Sunday, March 18, 2012

Match Report: Loko vs Wessex Rangers

Sportsman's Division 4
Sunday 18th March 2012
Loko 3 vs Wessex Rangers 3

LOKO FRUSTRATE IN HARD-EARNED DRAW

Despite the heavy downpour the night before and the constant threat of ILEA cancelling the day's fixtures to protect their manicured pitches, today’s match went ahead as planned and with the added benefit of spring sunshine.

Right from the word go, Wessex Rangers showed that their low scoring league record was warranted as they were showing little sign of firepower.

Loko had most of the play and were passing the ball beautifully at times in a new 4-2-3-1 formation. Luiz on the right was showing great touches whilst Imants (pictured) was at his majestic best on the left, spraying balls around at will.

On 16 minutes, a cross from the left saw Luiz face the keeper on the right edge of the box for what looked like an opener but he skied the chance. A few minutes later, Imants shook off his marker on the left hand side of the box and cut inside but his shot ended up in the side netting.

On 21 minutes though, Luiz launched a perfectly weighted cross from 35 yards out on the right into the path of Imants on the left who passed to DAVE F on the edge of the box who smashed the ball into the bottom corner.

Loko 1 Wessex Rangers 0

Things were looking good: Loko were in control thanks in part to Gavyn who was his dominant, battering ram self in midfield, meaning that few Wessex Rangers were willing to get too close to him for fear of breaking a limb.

Yet, on 28 minutes, Loko conceded an unnecessary free-kick 25 yards out. Their midfielder played the ball over the defence and onto their number 8 who was unmarked on the right hand side and had all the time in the world to shoot from a relatively tight angle. Terry blocked the shot but the ball spun off out of his hands and into the back of the net. 

Loko 1 Wessex Rangers 1

This came as a shock to the team as Loko looked on course to deliver their first win of 2012. The shock quickly turned into a nightmare when one of their forwards slammed a shot from the right hand of our box onto our right post with the ricochet being  diverted by Ismail onto the shin of Ivan who inadvertently deflected the ball into his own net.

Loko 1 Wessex Rangers 2

Despite this undeserved turn of events, Loko stepped up a gear and went at Wessex Rangers with renewed energy. With only 8 minutes before half time and the sluggish Wessex defence struggling against James P who was chasing every single ball and sending their defenders into a panic, our opponents conceded a corner. Gavyn decided to somehow piggyback onto Ivan in the box and the sight of the two big monsters on top of each other possibly put Wessex off as the ball swung into the box and  didn’t connect with anybody but IMANTS who controlled it on the edge of the box and drilled it high up into the net. 

Half time: Loko 2 Wessex Rangers 2

As the second half got under way, Terry decided to stick with the starting eleven. Again, Loko were playing very well, passing the ball on the wings and from the back to the midfield and into the forwards.

However, it was all becoming very frustrating as Wessex were soaking up the pressure and their keeper was doing a good job of snuffing out any chances capably despite his deceivingly relaxed approach and slow movements.

It then became an even more frustrating state of affairs on 60 minutes. Matt’s composed style and Gavyn’s forceful approach had up until then paid dividends in terms of possession, but they were both beginning to tire and gaps started to appear in our midfield.

This is when, from a counter-attack, their number 8 found himself unmarked on the right side of our defence. Despite Ivan running back to cover, the Wessex man strode forward and, from 12 yards out, put the ball away low to the ground to the right of Terry.

Loko 2 Wessex Rangers 3

Loko’s prospects looked decidedly grim with very little sign of the Railwaymen restoring parity. Yet, with only 6 minutes before the final whistle  Alejandro, who’d been loitering on the right, pushed forward, got the ball off his defender and passed to JAMES who sped into the box and fired a shot from an impossible angle into the left top corner. Point saved!

Final score: Loko 3 Wessex Rangers 3

Club Secreatry Ivan commented: ‘Wessex were definitely beatable today but we lacked composure up front, tired in midfield and made mistakes in defence. Let’s get our first win of 2012 next week in our grudge match against Lonsdale”   

Man of the Match (as awarded by Terry): Energy, speed, never-say-die attitude and a brilliant goal – it’s got to be JAMES P. Special mentions to Luiz, Kevin and James B.

Line-up:
Terry
James B
Ivan
Ismail (then Marcel, 60’)
Kevin
Gavyn
Matt
Dave F
Luiz (then Alejandro, 70’)
Imants
James P

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