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Deportivo De Brentford 3 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1
Loko Defeat After Dominant Display
The first game of the season you either love or you hate. It is a chance to get back into football after a summer of sun, sea and ashes wins, or it is the dreaded first game where your lack of fitness really shines through.
Loko had a great turnout for the first game with thirteen attending in all, but already the Club had two no shows, and for one of those people, it was the last straw with this happening on a number of occasions last season and that player will no longer be involved.
Ismail kindly agreed to go in goal, we had a back four of Ivan, Dale, Rich and Paul K, centre midfield pairing of Mike and Andy with Terry and Peggy on the flanks. Samuel and Roger started the game up front. The referee and opposition allowed us to make regular substitions so Dave knew he wouldn't have to wait long to get on, and Chris did the opposition a favour by agreeing to play for them so that we could enjoy an 11-a-side game with them only having ten men. Ivan (pictured) took the captain's armband.
It was a stong start to the game from the Railwaymen with the ball being played to feet nicely and the centre midfield two demanding the ball and playing in the wingers as much as possible. The first chances fell Loko's way with both Roger and Samuel having shots saved by the keeper after good build up play. Shortly after Mike had a fizzing shot that went just past the post.
Deportivo finally began to get into the game and scored with their first real attempt. Andy tried to reach a long kick from their keeper but could only head it backwards towards Paul who was slow to react and the forward got in behind with Paul trailling in his wake. Rich or Dale should have made a covering tackle but neither were on the ball this early in the game and he slid the ball into the bottom corner.
Shortly after the striker got away again but Ismail came out and made a fantastic block with his right foot and they proceeded to head the corner wide of goal. This spurred Loko on and there followed a barrage of attempts at goal, Peggy got in behind the defenders and pulled the ball back twice for Dave to blast over, Terry was played in behind but scuffed his shot when he was one on one with the keeper. Roger turned his man in the area on three occasions and forced two fine saves and saw another effort go inches wide.
The final action of the half saw Loko denied what looked to be a legal goal, when some nice interchanges around the edge of the box saw Mike run from behind the line onto a through ball and slot past the keeper with a good finish, only for it to be ruled out for a confusing offside.
Half-Time Deportivo De Brentford 1 v Loko 0
The second half started as the first ended with Loko enjoying most of the possession and slowly working their way deeper into Deportivo territory. With subs coming on and off during the game Peggy found himself on the touchline and kept retrieving the ball when it was being booted out of play by the opposition.
Deportivo turned to a long ball game and kept hitting balls hoping for their front man to win the header so that the other could run onto. Rich and Dale both did good work in keepng the front two generally quiet and Rich made a couple of fantastic tackles chasing the striker who was one on one.
Loko had numerous chances to get back into the game, Roger had two one on ones with the keeper from the left angle which saw the keeper save one and the other go across the face of goal and agonisingly wide. Terry also cut in from the right and drilled the ball low at the keeper, the ball went past his front leg hit his back leg and span the wrong side of the post.Deportivo, as in the first half scored with pretty much their first attempt of the half. They won a corner which was taken short and the player ran in from the byline and played a ball across the goalmouth where the big striker got in front of Rich and sidefooted home. A third came minutes later when Mike was back defending and attempted to clear the ball only to whack the back of the strikers legs who had nipped in front of him, no blame attached though as he was quite hard to spot......!
Loko went on the offensive again and, as throughout the game, enjoyed the lions share of possession, territory and chances. The goal finally came with a bit of the old route one, Peggy, who had come on for an injured Ivan, chipped one over the defence and ROGER (pictured) ran through on goal and neatly slotted past the keeper.
It didn't stop there, Terry twce cut in from the right after nice link up play with Mike and Andy and cut it back for Dave, who didn't quite get over either shot and skied them both. Roger than played a one-two with Dave and was through on goal again only to see the ball hit the keepers legs.
Deportivo had a couple of late corners which were easily dealt with by Loko, and after a misjudged Dale header the striker hit a shot from the edge of the box which went narrowly wide. Dale almost brought the scores closer when he went forward for a corner and found space in the box but was just stretching too far and saw his header go wide.
Final Score Deportivo De Brentford 3 v Loko 1
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"For the first game of the season I thought it was a fantastic performance. Granted the result says the opposite but in terms of possession, terrority and chances we came out on top in every category.
We had a number of new recruits and it will take a while for us all to gel, but this was a promising start. There are a number of regular players to come back also, so if we can get good numbers each week then there will be competition for places and hopefully we can get some consistency and do well in our new league.
Let us make sure we get over the ball when shooting and become a little more clinical, because all that was missing was some match sharpness and fitness."
Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. Paul K
3. Ivan (c)
4. Dale
5. Rich
6. Andy
7. Peggy
8. Mike
9. Roger
10. Samuel
11. Terry
12. Dave (Various On/Off Substitutions)
13. Chris (Played for opposition)
Goal
Roger (1)
70th Minute - Ball over the top by Peggy and slipped past the keeper.
Man of the Match
Roger Barnes - It was a close run decision, Mike and Rich came in and played extremely well and were unlucky to miss out, but I thought Roger's hold up play and his ability to turn the defender was a particular highlight today, lets just start to take more of our chances. Well done to everyone.
Match Report provided by Dale Mellor.
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