Match Report: Simon Ridge v Loko

Sunday 28th March 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Simon Ridge 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 5

Ridge Rocked by Barnes Double

Two weeks ago Loko put in a brilliant defensive display with great counter attacking against the only unbeaten team in the league, today was an equally impressive performance but for totally different reasons with continued quality attacking play from pretty much the first whistle.

Nelson went in goal with Stefano, Steve, Chris and Ivan in defence, a flat four of Peggy, Dale, Dave and Rhyce in midfield and Roger and Nicolas up front. Paul and Morris started on the bench.

Loko started on the front foot and used the flanks well early on but didn't create much. Just before the ten minute mark they had their first attack with a number of throw ins down the right hand side and a ball across the box was not cleared by Steve and their player was at the back post to side foot home unmarked, as Stefano had come too far across the area.

That was as good as it got for Ridge as Loko penned them in for the rest of the first half, the only other chance was when their striker ran through but Nelson slid out at his feet and collected the ball. Loko were playing some nice football through midfield and down the wings with Nicolas nearly scoring when he ran through but could only drill the ball over the bar. Dale kept floating balls into the channels for Rhyce, Peggy and the overlapping Stefano and this kept Ridge in and around their own area.

Dave then had a drive from the edge of the box just over, and the keeper had to tip Rhyce's long range free kick over the bar. Then from the corner, Ivan won the first header and Dale chested the ball in front of him in the six yard box but it was cleared off the line by the defender as the ball just got away from Loko's midfielder.

The chances kept coming, from another corner Nicolas tried a overhead kick which went a yard wide and was a great effort, then shortly after Dale turned the midfielder and ran at the defence, drawing in the centre back before laying in Nicolas on the angle who turned inside the covering defender and drilled at goal, only for the keeper diving the wrong way, to stick out a leg and deflect the ball over the bar. Dale then nearly scored from a corner when he flicked the ball on at the near post and it went right along the line and out by a yard past the far post.

The deserved equaliser came when the ball was played into the area from out wide, ROGER brought it under control in the six yard box turned and drilled it into the top corner, and Loko went in at the break unable to fathom how they were not leading.

Half-Time Simon Ridge 1 v Loko 1

Morris came on for Ivan at right back and Stefano went to left back. Dale said we had been in this position numerous times this season and had gone on to lose, but today would be different if we all believe in ourselves.

The Railwaymen did believe in themselves and came out firing again in the second half and carried on where they had left off before the interval. Nicolas got away down the right and drilled the ball across goal but too high for a Loko player to get on the end of, then a mirror image of that previous attack saw Roger play in Nicolas again who drilled from right to left again across the goal only for the keeper to tip the ball over for a corner.

Nicolas took the corner and drilled it in to the near post where Peggy flicked it on, DALE drifted in unmarked at the back post five yards out and deflected the ball past the defender into the roof of the net and Loko deservedly took the lead.

The lead increased when Dale played in Nicolas down the right channel, he played the ball into Roger who gave it him back as Nicolas advanced into the area and the ball across the area was perfect for PEGGY to sidefoot past the keeper, who got a hand to the ball but couldn't keep it out.

Paul came on for Stefano at left back and got straight into the game with some good tackles, but Ridge played some long balls over the backline and twice Steve covered well and conceded corners. It was a fortunate goal that got Ridge back in the game when a long throw was missed by two Loko players at the near post and their player flicked the ball backwards and it went over Dale's head on the line, hit the post and trickled in.

Ridge had a couple of long rage free-kicks hoofed into the box but the rest of the game was all Loko. Peggy twice beat his man to the byline and chipped in balls to the back post where first Dave then Roger beat their men in the ariel challenge but could only head over. Then Nicolas got in behind and drilled the ball across goal a yard wide of the post.

The game was made safe when Dale won the ball in the centre circle, advanced into their half and floated the ball with the outside of his right foot into NICOLAS behind the defence who took it in his stride, rounded the keeper and side footed home for his seventh goal in seven games.

Loko had a lot of possession in and around their box and kept the ball well with Ridge chasing the ball, and Peggy continually had the beating of his man down the right.

The game became scrappy and they put in a number of crunching tackles which kept giving us free-kicks in good field positions. After one such tackle on Dave, who was at this point playing on one leg injured, ROGER stepped up and curled the ball into the keepers top right corner from 25 yards to put a nice gloss on the scoreline.

It was a controlled, composed, excellent performance and some of the football was outstanding.

Final Score Simon Ridge 2 v Loko 5

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a quality attacking performance from the team, we had such a strong midfield and attack today and our ability to get the ball down and play to feet was superb. Some of our goals were the best we have scored for a couple of seasons.

Let's try and get this attacking team out in every game, we could have done so much better this year with a regular starting line up."

Team Line Up
1. Nelson
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Dale
7. Peggy
8. Dave
9. Roger
10. Nicolas
11. Rhyce
12. Morris (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
13. Paul (Replaced Stefano 60th Minute)

Goals
Roger (2)
40th Minute - Hooked the ball into the top corner from inside the six yard box.
85th Minute - Curled a 25 yard free-kick into the keepers top right hand corner.
Dale (1)
50th Minute - Nicolas took the corner, Peggy flicked it on at the near post and Dale ghosted in at the back post and sidefooted into the roof of the net.
Peggy (1)
55th Minute - Nicolas played a one two with Roger coming in off the wing and played in Peggy to sidefoot past the keeper.
Nicolas (1)
70th Minute - Dale won the ball in midfield, advanced into Ridge's half and played a ball over the defence into Nicolas who rounded the keeper to score.

Man of the Match
Dale (pictured below) - The captain was insistant that I gave myself the man of the match, so there we are.

Honurable mention to Peggy and Stefano down the right side who were in fantastic harmony all morning. The two up top ran them ragged as well. Well done everyone.

Match Report by Dale Mellor