Match Report: Loko v West Ken Kings

Sunday 5th October 2008
Barnesalona League

Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 v West Ken Kings 3

Result Lost Near End Yet Again!

The curse of Loko struck once again, playing superb and on top for 80 minutes of the match, only to lose concentration and concede twice in the last ten minutes.

A bear eleven turned up yet again for the Railwaymen with Dale in goal, a back four of Ivan, PJ, Steve and Ismail. The midfield quartet of Adrian, Andrea, Eirik and a debut for Stephen Rowan, with James and Roger up top.

Loko finally got off to a magnificent start, in horrible weather, they attacked from the start and heeded my instructions to give Kings no time on the ball. The midfield was pressing well and defence cleaning up anything that came near them.

The goal arrived after ten minutes when the ball came down the left through Eirik and a Loko man drilled the ball across goal towards the back post, the keeper fumbled when sliding out and Roger knocked the loose ball into the back of the net for a well deserved lead. It was no less than the boys deserved.

The team still got forward whenever they had chance and hit a number of balls into the penalty area to no avail. It was a shocking refereeing decision that almost let Kings back into the game, he gave a penalty for Eirik slipping in a puddle and hitting the ball with his hand. The striker stepped up and Dale stuck out a hand which parried the ball to the left and a tame rebound by the attacker rebounded off Dale, off a defender and back into Dale's hands.

The game became a scrappy affair in the horrible conditions with puddles all over the pitch, Eirik and Andrea were scrapping well and the defence playing solid all over the backline. However, the equaliser came ten minutes before half-time when the striker turn on the edge of the box got half a yard and struck it into the top corner. The rest of the half was played out in the Kings half but with no real chances of note.

Half-Time Loko 1 v West Ken Kings 1

Dale changed the team around at half-time putting Adrian in at right back and moving Ismail to the left wing and Eirik inside where he would hopefully continue to win the battles in the air and on the ground, Dale sent the team out with the caution that so far this season we have collapsed in the second half of games with a dip in concentration and it was important to get stuck in from the first whistle.

The boys took the talk seriously and continued to press them from the off, winning a couple of early corners that were cleared after goalmouth scrambles, once such clearance landing at PJ's feet 35 yards out which he sent back towards goal, only denied when it smashed back off the crossbar. Shortly afterwards Eirik ran through just left of centre of goal and hit the ball wide when there was three waiting at the back post

Eirik had another shot just wide from the edge of the box and it was good to see the team getting off some shots from the edge of the area, which is something that the gaffer is looking to improve this season.

Whenever WKK did get forward they were easily keep at bay by strong performance from Ivan and Steve, and imparticular PJ who was having a fantastic game at the back sweeping up everything that came in behind. Loko up until this point had more shots, possession and were edging the game.

It was too good to be true that Dale had not touched the ball in the second half until he picked the ball out of the net after 80 minutes. He had been shouting fo concentration the previous five minutes and unfortunately a free kick just inside Loko territory showed a lack thereof. The ball was swung into the back post where two Kings players were completely unmarked six yards out to take the ball down and poke past the keeper.

Five minutes later and a poor Loko clearance found a Kings man on the edge of the box and he smashed the ball into the bottom corner with Dale unsighted due to Adrian closing down. In the space of five minutes we were on top and dominating and suddenly we were 3-1 down with fiv minutes to play. An excuse of fitness could be heard eminating from the squad but both goals were not down to fitness, but lack of concentration, bad marking and a poor clearance.

The boys were visably shaken but responded in the right way and went on the offensive again, Roger got behind the defence, rounded the keeper and pulled the ball back to Stephen who got in front of the defender and knocked the ball towards goal only to see a defender get back on the line and clear with a outstretched foot.

Final Score Loko 1 v West Ken Kings 3

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Looking positively at the game we were the better team for the first 75-80 minutes and shaded the game against the top of the table. The defence was solid, midfield battling and forwards laying the ball off well, the only downside was that our final ball wasn't always there when it was needed.

I stressed this after the game but I need everyone to look at that second half performance and note the similar patten in our games, we dominate for long periods but lack the ability to see out results or go on and get that win. I want everyone to start or learn to communicate better, it is a vital part of football, it is a team game and everyone needs to encourage and shout for the ball when you don't have it. This is an area of our performance that I will be monitoring closely in the next few weeks and it could have a massive affect on my team selection.

I cannot fault the effort of everyone, well done on a battling performance and lets start going on to win these games."

Team Line Up
1. Dale
2. Ismail
3. Ivan
4. PJ
5. Steve
6. Andrea
7. Stephen R
8. Adrian
9. James
10. Roger (c)
11. Eirik

Goal
Roger
10th Minute - A ball across the box was spilled by the keeper and Roger followed into score.

Man of the Match
PJ - Dominated the game from the back, played the sweeper position superbly and never gave their forwards a look in, also had a superb long range effort come back of the bar. Keep it up son.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.