Sportsmans League Division 3
Lokomotiv Londres FC 0 v Red Star United 6
Red Star Expose Defensive Frailties!
It was a last minute change of venue that allowed this game to proceed, after our match at Raynes Park Playing Fields was cancelled on the Saturday afternoon.
The team lined up with Terry kindly agreeing to go in goal for the season, a new back four of Andy, Ismail, Stefano and Ivan in defence, Peggy and Rhyce on the wings with Morris and Dave in the centre of midfield and Roger and Dale up front. Daniel and late arriving Vincent were on the bench.Loko were on the back foot right from the start and it was evident that Red Star would pass and move and play to feet but the Railwaymen were disorganised early on and were failing to pick up the runners. Their first came within ten minutes when a corner was swung in and nobody picked up their biggest player who arrived unmarked at the back post to head in.
Shortly after Loko finally got up around their box when Dale swivelled on the half way line and played Roger in down the channel, he proceeded to win a corner and when Peggy swung it over Dale rose highest at the back post and headed goalwards only for it to be cleared from under the bar at the back post by the defender on the line.
That was as good as it got for Loko as Red Star continually got in behind the defence and were not being tracked or covered, on one occasion an unchallenged header in midfield sent them free to score and that said it all. Three quick goals came to put them 4-0 in front and Dale proceeded to go 4-5-1 and drop himself into centre back with Andy pushing into midfield and Stefano going right back. Another goal came shortly after when Dale was pushed over in the box before they slotted home but the referee didn't spot it to compound Loko's misery.
Roger almost got a consolation just before half-time when he ran through on goal but the keeper blocked his effort when one on one, and Loko then had their best spell of the match five minutes before half time when they finally started to keep the ball and knock it around, and most of all everyone stopped panicking.
Half-Time Loko 0 v Red Star United 5
Dale went in goal with Terry going out into midfield, and Daniel came on for Andy. It continued with 4-5-1 and Daniel went up top with Roger dropping into midfield.
Loko started the second half brightly and finally started to compete, but it had taken 40 minutes for us to realise that with some discipline and effort we could at least compete and give them a game. Daniel kept them on their toes at the back and early on him, Terry and Peggy got at them and nearly went through on goal on several occasions only for some good last ditch tackling to keep them out. Daniel then got loose in the area and with the ball at his feet seven yards out with just the keeper to beat, he fired over the bar.
Red Star still had a lot of possession in and around the area but didn't really penetrate the backline who had Dale organising them and keeping them marking instead of ball watching, which was quiet prevailant from certain individuals throughout the game. Morris was replaced by Vincent after he finally arrived at the ground late for the second week running.
Their final goal came when their left winger got behind Vincent at right back and played the ball across the centre of the six yard box, it was going out so nobody responded, but hit a divet which directed it onto the post and sat up for their player to tap home, it was an unfortunate goal to concede as we had battled hard in the second half and deserved to draw the half, but we wasted our one big chance and other half chances that had come our way, and then bad luck with the divet proved costly.
Final Score Loko 0 v Red Star United 6
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"We started the season with a back four of Paul K, PJ, Steve and Ivan, in this game we only had Ivan left and that left us with little understanding of each others game and it was clear that people were having to adjust playing in new positions and there was clearly no chemistry.
They are a very good team where everyone is comfortable on the ball and to be honest they shouldn't be playing in our division, along with Cultural it appears they should be playing at a higher level as it cannot be enjoyable for them running away with games and it wasn't enjoyable for us either. It was a game where we needed to be on top of our game to compete and have everyone available but we were nowhere near that.
Next week we play London Rangers and if we get everyone back then we need to push on and start getting some wins to keep us in the upper reaches of the division."
Team Line Up
1. Terry
2. Andy
3. Ivan
4. Ismail
5. Stefano
6. Morris
7. Peggy
8. Dave (c)
9. Roger
10. Dale
11. Rhyce
12. Daniel (Replaced Andy 45th Minute)
13. Vincent (Replaced Morris 60th Minute)
Man of the Match
Dave (pictured above again) - It was difficult this week as no one really stood out in a poor performance but for sheer effort and non-stop running, Mr Kemp gets the accolade.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
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