Sportsmans League Division 3
FC Lonsdale 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 3
El Tel Brace Secures Points
Loko had the luxery this week of having a full fourteen players and two players on standby for an important fixture following up from last weeks win.
The team line up was the same with only the one change with Steve coming in for the absent Ivan. It was also announced that Steve (pictured below) would take over as club captain this season, with Paul Kelly appointed as vice-captain.
It was a decent, if not scrappy start to the game with the majority of play coming through the centre of the park with little of note happening early on. Dave and Thomas started well with Morris in behind and Loko did well to keep getting the ball wide to Peggy who had the beating of his man.Loko took the lead when they won a free-kick on the half-way line, Morris took the kick and floated it into the box, no one took command in the Lonsdale backline and the ball bounced over their outrushing keeper and ROGER followed in and poked home, although I think it would have gone in by itself, but Roger took no chances.
The railwaymen should have doubled their lead when Peggy beat his man on the right, attacked the box and laid off a great ball for Dave who was free in the penalty area but could only hit his shot over the bar, it needed his head over the ball to keep it down.
Lonsdale had had some possession but hadn't looked dangerous until their striker broke too easily through two challenges and drilled in a low shot, Dale thought he had it covered and stuck out his foot but the ball hit a divet and jumped over his foot into the bottom corner, he should have used his body and it was a sloppy goal to concede.
Lonsdale were winning the midfield battle and were first and second to the ball in the later stages of the half, and they had a couple of corners and long range efforts but nothing to really trouble Dale in goal.
Half-Time FC Lonsdale 1 v Loko 1
There was one major point to drill home by Dale at half-time and that was we were not on top of this game because we were losing the battle. It was important that we got on top physically and only then could we get the ball down and play, if you win the ball you have more chance to dominate possession and the chances will come.
Rich came on for Stefano with Ismail moving to left back, and PJ came on for Thomas, both players went off having played well. The Londres were now shooting slightly downhill and this allowed us to pin them back from the off.
Loko dominated from the start of the half and we were finally putting them under pressure on the ball and winning it back consistantly which allowed us to dominate possession and territory.
Terry and Peggy were doing well getting wide and played in a number of great balls that just missed our attacking players. Our second goal came from a slack piece of goalkeeping, when he cleared a ball from the right hand side of his box but could only find TERRY who powered the ball into the empty net from 45 yards out.
Andy came on for Paul K with PJ slotting in at right back and Andy playing attacking midfield. We continued to be solid and Lonsdale got forward occasionally and had a couple of corners but didn't look threatening.
Some nice play in midfield between Dave and Roger played Terry in on the left hand side but he took a touch too many and the keeper came out and blocked when a first time shot would have been better. Dave, Andy and Roger all had chances to shoot but we took to long and made that one pass too many which meant those chances were wasted.
Loko finally made it 3-1 when the ball was again played into TERRY behind the full back and he drilled a great left foot shot under the keeper for a comfortable advantage.
The defence were very solid in the second half and Rich and Steve struck up a useful partnership, keeping them quiet and they did not look a threat.
It was with five minutes left that Lonsdale scored a second, it was a hopeful long ball to the back post that Ismail misjudged and their player brought it down well, Dale slid out and blocked the toe poke but with one hand on the ball their player scuffed the ball across the goal line, PJ and Peggy tried to clear but the ball deflected right into the path of the striker who hit the back of the net.
It was a fairly quiet last few minutes and Loko weren't threatened again and held on to make it two wins out of the last two and took another three points.
Final Score FC Lonsdale 2 v Loko 3
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a game of two halves for us today, in the first half we held the shape well and restricted their chances but we had too little of the ball and kept giving it away. In the second we were much better and won the physical battle which gave us more possession and territory and allowed us to play in the final third creating more chances.
I repeat my comments from last week that if we win the battle then the football takes care of itself, and it showed today. It was a good win against a good opposition and we stood up to the task well.
It was only fair that I started with the same team that won the week before, but everyone's attitude was superb, the subs came on and gave us another dimension and a positive outlook and fitted in brilliantly.
Well done everyone once again."
Team
1. Dale
2. Paul K
3. Stefano
4. Ismail
5. Steve (c)
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Thomas
11. Terry
12. Rich (Replaced Stefano 45th Minute)
13. PJ (Replaced Thomas 45th Minute)
14. Andy (Replaced Paul K 55th Minute)
Goals
Roger (1)
25th Minute - Long free kick missed by the keeper and poked home from three yards.
Terry (2)
50th Minute - Keeper mis-kick and 45 yard shot into the empty net.
75th Minute - Slipped in behind the full-back on the left and slotted under the keeper.
Match of the Match
Terry - Always gave us an outlet on the left and scored with two great finishes, keep it up son. Honourable mention to Steve for a commanding performance at the back and to Dave in midfield who had an excellent workrate today.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
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