Sunday, February 20, 2011

Match Report: Loko v Valtaro Wasteels 'B'

Sunday 20th February 2011
Bert Gaby Challenge Cup Quarter Final

Lokomotiv Londres FC 0 v Valtaro Wasteels 'B' 1

Late Goal Deflates Good Performance

There was a great response from the Lokomen for this game with a full squad and two standby players confirming attendance, one of which was needed early with Morris (pictured below) coming into the squad in place of Vincent who had fallen ill, on only an hour and a half's notice, showing fantastic commitment.


They had somehow managed to turn this into their home match, kicking off later than it should have, so with this, and their shocking pitch it gave them a slight advantage.

The team set up in a 4-4-2 formation with Catalin in goal, Stefano, Chris, Ismail and Aaron at the back, a midfield four of Terry, Dale, Diego and George with Dave and Roger up front.  The subs were Ivan, James and Morris so we had a decent squad for the day.

It was a slow Loko start as usual and they pushed us back early on, not looking like a team that had come off a 6-1 thrashing to London Rangers the week before.  They were moving the ball around quite well but were restricted to long rang efforts that Catalin easily dealt with.

Loko were second to the ball on too many occasions so Dale dropped Dave into the middle of the park to tighten things up and to start winning possession of the ball.  Loko now started to press some more and Dale played Terry in behind but instead of pushing on and shooting at goal, he hit the ball across the area to Roger, but it didn't find its intended target and drifted harmlessly out for a goalkick.

Then Dale played the ball into Terry who sent Dave on his way, and his surprising early ball behind the defender saw Roger run his man and shoot wide with his left foot as the defender pushed him wide.

The game was now pretty end to end and Wasteels should have taken the lead when a long throw was flicked on at the near post and their midfielder ran through and volleyed over the crossbar.

Then it was Loko's turn to put some pressure on their back four with fifteen minutes to half time, a Terry cross was met by Dale seven yards out and his header was cleared off the line at the back post, then shortly after Chris played Terry in behind the full back and his low drive was heading in at the far post until a full length dive by the keeper turned it out for a corner.

Half-Time Loko 0 v Valtaro Wasteels 'B' 0

James came on for George at the break and the talk was all about carrying on the way we had finished the previous half, getting the ball down and start to play.

Loko started the second half strongest and pinned them back for quite a while in and around their area, we had a number of corners but were unable to get on the end of anything and Aaron put in a good number of long throws but nothing came of them.  Both James and Roger had half a second on the edge of the box but failed to get shots away but the signs were looking good.

Valtaro started to push men forward and put in a number of decent balls into the box in behind the defence, but Catalin in goal was more than equal to all of them and he was having a very good game again.  Ismail kept the defence organised and was sweeping up quite well.

Ivan replaced Stefano with Aaron moving to right back, and Loko continued to press and should have took the lead with three really good chances, the first saw Dave trick his way past three men on the edge of the box and the keeper came out well and slid at his feet to make the block, then James got a cut back from Roger but with time to get a shot away he lost his footing and the ball went harmlessly wide.

The final chance should have brought Loko the lead, Terry and Aaron did well down the right and the latters cross saw James unmarked five yards out at the back post and his free header back across goal clattered off the crossbar and luckily for Wasteels wouldn't fall kindly for Tel who had his follow up blocked.

Morris replaced Diego with about twenty five minutes left and the game became such a battle due to the boggy pitch that it was now being played mainly in the middle of the park.  Dave could have scored again when Terry crossed the ball, the keeper came out but dropped it and Dave took the ball wide and around him and with only defenders on the line, hit the side netting.

Wasteels stepped up the pace and a tiring Loko were now off the pace and they created a few good chances in a short space of time, a goalmouth scramble saw Morris deflect the shot wide from a few yards out, then a great Chris challenge saw one of their headers go wide of the post.

They continued to come at us and twice got in down the left and floated balls to the back post which were hit over the bar from close range.  Their goal eventually came with ten minutes left and it was again a gifted goal, Chris started to attack a long ball but then stopped short and the ball bounced over his head and sent the striker away, Catalin was, for some reason, out of his box and the long range first time shot found the target and gave them the lead.

Loko put Dave back up top and continued to press, a foul on James saw Loko win a free kick on the left touchline and after a long injury delay to one of their players, Terry swung a great ball onto the penalty spot which Morris met with a flick of his right boot and despite the whole goal to aim for, unluckily saw the ball go inches past the post.

The referee blew his whistle and Loko were unfortunate to be on the losing side, as we had more than matched our opponents throughout, but our lack of finishing in front of goal is now becoming a real problem as we've had chances in all our competitive games since Christmas but have drawn two and lost three of those and our return should have been so much better.

To make matters worse, Aaron was sent off after the final whistle for dissent at the referee and this will now make our life harder with a few match suspension, just as he had started to become more involved, more eager and more vocal within the team over the last few matches.

Final Score Loko 0 v Valtaro Wasteels 'B' 1

Manager Dale Mellor's comments:
"I cannot fault any of my players for effort and commitment, we battled throughout and created some good chances and with more composure we could easily have had two or three today.

I was not very happy with a couple of players and their attitude, as they continually argued with each other, the referee and the opposition.  It doesn't do anyone any favours and probably ends up with the referee awarding more against us and those players in question not playing to their full potential.

I know that a lot of decisions seemed very one sided throughout by the man in black but it doesn't help so in future cut it out and start encouraging your teammates.

We play these again in two weeks time at our place and this is likely to be a double header so we'll see then how many players play, who played today, not that I'm implying anything at all.........!"

Team Line Up
1. Catalin
2. Stefano
3. Aaron [R]
4. Chris
5. Ismail
6. Dale
7. Terry
8. Diego
9. Dave
10. Roger (c)
11. George
12. James (Replaced George 45th Minute)
13. Ivan (Replaced Stefano 55th Minute)
14. Morris (Replaced Diego 65th Minute)

Man of the Match
Terry - It was another stand out performance from Tel and this is the second week running he has bagged the award, as he ran, ran and ran and could have scored on a couple of occasions.  He harried, was good on the ball and his set piece delivery today was first class.

Special mention to Ismail who held the defence together well throughout and to myself for my constant communication and the fact I got through a full game, I need you all to start communicating more in a positive fashion.

Match Report by Dale Mellor.

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