Ron Halfacre Challenge Cup Round 1
Eel Brook Rangers 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 (AET)
Loko Lose Battle After Extra Time
For the second time in three weeks Loko came up just short against Eel Brook Rangers in a match that they really should have won, it came down to the team that wanted it most and on this occasion that wasn't Loko.
Another good week for numbers so us with a good thirteen players and the opportunity to gather some consistency with our team, Dale in goal, with a back four of Paul K, PJ, Steve and Ismail, Morris the holding midfielder with Andy and Dave in front, Peggy on the right and Terry on the left and Roger up front. Stefano and Marc started on the bench.Loko were on top in the first twenty minutes, winning the challenges and pressing Rangers back into their final third. Peggy (pictured above) kept finding himself in space down the right and whipped in a few great balls but we did not have enough bodies attacking the box. Shortly after Terry picked the ball up on the edge turned and shot but couldn't control his effort which flew a couple of yards wide.
Rangers created little in the first half, Dale got down to a couple of crosses, fumbling one but doing enough to clear the ball and a couple of headers from corners looped high which Dale took cleanly. Shortly after Roger got in behind on the angle but couldn't find his man in the centre and Andy was teeing up a shot from the edge until Terry poked the ball away from him at the last minute.
A couple of big tackles midway through the half by Eel Brook saw them gather midfield territory and Loko started to lose the battle we had controlled for the first twenty minutes. The rest of the half was scrappy and both sides created little else until the half-time whistle.
Half-Time Eel Brook Rangers 0 v Loko 0
Stefano replaced Morris with Ismail moving into the holding midfield position and Stefano reverting to left back. The half time team talk was similar to previous weeks in that we needed to hold onto the ball better and win those challenges.
Once again Loko came out of the traps quickest and started to find some composure on the ball, we had territory and possession and Peggy was again having a lot of luck down the right hand side twice beating his man to the byline and putting in crosses that nobody could get on the end of. Roger twice beat his man down the same channel but skewed a cross to far beyond the far post and hit the side netting with his other.
Loko finally took a deserved lead when Peggy beat his man yet again and floated a ball onto DAVE'S head which was dragged back from the behind the line by the keeper but the referee awarded the goal as the ball had crossed the line.
The continued on and was again a scrappy midfield battle but slowly Eel Brook got on top and started winning the first and second ball and had a bit of possession on the edge of the Loko box without really threatening other than hitting a couple of shot wide, Dale had not been stretched much but was shortly given a shot to parry around the post but it was comfortable.
Eel Brook equalised out of the blue with just over ten minutes left and it was a catalogue of errors by Loko that gifted them the goal, it was a long throw into the box, Stefano lost the frst header, then both Steve and Ismail miskicked allowing the ball to land at their strikers feet six yards out with time to take a touch and drill home, sloppy would be the word.
It was at this point that Loko heads dropped even though we were still well in the game at 1-1, and this was disappointing to see, we needed strong characters to step up the level and ensure the discipline and shape remained. The game petered out to the end of full time fairly even.
End of 90 Minutes Eel Brook Rangers 1 v Loko 1
Dale had strong words once again trying to get people geed up, and let the players know we were still in it. PJ swapped with Ismail to try and get some physical presence back in the middle of the park. For the third time Loko started better and pinned them back and had much more of the ball in and around their penalty area.
It was against the run of play when they won a free-kick in the centre circle and took it quickly in behind the defence, who were all not switched on and he ran into the edge of the area without a challenge being made and drilled a great shot into the bottom left hand corner.
Extra Time Half Time Eel Brook Rangers 2 v Loko 1
Marc came on for Andy with Terry coming into the centre and Marc playing on the left, and Loko finally started showing some desire with lots of play in and around the area, Peggy hit a couple of crosses into the danger area and PJ did the same but we had no one attacking the right areas again.
Loko continued to press and Roger got the ball out wide on the left and hit a cross to the edge of the area where Terry hit a great volley that the keeper had to parry away and Steve couldn't find a Loko shirt with his subsequent cross.
Eel Brook had a couple of break aways as the Railwaymen pressed for an equaliser and got in down their left but shot straight into Dale's arms.
Loko had one final chance to take us to penalties when the ball was passed nicely through midfield to Peggy on the right, he floated a ball to the back post where PJ was unmarked on the six yard line and could only head a fantastic chance over the angle of crossbar and post when it should have hit the net, every Loko player and fan had their hands on their head.
Extra Time Final Score Eel Brook Rangers 2 v Loko 1
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"I have taken my time and reflected on the game at home and I am quite disappointed with the way it turned out. They have only had about four shots on target all game, and scored with two of them. Both goals were gifted to them, with two failed clearances allowing their striker all the time in the world six yards out, and a lack of concentration with a number of players switching off for their second.
This was a game that was there for the taking and I repeatedly stressed the need to start putting in the challenges but we failed to respond and allowed them to win balls too easily and dominate possession. The fact they created very little throughout the 120 minutes was a credit to the very strong and disciplined backline that stood up well to the challenge, but we needed that throughout the park.
Some players need to listen to instructions and how I want them to play because at times people were doing the exact opposite and it appears to go in one ear then out of the other straight away. If I need to tell you a second time, fine, a third time and that's not acceptable.
We play the leagues bottom team next week so we need to ensure we treat them with respect and outbattle them before we start to play our footy. Let's continue progressing and listen to instructions carefully and follow them through in future."
Team
1. Dale
2. Paul K
3. Ismail
4. PJ
5. Steve (c)
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Andy
9. Roger
10. Dave
11. Terry
12. Stefano (Replaced Morris 45th Minute)
13. Marc (Replaced Andy 105th Minute)
Goals
Dave (1)
55th Minute - A Peggy floated cross was headed down goalwards by Dave, the keeper blocked the ball but only after it had gone over the line and the referee rightly allowed the goal.
Man of the Match
PJ - He started the match well, was solid at the back throughout, and was one of the first to finally start winning some challenges in midfield when he was moved forward in extra time. Was so close to taking us to a penalty shoot out when he found space in their six yard box, shame about the finish.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
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