Match Report: Loko v J-Gaia

Saturday 23rd May 2009
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Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 v J-Gaia 5

Step too far for stratch Loko line-up

On a very hot afternoon, Loko only managed to get a basic eleven players once again and only seven of the Tournoi squad showed. We again had a new player with Mark fresh of the boat from Toronto, Canada kindly coming along to make up the numbers.

Ismail went in goal, with a back four of Chris C, Steve, Dale and Ivan, midfield of Mark on the right, Fabrizio on the left, with Said and Stefan in the centre and Mark Bullock and Samuel up front.

The opposition had what appeared to be an average age of 17, looked fit and speedy, and as though they would never stop running, the next 90 minutes were not going to be easy. There was a big onus on us holding our shape and retaining the ball, pressuring them when they had the ball and closing down the space for them to work in.

Loko started on the back foot and were chasing the ball around from the start, they had plenty of possession but were not troubling us in the last third, a couple of long balls aside that were dealt with at the last moment, Ismail was not troubled. Out of nowhere they took the lead, a long ball was headed sideways at full stretch by Dale and the striker picked up the ball, Steve couldn't close him down quick enough and he lobbed Ismail from 30 yards, with Ismail too far off his line.

Dale changed the formation to 4-5-1 and tried to pack midfield and close the gaps, when we occasionally got forward we overcomplicated things and tried to make numerous small passes into people who were being tightly marked, Samuel picked the ball up on the edge of the box and drilled the ball at goal but the keeper gathered easily.

Mark was having a good debut, working hard and continually found space and wanted the ball into his feet. The defence were solid and everyone was working hard for each other. Unfortunately two minutes before half-time Dale swept a ball up at the back and felt a strain on his quad again and was hobbling until the break.

Half-Time Loko 0 v J-Gaia 1

There were changes at half-time with Dale going in goal, Said moving to centre back with Mark moving to the centre alongside Stefan and Mark Bullock and Ismail on the right wing.

Both sides were battling each other in midfield and Loko were playing far too high a defensive line with no linesman and they soon slipped a ball through for the striker to run through one on one and slip past Dale. Dale told the defence to sit little deeper but this fell on deaf ears and five minutes later a little one two sent the striker away again and with no covering defender he again slipped it past Dale who got a hand to the ball but couldn`t keep it out.

Loko heads went and people started to lose concentration as they became more tired, it was important to keep the shape, mark your players and keep it tight, which would have been the easiest way of conserving energy, not having to chase 30 yards to get a challenge in.

The best chance of the game came and went as Mark B was played in one on one but couldn`t get any power in his shot and chipped into the keepers hands. Ismail then broke free down the right and sent a shot across the face of goal and a yard wide of the post, when Mark B was free running in on the penalty spot.

The fourth J-Gaia goal arrived with a two on one counter attack from our corner, it was a bad sign that Dale had to call Fabrizio back from their six yard box because they had a two on one over Said but he couldn`t get back in time and they broke and yet another one on one ended in the same result and Dale this time got his leg to the ball but it sneaked in.

Loko should have scored when Samuel failed to find Stefan who would have been clear and passed the other way, but Stefan was fed by Mark B shortly after and he drilled home. They scored another one on one shortly after, and it was sad to see four one on ones in one half, which had not happened at any time during the season.

They had numerous other shots which Dale kept out either at full stretch or with his legs and this kept the score down.

Final Score Loko 1 v J-Gaia 5

Manager Dale Mellor`s comments:
"It was a difficult game all around, we had a makeshift team against lots of youngsters and fitness was a big difference between the two teams. It was important to hold the shape and keep tight to our men but in the second half we failed to do either.

I have to say that some people's attitude to constructive critcism is appalling, if the basics are not being done then you will be told, i'm sick of the constant argument from players and excuses that come from certain individuals. Everyone was tired, but actually doing the basics correctly would have saved you energy, if you are out of position and not picking up then you have to work harder getting back into position chasing down your men. We should have been tight and compact but we were the opposite.

I do not accept the argument that they were just younger and fitter, on that basis we should win the Tournoi every year, but we don't because the older teams do the basics right, today we didn't. It is a game to put behind us, Dale's injury, a bad defeat and only seven Tournoi players, let's get off to Italy."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Chris C
3. Ivan
4. Dale
5. Steve
6. Said
7. Mark
8. Stefan (c)
9. Mark B
10. Samuel
11. Fabrizio

Goal
Stefan (1)
75th Minute - Mark B slid him in and he drilled a ball in off the crossbar.

Man of the Match
Mark - Impressive debut in difficult circumstances, put himself about, comfortable on the ball and popped up all around the pitch.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.