Match Report: Sporting Lisbarnes v Loko

Sunday 22nd February 2009
Barnesalona League

Sporting Lisbarnes 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 0

Loko Lack That Cutting Edge!

There was an air of expectation when the players arrived in anticipation of a close fought encounter with the current league leaders. There was another two debutants with Tom and Chris coming for the first time ensuring that we had another good squad of thirteen players. It turned out that Sporting had only ten players but they aren't top of the table for nothing and they started with good organisation and lots of passing and movement.

Loko had Dave (pictured below) in goal, the usual back four, two holding midfielders in Chris and Ismail and an attacking midfielder in Stefan, with Peggy and Joe on the wings and Roger up front.

The start of the game, was the same most of the way through, with Loko not pressurising them and allowing them far too much time on the ball to find and pick their passes. When we played them in November we gave them no time and should have been 5-0 ahead by half-time, the only reason we weren't and went on to draw was our habitual problem of being unable to take our chances.

They had the majority of the possession throughout the game especially early on, but chances were few and far between by both teams and the breakthrough came when a needless push by PJ on the edge of the box, saw a cross swung in, missed by four players and go directly in and was one hell of a sloppy goal to concede.

The team changed to a 4-4-2 formation and straight after Roger could and should have equalised when Joe made a fantastic run down the left and pulled back a ball to Roger just outside the six yard box and instead of a first time shot he took a touch and two defenders closed him down and got the ball away. Joe then found a loose ball come back to him on the edge of the area and he hit the ball a yard or two over, and Dale had a shot blocked on the edge.

Sporting kept hitting on the counter attack and a long free kick into the box was headed wide by their midfielder coming in late. They had a lot of possession and played the ball around the edge of the box but Dave had hardly had a save to make.

Half-Time Sporting Lisbarnes 1 v Loko 0

Pete came on for Ismail and Tom replaced Joe at half-time and Dale had had a few choice words for the team who had failed to show the desired hunger to win their challenges and take the game to Sporting.

The second half was better from a Loko perspective but we continued to give the ball away too easily and panic when the ball was received to feet, and at times kept hitting the ball long for their centre backs to gobble up. Their was little to no communication once again and we seem to have taken a step backwards in that regard when it was really starting to improve and you could see a positive effect in our performances.

Loko dominated the better chances in the second half, but squandered lots of possession, and at times seemed to be chasing the ball aimlessly around the pitch. It was a difficult game for the Railwaymen as Lisbarnes spent the majority of the game rolling around on the floor and moaning at the referee in groups of four and five after almost every challenge. Unfortunately the referee was extremely picky and booked Stefan for handball, Steve and Chris for fouls and with one minute of injury time remaining Dale was harshly sent off for telling one of their players to get off the floor and stop being a soft male rooster.

Loko twice sent balls across the face of goal but no one was on hand to convert the chances in front of goal, Roger (pictured above) then got a peach of a cross from Peggy but couldn't direct it goalwards when it was crying out to hit the back of the net.

The inevitable happened shortly after, a long throw into the box was flicked on at the near post and their midfielder had made a late run into the box and was not picked up by Loko and he hit a very good volley into the back of the net that Dave got nowhere near.

This shocked Loko who sat back and had to defend in numbers and a Lisbarnes midfielder hit a long range drive just to the left of the angle which was too close for comfort, and this was followed by a number of corners that were well defended by Loko.

The last twenty minutes belonged to Loko who started to press the Sporting penalty area, and Tom almost took advantage of a Roger pull back but had his shot blocked by a defender, straight after a scramble in the box fell kindly for Roger who was one on one with the keeper but could only knock wide with the keeper bearing down on him.

The ball was then worked through Pete, Tom and Chris in midfield and Roger sent the ball into PJ's path one on one yet again, it was crying out for a decent first touch and a low drive past the keeper, but a bobble and too many touches allowed the keeper to close down and block the effort when it was finally got away.

Dave came out of his area to clear on a couple of counter attacks with Loko pushing men forward but aside from the two goals, he did not need to make a save of any note and dominated his area very well. Loko had a number of chances but our inability to score this season, once again led us to another defeat. The team need to contribute goals from other areas of the playing staff and not just rely on our forwards and inparticularly Roger to get us the goals and the victories.

The most disappointing aspect of Sunday was that the game was not enjoyable because the opposition are not a gracious team to play against, they moan and whinge their way through games and put pressure on the referee from the word go. They are arrogant and make snide comments about the teams they are playing against. Luckily we do not have to play them again this season and we can enjoy the rest of our games and finish as high as we can.

Final Score Sporting Lisbarnes 2 v Loko 0

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"This is a game for us to forget, we were playing against ten men and didn't look like a team who wanted to use the ball and make that extra man count. They were first to the challenges and won the lose ball everytime.

We needed to put some challenges in early and let them know we were up for the game but we didn't. They had a lot of possession and can keep the ball well, but they didn't really create much throughout the game, their first goal went through a bunch of bodies and their second was a good strike, but I don't recall Dave having to do much in goal, apart from see a couple of efforts go wide.

Our downfall this season has been the inability to take our chances, we had two one on ones with the keeper and both times either shot wide or at the keeper, Roger had a free header at the back post and just one of those would have changed the game. Joe had a long range effort just over and Tom just failed to take his shot from a Roger pull back, we had the better chances, if not possession, but couldn't convert again. We'll have to keep trying."

Team Line Up
1. Dave
2. PJ
3. Ivan
4. Dale [R]
5. Steve [Y]
6. Ismail
7. Peggy
8. Chris [Y]
9. Roger
10. Stefan (c) [Y]
11. Joe
12. Pete (Replaced Ismail 45th Minute)
13. Tom (Replaced Joe 45th Minute)

Man of the Match
Dave - Played well for a second week running, this time in goal and dominated his penalty area. I didn't see an outfield player stand out today and take control, either during play or vocally. Therefore Dave takes the plaudits.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Pep Talk by Pete Masters

Match Report: West Ken Kings v Loko

Sunday 15th February 2009
Barnesalona Cup Semi-Final

West Ken Kings 3 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 AET (FT 1-1)

Loko Edged Out in Extra Time

The weather was such that we were blessed with a game of football finally on a chilly February Sunday morning. This weekend we had a squad of thirteen players and a warm welcome was given to two debutees Joe and Simon. The team lined up with Ismail going in goal, a back four of Ivan, Steve, Dale and PJ, two defensive midfielders in Adrian and Dave with Pete playing further forward in central midfield. On the wings we had James and Stefan with Roger up top on his own, and both new players Joe and Simon starting on the bench.

Loko got off to a strong start and were controlling play, winning the challenges at the back and strongly contesting midfield. We were successful when we got the ball down, but on too many occasions early on we were not bringing the ball under control and showing composure to find our teammates on the floor.

Roger, Stefan and James continually found space down the channels but couldn't produce the quality of cross needed to find our men pushing into the box. At the other end Dale and Steve had the defence well organised and in the first half, they didn't produce a shot on target to trouble Ismail despite numerous corners, with Dale and Steve dominating their forwards.

Late on in the half, Pete had a couple efforts on goal which just cleared the crossbar.

Half-Time West Ken Kings 0 v Loko 0

The second half started and two changes saw Joe come on at left back for Ivan and Simon come on for Adrian in midfield, both making their debuts. Loko continued in the manner they finished the first half and twice Roger got away down the left but couldn't get the ball into the danger zone winning corners on both occasions.

Against the run of play, Kings took the lead when the right winger drilled an early ball into the box, Pete tried to clear the ball but only succeeded in stopping the ball six yards out allowing the Kings player a sidefoot home past Ismail and Kings had scored with their first shot on target.

Loko still tried to play the better football and Simon was providing a useful link between Roger and the midfield by continually finding space and calling for the ball, but on too many occasions the ball didn't find him, but that should change when we all get used to playing with him.

The equaliser came on the hour mark when the ball found its way to Stefan on the edge of the box who curled the ball into the top corner and shows what can happen when Loko decides to have a SHOT!!!

Loko shaded the rest of the half and had plenty of possession around the final third but too often there was not enough composure on the final ball. Kings had a couple of long range efforts just wide and thought they had won a penalty when Dale hacked his legs out from under the striker in the box, but they failed to acknowledge that the striker had pushed him in the back into Ismail and the referee gave a corner.

Loko ended the match as they had started it, in the Kings final third but again couldn't play that final ball to set Roger away. Despite dominating the first half and shading the second Loko were heading for extra time.

Full-Time Score West Ken Kings 1 v Loko 1

Ten minutes each way of extra time began and the first signs were seen of Loko running out of steam and Kings getting on top. Loko were beinning to lose shape and the defensive midfielders were being pulled out of position.

Twice Dale made covering challenges and kept Kens at bay and Dave was working overtime with his challenges in midfield. The breakthrough for Kings came when a punt from the right made it way through a crowded box and the fell kindly for a toe poke into the bottom corner, and that was Kings second shot on target of the match.

Half-time in extra time came and went and Kings were again fortunate for their next goal, when for a third time Dale and Steve challenged in the penalty area and the ball fell kindly for a third six yard tap in of the match. All three goals had come from fortunate bounces in the penalty area.

Loko were still in and around the Kings penalty area unable to play the right ball, James had a great chance at the far post to play the ball across the face of goal for an easy tap in, but with his head down chipped a ball to the far post where no one was waiting.

Loko had a great chance to score again straight after when the ball was played in from the right the keeper parried and both Roger and Simon couldn't quite pounce on the lose ball, as unfortunately it didn't fall kindly for us.

Final Score (After Extra Time) West Ken Kings 3 v Loko 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"I cannot fault any player, as everyone battled hard and worked their socks off for the team giving 110%. The team shape held fantastically over the 90 minutes but fell away during extra time, which is when they found space and took the attacking momentum away from us, and ultimately I think we lost the game because they were fitter than us during extra time, but from that main 90 minute performance I thought we had the better shape and were technically better.

In future matches I want us to work on the choices we make in the final third, we always think too much and look to play that extra pass when a shot is there for the taking, or panic on the ball when we need that final cross or pass into the area.

Our last four results over 90 minutes have been lisbarnes 1-1, madras 3-0, celtic 0-1 and wkk 1-1, that means that over the last four games we have played the top three teams in our league and only conceded three goals and drawn with the top two. When we play to our potential we can match and beat everyone and I want everyone to remember that.

Again, keep your heads up as it was a great performance on Sunday, a little more composure and the result could have been much different."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. PJ
3. Ivan
4. Dale
5. Steve
6. Adrian
7. James
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Pete
11. Stefan (c)
12. Simon (Replaced Adrian 45th Minute)
13. Joe (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)

Goal
Stefan (1)
60th Minute - Received the ball just outside the area, on the left hand side of the box and curled over the keeper into the roof of the net.

Man of the Match
Dave (pictured top) - It was a tough choice today as many players did a cracking job, but thought Dave covered a lot of ground and put in loads of great challenges.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Semi-Final Cup Draw

James Rettie Cup (1st/2nd Place Group Finish)
Barnes FC v Groovers
Real Madras FC v Sporting Lisbarnes

Barnesalona Cup (3rd/4th Place Group Finish)
West Ken Kings v Lokomotiv Londres FC
Uncle Bob's FC v Celtic

Ties to be played on Sunday 15th February 2009.

Captains Corner: January 2009

Your Captain Stefan Butler:

"This month seems to have flown past and infact during the last two months we have seen very little football played in the league and cup. There is no doubt that this is having an effect on the players in terms of lack of match fitness and playing together regularly and this certainly showed on Sunday.

It never helps when you only have eleven players meaning that everyone had to dig deep helping each other out especially for those who are carrying knocks and lacking that match sharpness.

However, the fixture list is now looking solid for a good number of weeks and although this Sunday's game had a beginning of the season feel about it (apart from the weather) lets take this opportunity to push on to a level that we know we can achieve.

When we play the game with confidence and a smile on our faces we fear no one and are capable of achieving much more. So lets look to this Sunday to start achieving more and start enjoying our football more."

Match Report: Loko v Celtic

Sunday 1st February 2009
Barnesalona Cup

Lokomotiv Londres FC 0 v Celtic 1

Loko Lack Sharpness After Break

It was a bitterly cold morning that greeted the players with fingers going numb within minutes. Ismail went in goal, back four of PJ, Steve, Dale and Ivan, a midfield four of Peggy, Pete, Adrian and Stefan, with Roger and debutee Corbi helping us out.

Loko got off to the customary slow start and within three minutes a long ball over the defence was latched onto by a Celtic forward who was going nowhere down the edge of the area but Steve sweeping up at the back missed the ball and took the player out completely. Their manager Eddie stepped up but Ismail made a great save low to his left and clung to the ball stopping any rebound.

A further high goal kick was misjudged by Pete and the ball went towards his own goal, the striker latched onto the end of it but Steve got back, the striker turned inside and curled the ball against the post but fortunately it curled back out.

The goal came when the ball bobbled around the edge of the box and was hit against one post, then appeared to go out for a goal kick, but the referee gave a goal stating the ball went through a hole in the net. Shortly after another ball across the area wasn't cleared and after ping pong in the area, Dale cleared a shot off the line.

Loko finally started to compete and force some pressure and on a couple of occasions the ball was played dangerously across the box which we couldn't convert, Roger ran through on goal but the keeper saved, Stefan had two attempts at the rebound which were blocked then Corbi had a shot saved on the line as the keeper scrambled back.

Straight after good work by Roger on the byline so him drift in off the wing and play a ball to the back post where Peggy mistimed his effort with the goal at his mercy.

Half Time Loko 0 v Celtic 1

The main focus of the half time team talk was to make sure we started battling for every ball, we didn't have the desire to get there first and win it and were too often second to the second and third ball.

Loko started much better in the second half and were putting more pressure on their midfield, we had a lot of possession in and around the last third without really creating too much, on a couple of occasions the right ball from left to right would have seen Peggy one on one with the goalkeeper but the right ball never came.

As Loko pushed forward gaps appeared in midfield and the defence were having to work overtime, Dale and Steve flying into tackles and Steve getting an elbow to the face as a thank you. Adrian switched with PJ, with the former moving to right back and PJ the centre of the park, and almost immediately tried a forty yard shot which trickled through to the keeper.

Celtic were hitting us on the counter attack and outplaying our midfield, and they had a few shots from distance at Ismail or just wide, and put in a number of crosses that were decent but no one near to attacking them. They did appear to scramble the ball just over the line for a second but the referee deemed that Ismail had saved the ball with his back covering the line and the referee had no choice but to say it hadn't crossed the line, as he couldn't see it.

Towards the end Loko had one final chance for the equaliser when a Stefan cross to the back post found Peggy in space but the ball got away from him on his first touch and the chance had gone.

It was not a great performance and Celtic played the windy, cold conditions much better than Loko, fortunately it didn't have much effect on the cup table as we were already in the Barnesalona Cup 3rd/4th place semi-finals anyway, so put this down as some good match practice.

Final Score Loko 0 v Celtic 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a very frustrating day today. Too many people were not at the races and we were outbattled for the majority of the match, our team today was crying out for someone in midfield to take the game by the scruff of the neck, win the challenges and let Celtic know they were in for a tough time.

I felt like we were second not only to the first challenge but the second and the third and we needed to have a more physical presence in the centre of the park, which in that respect showed our need for a Dave like player to win those challenges on this occasion.

This game didn't have too much effect on our cup progress as we were playing in the Barnesalona 3rd/4th place semi-finals regardless of the score. Let's use this match to get our match sharpness and fitness back on track and lets approach our next few fixtures with vigour, a desire to win and plenty of communication.

Finally, a big thank you to Corbi for helping us out and ensuring we had eleven players."

Team Line Up
1. Ismail
2. PJ
3. Ivan
4. Dale
5. Steve
6. Adrian
7. Peggy
8. Pete
9. Roger
10. Corbi
11. Stefan (c)

Man of the Match
Steve - A solid, assured perfrmance at the back, one of the only players up for the challenge and made numerous timely blocks with lots of good positional play.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.