Sportsman League Division 3
Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4
Rangers Lose to Roger & Daley Double
It was a good turnout of twelve that arrived at the best pitches this team have ever played on in London, and we were out warming up in plenty of time before kick off.
It was to be a 4-4-2 formation with Terry kindly going in goal, a back four of Ivan and Morris at full backs with Steve and Stefano in the centre, Peggy and Ismail on the wings with Paul K (pictured above) defensive midfield and Dave attacking midfield, in the centre. Dale and Roger went up front with Marc on the bench.
Loko started very well and pinned them back early on, with Morris and Peggy imparticular getting a lot of room down the right hand side and linking well with Dale, Dave and Roger inside. Any early breaks from Rangers were being snuffed out by Paul who started very well in the centre, winning the ball and playing nice easy balls.
The first chance came when Ismail played Roger through on the angle, he hit a low shot that the keeper saved and the ball came out to the edge where Dale beat his man, and drilled a low shot at goal which was cleared off the line by the defender. Moments later Loko won a corner which was played short by Peggy to Roger, who played it back and Peggy swung a ball to the back post where Dale won the header but put the ball a yard over the top.
Loko's goal had not been under pressure at all and the Railwaymen finally took a deserved lead with a bit of route one, a Terry goalkick was flicked on by Dale and ROGER ran clear and superbly lobbed the keeper from the edge of the box.
Paul and Dave kept the challenges coming in midfield and Dale and Roger were causing the defenders all sorts of problems up front, Steve was marshalling a very organised defence who had all played well and Loko lead at the break.
Half-Time Worcester Park Rangers 0 v Loko 1
The wind got up at half time and the rain started to fall in the direction of our goal, and the focus of the team talk was to keep the ball on the floor, keep it tight and keep the concentration for the next forty five minutes.
Loko started as they had finished the previous half, on top putting them under pressure and winning the challenges all over the park. Roger got in behind by turning the defender on a couple of occasions but didn't quite get his shot away, and Dale had an effort blocked by the centre back.
The second came when Stefano won a great ball at the back, laid it in to Dave who found Roger on the edge of the box, DALE dropped off and Roger laid it off and Dale struck the ball from about 25 yards out just outside the box and the swerve on the ball left the keeper stranded, the wind may have helped as well.....!
For the first time in a while, Loko didn't let up and five minutes later Ivan found Ismail on the left wing who swung a ball into Roger who flicked it on and DALE watched the ball all the way over his shoulder and hit a volley into the bottom corner from ten yards out on the right side of the area, which gave the keeper no chance.
The Railwaymen were flying now and it was moments later when Paul played the ball into Roger on the edge of the area and laid it off to Dale, Dale played the ball wide to Ismail who skinned his man and played a curling ball from the touchline in behind the defence and ROGER got his brace slotting past the keeper.
Marc came on for Morris who had played really well at right back and moments later the heavens opened and rain and hail halted play for about five minutes until it died down and the game was able to re-start. This affected Loko's momentum and Rangers came back into the match with some sustained pressure but the backline looked solid.
Loko almost got in again when Roger went one-on-one after Ismail sent him away but as he lifted it over the keeper, the keeper got his hand to the ball and deflected it away.
With five minutes left, a sloppy goal brought Worcester back into the game, a corner was only half-cleared and the ball back into the box found their player who looped it goalwards and it managed to find the top corner yet again.
Loko re-started and within seconds could have extended their lead when Dale challenged on the half-way line beat the defender to the second ball, knocked it past him and went one-on-one and just as he pulled the trigger in the area the defender made a fantastic slide tackle and deflected the ball for a corner.
Loko concentration wavered one last time when Dale cleared a corner with a header to the edge of the box, tried to close down the second shot but couldn't get there and a big deflection off a Loko defender gave them a second that wasn't really deserved as Loko had dominated the majority of the match and should have won by a greater margin.
Final Score Worcester Park Rangers 2 v Loko 4
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"Well a fantastic performance from all twelve players who contributed to a very good victory that just about keeps us in touch with those at the top. Well disciplined, much more vocal and I'm glad that everyone listened to me before the game and went out and enjoyed themselves.
The chance is there for us to go on a good run with our next couple of games, but we need to perform like this every time we step out onto the pitch.
Brilliant today and good finishing by Roger and surprisingly by myself... ...who knew. Terry did well in goal and thanks for going in.
Well done."
Team Line Up
1. Terry
2. Morris
3. Ivan
4. Stefano
5. Steve (c)
6. Paul K
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Dale
11. Ismail
12. Marc (Replaced Morris 60th Minute)
Goals
Roger (2)
35th Minute - Terry goal kick flicked by Dale and Roger ran through and lobbed the keeper.
60th Minute - Ismail played a great ball behind the defence from the touchline and Roger slotted home.
Dale (2)
50th Minute - A Roger lay off was hit home and wrong footed the keeper from 25 yards out.
55th Minute - Ismail's cross was flicked on by Roger and Dale hit a volley into the bottom corner as the ball dropped over his shoulder.
Man of the Match
Paul K - Played fantastic in that holding midfield role, very rarely ventured out of position, provided great support in front of the defence, won tackles and headers and played the nice simple balls when he won possession. Very well played. Honourable mention to Dave for great workrate again and for Peggy and Ismail who gave us great width. Roger took his goals well.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
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