Barnesalona League
Lokomotiv Londres FC 6 v Cosmopolitan FC 0
Cosmo Hit For Six By Rampant Loko
Another polished performance against the league's bottom side ensured that Loko finished in fourth position, four points clear of fifth, which is a place higher than last season.
Jules returned in goal and as Pete did not appear and Rohan started as sub, a makeshift back four of Paul, Ismail, Nick and Ivan took to the field. The midfield started with Dale and Adrian in the centre, with Peggy on the left and Dave H on the right. Up front was Stefan and Roger. Lineker made a welcome return to the subs bench alongside Rohan.
The game started brightly and Loko got into their stride from the off, the defence looking solid with the midfield winning the early challenges. Roger led the line as usual with Stefan dropping a little deeper to create in the hole between the defence and midfield of the opposition.Peggy and Dave H both had early shots which whistled over the bar and Adrian and Dale were pushing forward when the opportunity arose. The first goal arrived about 20 minutes in, Peggy played Roger in down the left hand side of the box, he skinned his man by the touchline and floated the ball to the far post where Stefan (pictured above) had the easiest goal of the season to head in from two yards.
This galvanised Loko who went in search of the second, Adrian had two long range attempts both rising just enough to clear the crossbar, some good interplay down the left between Adrian and Peggy saw the latter lay the ball across the edge of the penalty box where Dale drove a ball which skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Cosmo came into the game a little more towards the end of the half and won a handful of corners, and from one of these Paul on the near post misjudged the flight and handled on the line. The referee awarded a penalty, the striker strode up to the ball and struck it firmly out of Julians reach, but unfortunately for him the ball smacked the outside of the upright and bounced away to safety.
Almost immediately Loko made the leagues newest team pay. Roger had run the channel well and proceeded to win a corner. He took this short with Peggy who floated a ball to the back post, where Stefan headed home from a distance four yards this time, it was an almost identical finish to the first.
There was not time for much more action, and after a few minutes of a midfield tussle the referee blew for half time.
Half Time Loko 2 v Cosmopolitan FC 0
The gaffer made some changes at half-time, Dave W replaced Adrian, and Rohan came on in place of Ivan at left back. The message was to produce much of the same and ensure that we did not sit back now we had a two goal cushion.
This galvanised Loko who went in search of the second, Adrian had two long range attempts both rising just enough to clear the crossbar, some good interplay down the left between Adrian and Peggy saw the latter lay the ball across the edge of the penalty box where Dale drove a ball which skimmed the top of the crossbar.
Cosmo came into the game a little more towards the end of the half and won a handful of corners, and from one of these Paul on the near post misjudged the flight and handled on the line. The referee awarded a penalty, the striker strode up to the ball and struck it firmly out of Julians reach, but unfortunately for him the ball smacked the outside of the upright and bounced away to safety.
Almost immediately Loko made the leagues newest team pay. Roger had run the channel well and proceeded to win a corner. He took this short with Peggy who floated a ball to the back post, where Stefan headed home from a distance four yards this time, it was an almost identical finish to the first.
There was not time for much more action, and after a few minutes of a midfield tussle the referee blew for half time.
Half Time Loko 2 v Cosmopolitan FC 0
The gaffer made some changes at half-time, Dave W replaced Adrian, and Rohan came on in place of Ivan at left back. The message was to produce much of the same and ensure that we did not sit back now we had a two goal cushion.
The response was what the manager was after, as Loko dominated the second half in terms of possession and chances. It didn't take long for the third goal to arrive, the ball bounced up inside the centre circle just inside Loko's half, Dale (pictured left) challenged his Cosmo counterpart and came away with the ball and advanced into the oppositions half. With the defenders backing away and Dale ahead of the Cosmo midfield he kept advancing to around 35 yards from goal and hit a sweetly struck shot into the top corner.Cosmopolitan heads had now dropped and a fourth goal followed shortly after, a mazy run from midfield and a good one-two saw Peggy (pictured below) run through on goal, round the keeper and score an excellent goal. Similar to the one he scored against these three weeks ago.
The game opened up now and Loko made space aplenty down both flanks, with Dave H making the most of the space he was afforded down the right flank. He sent in a number of crosses that could have ended up in the back of the net, the most notable being a superb right wing delivery for Stefan to head wide as he was stretching a little too much. It would have been an easier chance for Dale at the far post but Stefan did not hear the call from the midfielder.The fifth goal arrived with around 20 minutes left, Dale won the ball in midfield, he laid the ball off to Dave on the right flank, he knocked the ball inside to Stefan, who laid the ball through for Roger (pictured below) to run onto and hit the ball into the bottom corner, a superbly worked goal from a now confident team.
Roger was still creating space in the wings and many of the Loko midfield were now bombing forward hoping the crosses would land at their feet.The sixth goal came as a result of good pressure. Dale pressured their centre midfielder in the centre of the park who laid the ball back to the edge of the box, Dale continued pressuring and forced the defender into a mistake, as the ball ran loose the defender hacked at Dale's legs and brought him to the floor, however, Roger picked up the loose ball and slid it neatly past the keeper for number six.It was a good performance and finished the League campaign off in style, however, the season really begins now as we face Uncle Bob's in our last cup group game, that we must avoid defeat in to ensure our semi-final is played against South Auckland Rangers, then hopefully the final.
Final Score Loko 6 v Cosmopolitan FC 0
Team Line Up
1. Julian
2. Paul
3. Ivan
4. Ismail
5. Nick
6. Adrian
7. Dave H
8. Dale
9. Stefan
10. Roger (c)
11. Stephen
12. Dave W (Replaced Adrian 45th Minute)
13. Rohan (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
Goals
Stefan (2)
20th Minute - Roger got to the byline and floated a ball to the back post for Stefan to head in.
40th Minute - Peggy crossed from the right hand side of the box for Stefan to nod in from close range.
Dale (1)
55th Minute - He won the ball in a midfield tussle, advanced to 35 yards out and struck the ball into the top corner
Stephen (1)
60th Minute - A mazy run from midfield with a neat one-two enabled him to run through on goal and round the keeper.
Roger (2)
75th Minute - A great passing build up saw Stefan send Roger through and he hammered it into the bottom corner.
80th Minute - Dale pressurised the centre midfielder and then defender into a mistake, enabling Roger to pick up the pieces and slide the ball home past the keeper.
Other League Results
Hendrix FC 2 v Uncle Bob's FC 3
Ladbroke Groovers 4 v Real Madras 1
South Auckland Rangers 1 v Celtic 7
West Ken Kings 6 v Barnes FC 2
Lokomotiv Londres FC Final League Position: 4th
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