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.