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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.
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