Sunday 23rd January 2011
Sportsmans League Division 3
Lokomotiv Londres FC 1 v Wee Hoose Celtic 2
Soft Penalty Gifts Celtic Victory
It was the first league game of a new year but unfortunately yet again we had someone drop out on the morning of a match, this is now happening every game and really disrupts the teams preparation. Luckily for Loko we had Mark Bullock, making his tenth Loko debut, coming along to watch and Ismail's son Hakim as well so we ended up with a full squad.
The team was Catalin in goal, a back four of Stefano, Chris, Ismail and Ivan, a midfield four of Aaron, Diego, Steve, George with Dale and Dave up front.
It was a frantic start with tackles flying in all around, for the first ten minutes not too much was created but then Celtic found some rhythm and started to push the Railwaymen back. They managed to break through the backline on a couple of occasions far too easily but Ismail and Chris backtracked well and they ended up having shots from the edge of the area but never really hit the target.
Loko were not playing very well and were giving up possession far too easily, but we did hit them on the counter attack on a couple of occasions, Dave (pictured above) got away down the right and crossed for Aaron who could only direct his free header directly at the keeper who was closing him down, and then shortly after a goalmouth scramble ensued and Dave looked like he could curl home from eight yards but drilled it straight at the defender.
Celtic had a few more chances and only bad finishing kept the scores level at the break as they headed wide a couple of times from inside the six yard box and Catalin made a couple of great saves, Dale switched positions with Diego to try and tighten the midfield. Aaron had an altercation with one of their players before the break and both players were lucky that the referee didn't send them off and both ended up with a booking for violent conduct.
Half-Time Loko 0 v Wee Hoose Celtic 0
The half time team talk was that the team needed to compete more as we were second to the headers and first and second challenges and we needed to believe in ourselves. One change at the break saw Hakim replace Aaron on the right wing.
It may have been the team talk but Loko started the second half on fire and were on the money from the first whistle, we were finally attacking as a unit and giving each other options.
The ball was worked from the back by Ismail through Dale and Diego and found Dave out on the right, he skinned two and drilled the ball across the six yard box and Steve had an open goal but with the ball a little behind him he couldn't connect properly and the ball trickled towards goal and was cleared off the line, the rebound found George ten yards out and he had all the time in the world but shot wide with just a couple of defenders on the line and no keeper in sight.
Almost immediately Diego and Dave linked well and put in Steve down the left and his shot hit the outside of the post and out for a goalkick. The goal eventually came and it was a great solo effort, when DAVE came in off the touch line again past two defenders and hit the bottom corner from outside the box.
Loko made a change and Morris came on for Stefano, and were still dominating possession with a couple of tame long range efforts from Dale and Diego. They then had a good chance when their player curled towards the top corner but Catalin dived full length and tipped the ball over the bar.
The game turned when Dale injured his knee in a tackle with the opposition and the game was halted for five minutes, he tried to play on but Loko seemed to lose concentration and within two minutes they had equalised when their player jinked far too easily into the box and mishit a shot into the bottom corner.
Loko made their final substitution immediately with Dale unable to continue and he was replaced by Mark, who went up front and Diego dropped back into midfield. Within another two minutes the game completely turned around and this time Loko gifted them a penalty, a shot which was going way over the bar was blocked by Ivan with his hands above his head and they scored the penalty at the second time of asking, after encroachment ruled out the first.
Loko tried to push and should have done better when Mark was sent into the box with a defender in front of him and he hit the side netting with two Loko players free to his right and Diego free to his left, and another goalmouth scramble from a corner went unrewarded.
Celtic had plenty of counter attacks as we pushed forward and good goalkeeping, last chance defending and bad finishing kept us in the game.
Loko nearly got the equaliser in the last minute that their battling display would have justified when Mark was again played in on the left hand side of the box and his shot across goal beat the keeper but hit the inside of the post and bounced back out into the keepers grateful arms.
Final Score Loko 1 v Wee Hoose Celtic 2
Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"It wasn't a great first half and we were lucky to go in at the break level, but I thought the way we responded in the second half was fantastic and we battled away well and even though the opposition created a lot of chances I thought we were unlucky not to snatch a draw at the end.
We played missing four big players in Terry, Roger, James and Rhyce which could have made a difference but everyone who came in gave everything and I have nothing but praise for the way we kept going right until the end when I thought Mark had stolen us a point.
If I hadn't got injured then we may not have lost concentration and may have kept up the pressure, but these things happen.
It was a good game and very enjoyable, and we need to start turning these results around."
Team Line Up
1. Catalin
2. Stefano
3. Ivan
4. Chris
5. Ismail
6. Steve (c)
7. Aaron
[Y]
8. Diego
9. Dale
10. Dave
11. George
12. Hakim (Replaced Aaron 45th Minute)
13. Morris (Replaced Stefano 50th Minute)
14. Mark (Replaced Dale 60th Minute)
Goal
Dave (1)
50th Minute - A run down the right and cut inside by Dave saw him hit the ball into the bottom corner from just outside the box.
Man of the Match
Catalin - A very, very good performance from our keeper kept us in the game. He was commanding, came for crosses and made some excellent saves. Having a keeper who can keep you in the game to the final whistle can make all the difference. Brilliant game, well done.
Match Report by Dale Mellor.
Sunday 30th January 2011
