Barnesalona Cup Semi-Final
West Ken Kings 3 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 AET (FT 1-1)
Loko Edged Out in Extra Time
The weather was such that we were blessed with a game of football finally on a chilly February Sunday morning. This weekend we had a squad of thirteen players and a warm welcome was given to two debutees Joe and Simon. The team lined up with Ismail going in goal, a back four of Ivan, Steve, Dale and PJ, two defensive midfielders in Adrian and Dave with Pete playing further forward in central midfield. On the wings we had James and Stefan with Roger up top on his own, and both new players Joe and Simon starting on the bench.
Loko got off to a strong start and were controlling play, winning the challenges at the back and strongly contesting midfield. We were successful when we got the ball down, but on too many occasions early on we were not bringing the ball under control and showing composure to find our teammates on the floor.Roger, Stefan and James continually found space down the channels but couldn't produce the quality of cross needed to find our men pushing into the box. At the other end Dale and Steve had the defence well organised and in the first half, they didn't produce a shot on target to trouble Ismail despite numerous corners, with Dale and Steve dominating their forwards.
Late on in the half, Pete had a couple efforts on goal which just cleared the crossbar.
Half-Time West Ken Kings 0 v Loko 0
The second half started and two changes saw Joe come on at left back for Ivan and Simon come on for Adrian in midfield, both making their debuts. Loko continued in the manner they finished the first half and twice Roger got away down the left but couldn't get the ball into the danger zone winning corners on both occasions.
Against the run of play, Kings took the lead when the right winger drilled an early ball into the box, Pete tried to clear the ball but only succeeded in stopping the ball six yards out allowing the Kings player a sidefoot home past Ismail and Kings had scored with their first shot on target.
Loko still tried to play the better football and Simon was providing a useful link between Roger and the midfield by continually finding space and calling for the ball, but on too many occasions the ball didn't find him, but that should change when we all get used to playing with him.
The equaliser came on the hour mark when the ball found its way to Stefan on the edge of the box who curled the ball into the top corner and shows what can happen when Loko decides to have a SHOT!!!
Loko shaded the rest of the half and had plenty of possession around the final third but too often there was not enough composure on the final ball. Kings had a couple of long range efforts just wide and thought they had won a penalty when Dale hacked his legs out from under the striker in the box, but they failed to acknowledge that the striker had pushed him in the back into Ismail and the referee gave a corner.
Loko ended the match as they had started it, in the Kings final third but again couldn't play that final ball to set Roger away. Despite dominating the first half and shading the second Loko were heading for extra time.
Full-Time Score West Ken Kings 1 v Loko 1
Ten minutes each way of extra time began and the first signs were seen of Loko running out of steam and Kings getting on top. Loko were beinning to lose shape and the defensive midfielders were being pulled out of position.
Twice Dale made covering challenges and kept Kens at bay and Dave was working overtime with his challenges in midfield. The breakthrough for Kings came when a punt from the right made it way through a crowded box and the fell kindly for a toe poke into the bottom corner, and that was Kings second shot on target of the match.
Half-time in extra time came and went and Kings were again fortunate for their next goal, when for a third time Dale and Steve challenged in the penalty area and the ball fell kindly for a third six yard tap in of the match. All three goals had come from fortunate bounces in the penalty area.
Loko were still in and around the Kings penalty area unable to play the right ball, James had a great chance at the far post to play the ball across the face of goal for an easy tap in, but with his head down chipped a ball to the far post where no one was waiting.
Loko had a great chance to score again straight after when the ball was played in from the right the keeper parried and both Roger and Simon couldn't quite pounce on the lose ball, as unfortunately it didn't fall kindly for us.
Final Score (After Extra Time) West Ken Kings 3 v Loko 1
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"I cannot fault any player, as everyone battled hard and worked their socks off for the team giving 110%. The team shape held fantastically over the 90 minutes but fell away during extra time, which is when they found space and took the attacking momentum away from us, and ultimately I think we lost the game because they were fitter than us during extra time, but from that main 90 minute performance I thought we had the better shape and were technically better.
In future matches I want us to work on the choices we make in the final third, we always think too much and look to play that extra pass when a shot is there for the taking, or panic on the ball when we need that final cross or pass into the area.
Our last four results over 90 minutes have been lisbarnes 1-1, madras 3-0, celtic 0-1 and wkk 1-1, that means that over the last four games we have played the top three teams in our league and only conceded three goals and drawn with the top two. When we play to our potential we can match and beat everyone and I want everyone to remember that.
Again, keep your heads up as it was a great performance on Sunday, a little more composure and the result could have been much different."
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. PJ
3. Ivan
4. Dale
5. Steve
6. Adrian
7. James
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Pete
11. Stefan (c)
12. Simon (Replaced Adrian 45th Minute)
13. Joe (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
Goal
Stefan (1)
60th Minute - Received the ball just outside the area, on the left hand side of the box and curled over the keeper into the roof of the net.
Man of the Match
Dave (pictured top) - It was a tough choice today as many players did a cracking job, but thought Dave covered a lot of ground and put in loads of great challenges.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
No comments:
Post a Comment