Match Report: Uncle Bob's FC v Loko

Sunday 15th April 2007
Barnesalona Cup

Uncle Bob's FC 1 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 0

Loko Slump To Disappointing Defeat!

At the start of the day the sun was shining bright over the pitches at Barn Elms and a full squad of fourteen arrived knowing that any result other than a defeat would have seen them play weaker opposition in the semi-finals of the cup competition.

The gaffer started with himself in goal, a back four of Paul, Ivan, Nick and Rohan. Peggy and Dave H took to the wings with Dale and Lineker in the centre. The clubs two leading scorers Roger and Stefan again went up front. That left Ismail, Adrian and James on the bench.

As the game started Loko shot out of the blocks, linking up well and creating chances from the start. The games first chance arrived within the first five minutes, Roger (pictured above) was played through one on one with the keeper by a lovely ball from Stefan, the keeper advanced out of his net and Roger drilled the ball past him, but unfortunately also a yard past the far post, it was almost a dream start for the railwaymen.

The game became quite scrappy in the middle of the park and Dave H and Peggy were providing good outlets in the wide positions for the rest of the team, Dale was winning the headers in the centre and Lineker scrapping at the Bob midfield's ankles.

About twenty minutes in Loko created another close chance, Stefan brought the ball off the right touchline in to the box and played the ball across to Dale who turned right, then back left, created half a yard of space and hit the ball just wide of the keepers post from just inside the penalty area. The chances were there for Loko and more composed finishing should have seen them out of sight by this stage.

Uncle Bob's came into the game more towards the latter end of the half and their tricky right winger caused Ivan allsorts of problems, continually using his pace and darting into the box from the right hand side, from one of these runs, he played a ball into the danger area and it landed to one of their players six yards out, who turned it goalwards only for Nick to make an excellent interception on the goal line and get in the way of any follow up, which they blasted over the bar.

Shortly afterwards a Bob corner came in from the right and was headed clear by Dale, the ball came to their small centre midfielder about 25 yards out who hit it towards the top corner, Jules (pictured left) stretching almost full length managed to produce an excellent tip over the crossbar.

The game was very evenly poised with Loko looking to play neat interchanges of football and Bob's looking long to win set pieces from around the penalty area, which is playing to their strengths.

Half Time Uncle Bob's FC 0 v Loko 0

Jules made three half time substitutions, as the weather was approaching a scorching 27 degrees celcius, Ismail replaced Paul, Adrian replaced Dave H, and James came on in place of Stefan who had pulled his hamstring moments before the referee had blown for half-time.

The second half started in a similar fashion to the first with Loko passing the ball around when they had the chance and Bob's looking to go long and exploit a relatively small Loko back line. Bob's had a few throw in's close to the box which Loko dealt with easily, however, when one of these came out of the area, James (pictured right) made a seemingly inoccuious challenge on the edge of the box, shielding the ball from the opposition well, but the referee thought otherwise giving them a free kick.

This turned out to be the deciding factor of the match as the Bob captain and centre half smacked the ball past the wall and past Jules who hardly got chance to move, let alone get near it. All Loko's early chances on goal, which would have changed the shape of the game appeared to come back to haunt them.

Loko took the game by the scruff of the neck and spent the final thirty minutes in and around the Bob's area, with the opposition reduced to hitting long balls over the top and trying to catch Loko on the counter attack, as Loko poured men forward in search of the equaliser.

Adrian and Nick were combining well down the right hand side and creating crossing opportunities, unfortunately that final ball just failed to find the Loko man at the right time and Bob's defence were putting in overtime. Their defence was big and strong and a very organised unit to break down.

Loko almost breached the defence with about twenty minutes to go, Ismail swung in a free kick, just inside their penalty area Roger brought the ball down and laid it off to Dale, who hit the ball towards the bottom corner, it sailed two inches past the post but had it been on target it would have been the equaliser as the keeper never moved from the spot.

Loko still kept pressing, and after Peggy had won Loko's first corner of the half, Dale whipped in the ball to the six yard box where Ivan (pictured left) hammered his header against the crossbar. It just was not to be Loko's day.

Loko played well in spells and created enough chances to have won this game, Bob's were big, strong and very well organised for a team of this standard, and it is no surprise they are going to finish second in the League and more than likely reach the Cup final this season, let us just hope that we can get there as well and gain revenge on the 29th April.

Final Score Uncle Bob's FC 1 v Loko 0

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

Other Cup Results

Our Group
Celtic 7 v Ladbroke Groovers 3

Other Group
Cosmopolitan FC 1 v Real Madras 1
Hendrix FC 6 v South Auckland Rangers 0

Barnesalona Cup Semi Final Draw (3rd/4th Placed Teams)

21.04.07 Hendrix FC v Barnes FC 10.30am BC

21.04.07 Celtic v Real Madras 2pm BC

James Rettie Cup Semi-Final Draw (1st/2nd Placed Teams)

22.04.07 West Ken Kings v Lokomotiv Londres FC 10.30am BC

22.04.07 Uncle Bob's FC v South Auckland Rangers 2pm BC