Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 26th September 2010
Mass 4 v Invictus 1
Parklife 'B' 1 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4
Putney Ferrets 4 v Wee Hoose Celtic 1
Real Northern 'B' 3 v London Rangers 4
Worcester Park Rangers 7 v Greyhound 2

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Parklife 'B' v Loko

Sunday 26th September 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Parklife 'B' 1 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4

Kavanagh Lands Double Knockout

It was a cold September morning that greeted the team at Raynes Park Playing Fields for our second league game of the season and Loko were hoping to kick start their league campaign.  There was a strong squad of thirteen players and the manager had some decisions to make after a strong showing the week before.

The start was mixed for Loko, we looked alright going forward but were struggling to organise ourselves in the middle of the park and gave them too much space through midfield.  They were playing the ball around quite well without ever really penetrating the back line.

The Railwaymen took the lead after twenty minutes and it started with Aaron, he took the ball down the left and laid it into George, he crossed the ball and the defender tried to head clear but it skimmed towards the back side of the area where Dale had gambled and took a first time shot which was mis-hit across the area eight yards out and JAMES (pictured above) stuck out a leg and diverted the ball home for a one-nil lead.

The goal settled the team down and we started getting the ball wide using Adrian and George as much as possible and we played a number of balls into the box without success.  The second did come shortly after when Dale, Vincent and Roger exchanged passes and sent Adrian away down the right, where he swung a ball in behind the defence, it was cleared back to him and he put another ball into the perfect place and the defender beat Roger to the ball but also beat his keeper for a Parklife OWN GOAL.

More pressing by Londres almost saw a third goal when Aaron put in a long throw and Steve rose highest and headed goalwards but the ball rebounded off the post and within seconds a good counter-attack from Parklife resulted in them pulling a goal back.  They broke at pace and got into the box, Dale put in three blocks and challenges but the ball fell loose to their player who ran across the edge of the area and curled a very good shot past a diving Gary into the bottom corner to reduced the deficit.

This spurred Loko into life and when we finally started playing we could have killed the game off before half-time, Dale played the ball into Roger and went for the return which arrived nicely for him to play a first time ball through the defence to find the perfect run from George who waited too long to get his shot away and the defender got the block away. 

Then Dale managed to slip another ball through moments later and Adrian was one on one but the keeper made a good save and deflected the ball for a corner.  From the corner the ball went through to Roger at the back post but he couldn't get enough power on the shot and the keeper somehow scrambled the ball off the line to deny a very good Loko chance.

Loko finally got their rewards when Aaron attempted a cross from the left which deflected up high to the back post and JAMES outjumped the defender and the keeper to nod home from six yards out.  It was just rewards for a solid if not spectacular half.  Towards the end, Parklife got a favourable bounce in the area and their midfielder hooked the ball wide and this served as a warning for the second half.

Half-Time Parklife 'B' 1 v Loko 3

Dale was upset with certain individuals not taking responsibilty for their own mistakes and made his feelings known at half-time that the performance was effective, if not outstanding.  Terry replaced Adrian on the right wing and Morris came into midfield replacing Stefano with Vincent to right back.

It was a better start to the second half and the defence continued to stay strong under a small bout of pressure after half-time, Steve was his usual commanding self and Ivan was solid in his challenges alongside him, Vincent and Aaron gave us good outlets at full back and Gary didn't have too much to do in the second half but he grew stronger as the game went on and commanded his area well.

If anyone was going to score it looked like being Loko who created a few chances again in the second half, Morris played Roger away down the left and if he had looked up Terry was alone in the middle but he choose to go alone and the keeper made an easy save on the angle.  Dale then played Roger away down the middle, this time he rounded the keeper and drilled a low shot which robounded back off the post for the second time in the game.

Loko eventually added a fourth after sixty five minutes but the keeper won't have been happy, as AARON took a free kick from twenty five yards out and the keeper came to collect but let the ball slip through his fingers and across the line to complete the scoring.

Morris was moved to right back with Vincent coming central, as the former was unable to hold his position and kept leaving massive gaps down the middle.  The opposition had a couple of long range free kicks and efforts at goal but none of them were on target and it was Loko who nearly added a fifth when Dale closed down the defender and got in down the left and tried to pull the ball back to Roger but he played the ball too far behind him and the chance was lost. 

Terry also chased down a lost cause, kept the ball in and put in a delightful cross towards the back post but the defender just managed to deflect the ball away from an umarked Roger and he saved a certain goal.

The whistle blew on a decent performance and our season is finally up and running.  The team did the usual warm down but some people thought they were above this and sat there whilst the rest of the players took part.

Loko are a team and the manager expects every player to warm down from now on without exception.  If players are able to complete ninety minutes, they can do the warm down and the manager doesn't want to hear excuses.

It was a good win to take the Railwaymen into a two week break with the teams next fixture taking place at 10am on the 10th October against London Rangers in the Bert Gaby Challenge Cup.

Final Score Parklife 'B' 1 v Loko 4

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"A very mixed performance today, we went through spells where we played the ball around and created some good chances, but at times we panicked and gave the ball away when we should have been slowing the game down and controlling proceedings.

I've notice a number of players recently blaming others when they do things wrong and this has to stop, start acting like men and take responsibility for your own actions, people need to stop arguing with me and others when we point out areas you can improve during a game, it is for your benefit and will help the team.

It would help if players start listening to instructions because at times certain players are doing the same things time and time again when they have been told not to, if this continues I'll make changes to the squad, so i'm looking for an improvement in peoples attitudes in the coming games, you have been warned.

On the plus side we are creating lots of chances and could have had a lot more goals if our finishing had been better.  Let's practise our shooting and at some stage we will hammer someone off the park if we keep playing like we have been this season.  Only one defeat and we should have had something out of that one as well."

Team Line Up
1. Gary
2. Stefano
3. Aaron
4. Ivan
5. Steve (c)
6. Vincent
7. Adrian
8. Dale
9. James
10. Roger
11. George
12. Terry (Replaced Adrian 45th Minute)
13. Morris (Replaced Stefano 45th Minute)

Goals
James (2)
20th Minute - The ball went down the left and George crossed to the back post, Dale mis-hit a shot across the area and James poked home.
40th Minute - Aaron had a cross deflected off the defender and James rose highest at the far post to head home.
Own Goal (1)
30th Minute - Adrian got down the right and curled a ball in behind the defence, it cleared back to him and he did the same again and the defender beat Roger to the ball but deflected past his own keeper.
Aaron (1)
65th Minute - Aaron curled a free kick into the box and the keeper couldn't grab it and let it slip through into his own net.

Man of the Match
Vincent - What can I say about 'tights boy' this season, he is putting everyone else to shame with his brilliant work rate, passing ability and pretty much everything else.  Another performance that everyone else should be aspiring to reach.  Special mention for George who had his best game for us yet and James who has come back into the team after a couple of years and has fitted back in brilliantly.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Preview: Parklife 'B' v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Parklife 'B' (A)
Date: 26th September 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.30am
Location: Raynes Park Playing Fields, Raynes Park
Directions: Get the train from either London Waterloo (20 Min), Vauxhall (15 Min) or Clapham Junction (10 Min) direct to Raynes Park. Walk out of the station and head south down Grand Drive, about 15 Min walk to the playing fields on your left, just past the mini roundabout and road called Southway. See the map.
Subs: £7 (£3.50 subs/substituted)
See Map:


View Larger Map
Squad: Dale / Steve / James / Ivan / Terry / Morris / Roger / Vincent / George / Adrian / Gary / Aaron / Stefano

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 19th September 2010
Invictus 0 v Greyhound 2
London Rangers 1 v Valtaro Wasteels 'B' 1
Mass 3 v Putney Ferrets 0
Parklife 'B' 0 v Real Northern 'B' 2

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Pacific Sporting Jubilee v Loko

Sunday 19th September 2010
Friendly

Pacific Sporting Jubilee 1 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 4

Sporting Flattened by Runaway Loko

There were twelve Loko souls arrive for this friendly clash with Division 4 Jubilee including new boy Aaron who was looking to make a good impression. Rhyce arrived with just under half an hour left so we had a further man and it was agreed beforehand that we would roll the subs.

Loko started in very dominent fashion, keeping the ball and actually working through the team to the strikers, Vincent and Dale were constantly showing for the ball in the centre and Adrian and George gave the team good width.

There were various opportunities early on, Dave (pictured above) twice got behind the defence onto through balls by Dale and the keeper made a couple of decent if not spectacular saves, then Dave repaid the compliment playing a return ball to Dale who couldn't quite beat the last defender and get a shot away.

Loko took the lead shortly after, Sporting had a rare foray forward and committed men for a corner, but the ball was cleared by Aaron at the near post and Dave and James were two on two, Dave skinned his man, committed the covering defender and slid the ball across the penalty area for JAMES to slip into the empty net for a deserved lead.

Confidence grew and we continued playing the ball on the floor, both Aaron and Stefano gave us good width at full back and Aaron almost got through when he was played in by Vincent and he ran into the area and hit a left foot shot into the side netting.

Loko thought they had scored a second when a corner came in from George, and it looked to have swung straight in and crossed the line before they hacked it away but the referee, who had struggled to keep up all morning didn't make a decision and the game had to continue.

Chris and Ivan were solid at the back and Morris who had come on for Adrian, was putting in his usual good tackles. James and Dave kept holding the ball up and George was also putting in his tackles and retaining possession very well. Dale managed to get booked for stating the opposition had screamed and dived to win a free kick, another strange decision,

Apart from a few more long range efforts nothing much more happened in the half, other than the opposition bringing on two or three better players to crank up the pressure. They didn't create too much but we gave away too many free kicks in our own half and they hit a number of balls into the box which were well dealt with.

Half-Time Pacific Sporting Jubilee 0 v Loko 1

The team talk at half-time was a pleasure this week, it was for more of the first half an hour and to tighten up the formation a little more as we were a little sloppy towards the end of the half.

Loko picked up where they left off and continued to enjoy the lions share of possession and chances, the boys looked like they had played together a lot and everyone continued to impress the manager.

The boys created a number of chances but couldn't put the game out of Jubilee's reach, Vincent skipped through three challenges and put a ball across the area but no Loko player could get the vital touch, Dave then ran through one on one but the keeper stuck out a hand to deflect wide and then Dale picked up the ball 25 yards out, skipped a challenge and drilled a shot a yard over the bar.

With just under twenty minutes left, Adrian came on for Stefano at right back and Rhyce replaced George on the left and the latter made an immediate impression, Morris won a tackle in midfield, played a glorious ball out to VINCENT who ran his man, played a one two with Rhyce and hit the top corner when one on one.

It wasn't long before we got the third, Aaron made good progress down the left and played the ball into James who found MORRIS, he muscled past two defenders and ran through on goal before hitting the top corner to make the game safe with ten minutes to go.

Gary had not had much to do during the game and stood absolutely no chance moments later, they had just overhit a cross to the back post which went out for a goal kick, Chris miskicked the ball into midfield and their centre midfielder scored the goal of the game when he hit a swerving shot into the top corner from fully 35 yards to give them a little hope.

That hope didn't last much longer, Morris should have scored when he got through one on one again but failed to hit the target when Dave was square and had an open goal, Dale almost scored when Dave got to the byeline and crossed a yard too far ahead of him directly in front of goal, but moments later the same combination did work when Dave chased down a lost cause, used his strength to gain possession and he centred the ball for DALE to sidefoot past the keeper from six yards.

Jubilee were then told by the referee to sub a player or he would be sent off, but no one had a clue why or what had happened. It was a good natured game and very enjoyable, and hopefully provided Loko with a lot of confidence, some good goals and much more fitness.

Final Score Pacific Sporting Jubilee 1 v Loko 4

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"I'm very pleased with the performance today, it wasn't the hardest test we will have all season but it allowed us to practise our pass and move and gather some fitness for the league games to come. It was great to have Aaron come along and play solidly and it was nice to see James return for the first time in quite a while.

Gary in goal and Chris and Ivan were solid down the back, Dave put in a great shift up top and held the ball up well. The whole team were more vocal and looking for the ball into feet and there was not as much giving the ball away needlessly that we have done in the past. Very efficent performance so well done everyone."

Team Line Up
1. Gary
2. Stefano
3. Aaron
4. Chris (c)
5. Ivan
6. Vincent
7. Adrian
8. Dale [Y]
9. Dave
10. James
11. George
12. Morris (Various Substitutions)
13. Rhyce (Various Substitutions)

Goals
James (1)
10th Minute - The ball fell to Dave on the half way line with a two on two breakaway, he skinned his man, committed the covering defender and slid the ball to James to slip into the empty net.
Vincent (1)
75th Minute - Morris won the ball and played Vincent in down the right, he ran his man and played a one two with Rhyce before drilling into the top corner when one on one.
Morris (1)
80th Minute - He muscled his way past two challenges from the edge of the area and hit a drive past the keeper into the corner.
Dale (1)
85th Minute - Dave chased down the defender near the byeline and used his strength to win the ball, he laid the ball across the area for Dale to run onto and slip past the keeper.

Man of the Match
Chris and Dave (Joint) - I asked both these lads to step up this morning because I was missing my usual big personalities and both of them delivered. Chris was big and strong and organised expertly, and Dave who turned up dressed like Forrest Gump, held the ball up superbly and laid on two goals, how he didn't score himself I'll never know. Special mention to Aaron who came in and did very well and Vincent who again for the third game in a row had lots of energy and did more than expected.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Captains Corner: September 2010

Your Captain Steve Haley:
"The tournament in Switzerland back in May was another great experience although the loss of so many players through injury after the first day proved too much of an uphill struggle in the end. In true English style we didn’t disgrace ourselves off the field and to quote Homer Simpson: 'when participating in sporting events, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how drunk you get'. Dale’s dad Ian didn’t let us down to name just one!!!
　 Here we are at the start of another domestic year and in my view there’s much reason to be optimistic. With the addition of one or two new faces we've a settled squad and should now be familiar with each others game enough to be able to mount a title challenge this season. We proved last season that when we get our game going we can match any team but it's down to all of us to produce week in week out and show a desire to win.

A good 3-2 win over Deportivo De Brentford in a pre-season friendly set us up for our first league game last week against Invictus but we were unable to push on from there and were unfortunately defeated 2-1. We showed in the second half what we are all about and if we can play like that from the first whistle, do the basic’s right and start communicating better with each other i'm sure we’ll be putting a smile back on the managers face!"

Match Preview: Pacific Sporting Jubilee v Loko

Competition: Friendly
Opponents: Pacific Sporting Jubilee (A)
Date: 19th September 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.30am
Location: Wimbledon Common Extension, Robin Hood Road, Roehampton, SW15 3QF
Directions: Get the train to Putney Railway Station and catch Bus 85 towards Roehampton from directly outside the station and get off at the bus stop called Roehampton Vale Campus (approximately 20 minutes), which is one stop further than Asda and is on the A3 dual carriageway. The pavillion is a ten minute walk down the A3 on your left.
Subs: £6
See Map:


View Larger Map
Squad: Dale / Dave / Ivan / Morris / James / Stefano / Adrian / Chris / Gary / George / Vincent / Aaron (Trialist) / Rhyce

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 12th September 2010
Invictus 2 v Lokomotiv Londres 1
London Rangers 4 v Kew Antigua 'C' 0
Real Northern 'B' 3 v Wee Hoose Celtic 3
Worcester Park Rangers 3 v Putney Ferrets 0

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Invictus v Loko

Sunday 12th September 2010
Sportsmans League Division 3

Invictus 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 1

Mistake + Wasted Chances = Defeat

It was a lovely sunny September morning that greeted a full team for our first league game of the season. Rhyce and Adrian joined the same squad from the week before and the formation Loko began with was 4-5-1.

It was a slow start from the team and the desire and energy that we started with the week before was missing. They came at us and were playing the ball around nicely on the half way line although they seemed to lack something in the penalty area and Gary was not tested in goal during the opening quarter of an hour.

Loko couldn't get into there usual grove and were unable to string anything of note together, Roger was working the channels well and Terry was finding space on the right but the three in centre midfield were not holding their shape correctly, were all drifting wide and giving them too much space.

When their opening goal came it was a gift, they swung a corner in from the right and Gary came to collect but the ball slipped through his fingers and fell kindly for them to deflect home from two yards out. It was a soft goal to concede but Loko heads seemed to drop. Invictus were gaining in confidence and had a couple of shots over the bar from distance but didn't create any clear cut chances.

The game could have changed almost straight away, when Vincent (pictured above) sent Dave away over the top, he ran through on goal, cut back inside the chasing defender, beat the keeper with his shot but another defender managed to chase the ball down on the line and clear the danger. Roger had been free for the pass if he had been seen.

The game got worse for Loko almost immediately when they passed the ball down the right hand side, Vincent went out to cover but couldn't get there in time and the player swung in a cross that ended up in the top corner. It certainly looked like a cross that got lucky but we'll never know and our players were stood there disbelieving.

Half-Time Invictus 2 v Loko 0

In the half-time team talk Dale had some strong words for the lads, heads had gone down early, everyone was quiet and nobody was trying to raise their performance and inspire the team. Threats were made that if people didn't step up then we'd have to recruit to get more vocal players in the side and help us inprove.

Loko started much better but were still struggling to keep the ball up top, Roger was being swamped by two or three players every time the ball went forward, it didn't take long for Roger to make his mark, he got goal side of the defender and was clear on goal until the defender dragged him backwards and conceded the free kick. The referee was being leniant as that could have been a sending off on another day.

Dale changed the formation and put two players up front and it made a vast difference to the team performance, Dave went up front and Dale and Vincent were now in the centre by themselves. Shortly after this change, Morris came on for Stefano and Vincent went full back with Morris in the middle to make his tackles.

Loko were now fully on top for the remaining half an hour and pinned them back in their own half, Roger and Dave both got in on the angle and the keeper made good saves and then Roger should have brought us back into the game when Dale slipped a pass through the central defenders and Roger was one on one, he could have taken an early shot but tried to round the keeper and pushed himself too wide unable to get a shot away he crossed but the chance went.

Morris was now winning 80% of his tackles in midfield and was starting to use the ball much better, he began giving easy passes and this allowed us to build our attacks, if Morris won the ball and laid it off like this every game he would be a key player for the Railwaymen.

Londres got back into the game when Dale and Morris won tackles on the edge of their box, the ball fell loose to VINCENT in the D of the penalty area and he took the ball to his left and hit a curling left foot shot into the top corner and the keeper did not stand a chance.

The confidence rose and in the last fifteen minutes Loko won a couple of free kicks around the box and numerous corners, and twice from these the ball was swung in and missed the far post by inches. Invictus were struggling to get forward at this point and apart from a few long clearances which were dealt with by the defence, Gary had nothing to do in goal in the second half.

In the last few minutes Dave nearly got on the end of a Terry cross and was centremetres from toe-poking home, Dale twice was free in the penalty area if Loko had been able to find the correct pull back from the byeline, and a final corner brought everybody apart from Gary into the box but the ball was cleared and Loko were unfortunate to lose the game when the referee blew his final whistle.

Final Score Invictus 2 v Loko 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It was a mixed start to our first league game, we didn't start well and didn't seem up for it from the first whistle. It begins with the team talk, people need to shut up and listen, the constant chatter and ignoring of those who are speaking is not acceptable, sort it out.

As for the game, the change in formation proved the difference and allowed us to hold the ball up top with both Roger and Dave, Rhyce came on and was very vocal and was always shouting for the ball which was great to see.

I don't know whether we deserved to win because our first half was not good, but by the end of the game I thought we'd created enough chances to deserve a draw at the very least, let's be more clinical with our finishing."

Team Line Up
1. Gary
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Dale
7. Terry
8. Vincent
9. Dave
10. Roger
11. George
12. Adrian (Replaced Ivan 45th Minute)
13. Rhyce (Replaced George 45th Minute)
14. Morris (Replaced Stefano 55th Minute) [Y]

Goals
75th Minute - Vincent picked up the ball on the edge of the box and curled a left foot shot into the top corner for a cracking goal.

Man of the Match
Vincent - The second game in a row with loads of energy, lots of tackles and a desire to do well. It was also a brilliant goal. Well done.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

Match Preview: Invictus v Loko

Competition: Sportsmans League Division 3
Opponents: Invictus (A)
Date: 12th September 2010
Kick Off Time: 10.30am
Meeting Time: 9.40am
Location: Westminster Schools Playing Fields, Tamworth Lane, Mitcham
Directions: Trains every 30 minutes from London Victoria to Mitcham Eastfields calling at Clapham Junction, Balham, and Mitcham Eastfields. The journey is only approx 20 minutes from Victoria or 12 minutes from Clapham Junction. The pitches are a ten minute walk down Tamworth Lane and the turn in is directly off the main road. Alternatively, email the team as someone who lives close by maybe driving down and will be able to pick you up.
Subs: £7 (£3.50 Subs/Substituted)
See Map:


View Larger Map

Squad: Dale / Ivan / Gary / Roger / Adrian / Morris / Dave / Stefano / George / Terry / Chris / Vincent / Steve / Rhyce

Sportsmans Division 3 Results

Sunday 5th September 2010
Greyhound 1 v Mass 8

London Rangers 2 v Putney Ferrets 0

Real Northern 'B' 1 v Worcester Park Rangers 4

Wee Hoose Celtic 0 v Kew Antigua 'C' 4

The table has now been updated.

Match Report: Deportivo De Brentford v Loko

Sunday 5th September 2010
Friendly

Deportivo De Brentford 2 v Lokomotiv Londres FC 3

Season Starts with Clinical Win

The new season came around all too quickly and it seems like yesterday that we ended last season at the Tournoi in Switzerland. We turned up with twelve players but unfortunately the referee never showed so one of their supporters took charge which helped us out immensely.

It was a bright start by Loko and we took charge of the game early on, our passing was crisp and we were finding people's feet, there was a hunger from the team to win those first challenges and put us on the front foot. Terry was heavily involved early finding lots of space down the right and Dale and Dave were able to pick him out on a regular basis. Roger kept showing into his feet and there was options all around the park.

Twice Vincent got down the left and put over crosses and when Terry then Roger challenged, the ball fell loose on both occasions but wouldn't sit up kindly for a shot on target, Roger hitting one just wide.

Loko took a deserved lead when George, who had come on moments earlier, got down the left, fed Dave who ran into the box and laid it off to ROGER (picture above) to sidefoot home.

The defence were looking solid and apart from a ball over the top when the big striker got through only to be challenged by both Steve and Chris, they didn't create much and Ross hadn't had a thing to do but collect the through balls with ease.

Their equaliser was a shocker for the referee, a ball into the six yard area was gathered by Ross, their player came in with studs showing and Ross got clattered on his hands which were holding the ball in his mid-drift. Loko stopped expecting the obvious free kick and they tapped into the empty net, but astonishingly the goal was given. Ross went straight off to hospital, being replaced in goal by Gary, and the verdict from the hospital was a dislocated thumb.

Loko were upset with an obvious lack of sportsmanship with them accusing Ross of faking and the rest of the half was scrappy with little created due to the ten minute disruption.

Half-Time Deportivo De Brentford 1 v Loko 1

To Loko's credit, Dale asked for a performance at half-time, and they duly delivered and were solid all the way through the second half. Everyone were again flying into tackles, even as the energy levels dropped throughout the second half.

Loko took the lead once again in the second half and it was very similar to the first, Terry got down the right wing, skinned his man and laid into the area where Vincent and Dave exchanged passes and set up ROGER to sidefoot home into the bottom corner again from the edge of the box.

The team were now on a high and we created a couple of quick chances straight after the goal, Chris rose highest from a Terry corner and directed his header towards the far post only for the defender to head off the line then shortly after Roger slipped Terry behind the full back and he ran into the area and drilled the ball just wide of the far post.

Deportivo had some possession in the centre of the park as Loko players tired but the closest they came to an equaliser were a couple of efforts that flew over the crossbar and a goalmouth scramble that was well cleared by Chris.

Loko looked to have made the game safe in the 75th Minute when Morris won a tackle on the half way line, Dale played the ball to Terry who played it back, it was passed into Vincent then on to George, he skipped a challenge and played DAVE into the area and he slipped it past the keeper into the bottom corner for another exsquisit finish.

The game was scrappy but Loko nearly threw it away when Steve and Gary, who had played well in goal, got mixed up and gifted the striker an open goal to slot in and take the game to the wire.

Both sides had one further chance in the match, Roger ran across the edge of the box and hit a great drive which the keeper did well to tip over the bar, then with almost the last kick of the match Deportivo won a header in the box and one of their players managed to lob Gary and it looked to be the equaliser until Steve running towards his own goal cleared the ball with a magnificent overhead kick off the line to ensure Loko won a game, their performance deserved.

Final Score Deportivo De Brentford 2 v Loko 3

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"The new season is upon us once again and for the first time in a long time we got a pretty strong squad out and were up for it from the first whistle. It was always going to be a scrappy performance as some of us had done little fitness work throughout the summer, but tackles were flying in and I was very impressed with us.

We still need to listen to our teammates more, on so many occasions players were free and shouting for the ball and we had our heads down and gave it away. Lets play nice easy passes to teammates, we don't need to hit eye catching passes every time, the third goal proves that. Well done everyone."

Team Line Up
1. Ross
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Steve (c)
6. Dale
7. Terry
8. Morris
9. Dave
10. Roger
11. Vincent
12. George (Various Rolling Substitutions)
13. Gary (Replaced Ross 35th Minute)

Goals
Roger (2)
20th Minute - The ball was played down the left, George played the ball into Dave who ran into the box for Roger to sidefoot into the bottom corner.
55th Minute - Terry got down the right and the ball was played through Vincent and Dave in the centre and was teed up for Roger to again sidefoot into the bottom corner.
Dave (1)
75th Minute - Morris won a tackle inside their half, Dale and Vincent played the ball through midfield to Dave, who played a one two with George which sent Dave away to slip past the keeper.

Man of the Match
Chris - He was given the job of using his strength against the big guy up front for the opposition and marked him out of the game, the striker did not get a sniff all morning. Brilliant. Also, special mention to Roger, Terry and Vincent for strong performances.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.