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.
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