Match Report: Loko v Celtic

Sunday 17th December 2006
Barnesalona Cup

Lokomotiv Londres FC 3 v Celtic 2

Celtic Beaten As Loko Go Top!

It was the weekend before Christmas which has always been a weekend in which Loko struggle to get a full squad out, but with the team starting to do well in both cup and league competition, it was great to see a full squad of fourteen turn up for an important match that could have a major bearing on Loko's cup progression this season.

The gaffer made some changes with the return of a number of players to the squad, he himself went in goal, with the now consistent back four of Paul, Ivan, Pete and Rohan. In midfield was Stefan on the right, Ismail on the left and a return of the centre midfield partnership of Dave W and Dale. James and Roger continued their fruitful partnership up front. On the bench was Stephen, Adrian and Steve Whitely.

Loko started in a fashion that they had seemed to have overcome, which was very slowly and Celtic's first attack down the right saw a simple ball played into the box which Pete swung at and missed completely and the striker hit the ball over the angle of crossbar and post. A few more Celtic attacks were more easily dealt with and it wasn't until ten minutes had passed that Loko started to take control of proceedings and dictated play for the rest of the half.

The first goal came when Roger (pictured left) ran into the channel onto a quality through ball from Dave W, he used his quick turn of pace to clear the defender and slot the ball into the bottom corner. It was a now customary goal for the club captain who is showing the kind of form that may well make him the League's top scorer this season, and I'm sure the team will supply him with the ammunition to make this a reality. He is now up to 14 goals for the season and his reputation is growing by the week.

Ismail and Stefan started to find some space on the wings and some of the football through the midfield four was superb. Celtic's inability to get hold of the ball saw them continually give freekicks away in their own half. Dale floated a dangerous ball in from the left which was well dealt with by the Celtic defence, another freekick from the halfway line should have resulted in Loko taking the lead when Pete got in behind the defence but as the ball came down, with only the keeper to beat he couldn't quite connect.

It was to be third time lucky though as Loko got a freekick on the right side of the 18 yard box, Dale curled a ball in behind the defence but away from the keeper and Stefan (pictured right) stole in at the back post to head and shoulder it back across goal to leave the keeper stranded. This was all that Loko deserved after dominating the last 25 minutes of the match.

Loko had other chances with Dale shooting wide on the turn from 25 yards out, Ismail nearly ran through and the boys were playing some of their best football of the season. The half was somewhat spoiled when in the last minute of the half, a long ball from a freekick just inside Celtic's own half was headed on by their big striker Eddie, Julian failed to spot the flight of the ball and missed his punch allowing another player to bundle it over the line. That was the last action of the half.

Half-Time Loko 2 v Celtic 1

Julian's team talk at half-time was that we were by far the better team and another half like the one just gone could see us top the cup table into the New Year. The only change was Stephen replacing Ismail on the left wing. The Celtic players were upset because a member of their squad had timed the half at 41 minutes and this issue had already been brought up at the League Managers meeting, they rightly complained to the referee that this is unfair on all the players concerned who pay for a full 90 minutes.

The second half got off to a slow start with neither team dominating possession, Loko as usual trying to play the ball around and find space on the wings. Celtic with their more direct style of hitting the ball long to play off their striker Eddie. Unfortunately, five minutes in to the second half and Celtic equalised, as a seemingly harmless ball in behind Paul at right back was latched onto by the Celtic winger who managed to squeeze the ball into Julian's near post.

Loko heads could have gone down at this stage but within five minutes we had regained the lead, the ball was played through first Dave W and then Dale, who laid the ball off to James (pictured left) 25 yards out, who curled the ball delightfully into the top right hand corner of the net.

Dale departed on the hour mark as no game in four weeks prior had taken its toll, and Adrian replaced him in a straight swap in the middle of the park. Stephen was working like a trouper and on numerous occasions skinned his man down the left wing and proceeded to supply Roger and James with posession in the last third of the field. Everyone was working hard at closing down the ball and stifling Celtic when they had possession.

James came off to a standing ovation from the Loko crowd of five, to be replaced by Steve W with 15 minutes left on the referees watch, or so we thought. The boys were defending Celtics barrage of long balls into the box astutely, and a number of corners in the last few minutes didn't help. The referee according to our timing of the second half played 52 minutes and the boys had to hang in for a full seven minutes of injury time.

The final whistle blew and Loko went top of the cup group for the first time, thanks to Uncle Bob and Barnes drawing 4 a piece. Fate is now in Loko's own hands because winning our next three games would see us top the group regardless of Uncle Bob's result in their game in hand.

An excellent Christmas lunch followed with 16 of the 20 players on the squad list attending. A wonderful turn out and a great way to end the year. The club would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year in 2007.

Final Score Loko 3 v Celtic 2

Team Line Up
1. Julian
2. Paul
3. Ivan
4. Rohan
5. Pete
6. Dave W
7. Stefan
8. Dale
9. James
10. Roger (c)
11. Ismail
12. Stephen (Replaced Ismail 45th Minute)
13. Adrian (Replaced Dale 60th Minute)
14. Steve W (Replaced James 75th Minute)

Goals
Roger (1)
20th Minute - A lovely through ball by Dave W was chased down by Roger who held off the defender and slipped the ball into the keepers far corner.
Stefan (1)
35th Minute - Dale's perfectly flighted free-kick from the corner of the 18 yard box behind the defence, was met by Stefan who headed it into far side of the net.
James (1)
55th Minute - Some good persistance by Roger enabled the ball to fall kindly to James 25 yards out, who took one touch and curled the ball brilliantly into the top corner.

Other Cup Results

Our Group
Barnes FC 4 v Uncle Bob's FC 4

Other Group
Real Madras FC 2 v Hendrix FC 0
West Ken Kings 4 v Cosmopolitan FC 2

Match Report Provided by Dale Mellor.