impressing in a central midfield role, using his fitness to support the attack and help the defence, he was winning all his headers in midfield and appeared to finally find a position which he finds comfortable and natural. Stefan was also playing well, dropping deep and carrying the ball up the left flank in support of Dave W, who was quietly going about his work with the usual effeciency.Unfortunately Dale managed to miscue another 49,000 shots in the second half and I think he could have played all day without scoring if we're being honest. Mark came on in place of Ismail in goal, who had stubbed his finger, and was commanding from the off.
Loko were fortunate in the 80th Minute when a Madras break fell kindly in the box for the striker to hit the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Madras can consider themselves a little unlucky with the call as the referee was a good 40 yards behind play and did not really have the right view to call for offside in that position.
As we entered the last five minutes, Loko were again pressing for the winner, but when a corner kick was cleared by the Madras defence, Loko had made a basic mistake in leaving a one-on-one situation and the supporting Madras midfielders made the difference, as the forward did a dummy allowing an easy run by the midfielder to round Mark and make the score 2-1.
It was a cruel blow for Loko who had been the better team over the 90 minutes, creating the better chances and having a lot more of the possession. It summed up the morning, when in the 90th minute Dale ran through five players on the edge of the Madras box and backheeled the ball to James, who set himself perfectly to strike the ball with the inside of his foot, the ball curled up and away from the goalkeepers despairing dive, and with him well beaten, the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced away to safety.
It was not a deserved defeat, but the old cliche that 'goals win games', has never been more accurate than yesterday. It is hard to stomach, but credit must go to Madras who played with passion, commitment and a strong resolve to keep us at bay. I think we should have a few shooting practices before the next game........!
The match stats were probably as follows:
Possession: Madras 30% Loko 70%
Attempts: Madras 5 Loko 1,540
Attempts on Target: Madras 3 Loko 1
Corners: Madras 3 Loko 249
Ah well, you cannot win them all!
Final Score Real Madras FC 2 v Loko 1
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Adrian
3. Paul K
4. Ivan
5. Rohan
6. Dave W
7. Nick
8. Dale (c)
9. Stefan
10. Roger
11. James
12. Mark (Replaced Ismail 65th Minute)
13. Hakim
Goals
Stefan (1)
70th Minute - A thirty yard strike into the top corner.
Others League Results
Barnes FC 3 v Hendrix FC 5
Celtic 8 v Ladbroke Groovers 1
South Auckland Rangers 1 v West Ken Kings 1
Uncle Bob's FC 2 v Cosmopolitan FC 1
Match Report provided by Dale Mellor and Caretaker Manager comments to follow.
Loko were fortunate in the 80th Minute when a Madras break fell kindly in the box for the striker to hit the back of the net, only for it to be ruled out for offside. Madras can consider themselves a little unlucky with the call as the referee was a good 40 yards behind play and did not really have the right view to call for offside in that position.
As we entered the last five minutes, Loko were again pressing for the winner, but when a corner kick was cleared by the Madras defence, Loko had made a basic mistake in leaving a one-on-one situation and the supporting Madras midfielders made the difference, as the forward did a dummy allowing an easy run by the midfielder to round Mark and make the score 2-1.
It was a cruel blow for Loko who had been the better team over the 90 minutes, creating the better chances and having a lot more of the possession. It summed up the morning, when in the 90th minute Dale ran through five players on the edge of the Madras box and backheeled the ball to James, who set himself perfectly to strike the ball with the inside of his foot, the ball curled up and away from the goalkeepers despairing dive, and with him well beaten, the ball hit the inside of the post and bounced away to safety.
It was not a deserved defeat, but the old cliche that 'goals win games', has never been more accurate than yesterday. It is hard to stomach, but credit must go to Madras who played with passion, commitment and a strong resolve to keep us at bay. I think we should have a few shooting practices before the next game........!
The match stats were probably as follows:
Possession: Madras 30% Loko 70%
Attempts: Madras 5 Loko 1,540
Attempts on Target: Madras 3 Loko 1
Corners: Madras 3 Loko 249
Ah well, you cannot win them all!
Final Score Real Madras FC 2 v Loko 1
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Adrian
3. Paul K
4. Ivan
5. Rohan
6. Dave W
7. Nick
8. Dale (c)
9. Stefan
10. Roger
11. James
12. Mark (Replaced Ismail 65th Minute)
13. Hakim
Goals
Stefan (1)
70th Minute - A thirty yard strike into the top corner.
Others League Results
Barnes FC 3 v Hendrix FC 5
Celtic 8 v Ladbroke Groovers 1
South Auckland Rangers 1 v West Ken Kings 1
Uncle Bob's FC 2 v Cosmopolitan FC 1
Match Report provided by Dale Mellor and Caretaker Manager comments to follow.
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