Sportsman's League,
Division 1
Division 1
Sun 17 Nov 2013
AFC Maverick 3 vs Loko 2
UNLUCKY LOKO PLAY OUT OF THEIR SKINS BUT SUCCUMB TO SUCKER PUNCH
Encounters against the excellent AFC Maverick are an occasion to savour. These types of games against strong teams that play good passing football always seem to motivate the troops and ensure all players prepare professionally. Manager Terry’s careful plans quickly went up in smoke though as Gomes pulled out on the morning of the game whereas captain Matt decided to reshuffle his defence for the day, playing Mark as left back.
Loko started very strongly and played with great confidence from the outset. No doubt, the return of Dave K (pictured above) also proved beneficial. Dave immediately stamped the game with his class. On 14 minutes, the big man departed on one of his trademark runs in the Maverick half and forced his way through their defence, passed to ADIL just inside the box who coolly slotted the ball to the keeper’s right for our deserved opener.
Unlike in recent games, Loko were aggressive and alert in midfield with Gary proving invaluable as an additional defensive shield. True, Maverick managed to untangle themselves from the Loko vice now and again and launch quite a few venomous attacks but the defence where Matthew, Neil and Ivan in particular excelled themselves remained rock solid. When beaten, John’s ability was an additional guarantee fuelled by a pre-game can of…energy drink.
Unfortunately for us, Maverick are blessed with a few high quality players, in particular their perfectly coiffed number 7 who shrugged off 3 defenders' attempts to muscle him out of the way and then placed a delicious angled shot from 5 yards out that nestled just inside John’s far corner for Maverick’s equaliser.
Despite this setback, Loko were in no mood to let the opposition dominate and the usually composed Maverick were visibly perturbed by the railwaymen’s vigorous challenges.
The last 10 minutes saw a Maverick revival and perfectly targeted attacks unlike the numerous match balls that flew over King’s House inadequate perimeter fence so much so that, at some stage, it looked like the game was going to have to be abandoned through lack of available footballs!
Half time: AFC Maverick 1 vs Loko 1
At half time, another welcome comeback saw Luke’s return instead of Dave F and despite being 50% fit, our additional midfield maestro took to the pitch like a duck to water after a long lay-off due to a knee injury.
Speaking of which, 3 minutes after the ref blew his whistle to usher in the second half, Maverick launched an attack down our left hand side. As Mark tried to cover his wing, he jumped for a header and, as he landed, his hamstring popped and our defender crumpled to the floor. Now unopposed, their right winger scampered down the wing and crossed the ball into the box for their number 11 to divert the shot straight inside John’s left post and into the net.
A terrible stroke of bad luck indeed and certainly a demoralising one at a time when it was obvious to all that we were in a with a great chance to vindicate our cup hammering against the men in yellow.
Shaun came on for Mark at left back. Matthew was playing brilliant as a makeshift right back, Neil was encouraging his teammates, Matt was spraying balls around the pitch at will, Luke was going in both strongly and skilfully whilst, James, Adil and Dave K were causing Maverick countless headaches with their meandering runs.
The breakthrough came on 79 minutes. Adil passed to Dave K on the right of the box and our number 10 swivelled and unleashed a ferocious shot that was about to hit the bar but was palmed off by their keeper who was unable to stop JAMES’s header into the far left corner. Cue massive Loko cheers.
Sadly, jubilation was short lived. With only 8 minutes on the clock, a loose ball in midfield bounced over Gary’s head and the ball’s trajectory was interrupted by Ivan but the ball was eventually collected by their number 11 who passed to their number 8 who made his way into the Loko defence, beat 2 defenders and slammed the ball under the crossbar and into the net.
Neil was now battling on despite a crushing ankle injury and so were the railwaymen despite this sucker punch all the way to the final whistle.
All in all, this was a phenomenal Loko performance that deserved a draw. Very rarely do players leave a football pitch after a defeat in relatively high spirits as was the case today but it was obvious to all that this was a genuinely superb performance all the men involved ought to be proud of.
Fnal score: AFC Maverick 3 vs Loko 2
M.O.M: this week's award goes to not one but to 4 players who are all worthy of the accolade: Matthew, Neil, Luke and Dave K. but as mentioned above, all of today’s players deserve a pat on the back.
Line-up: John – Matthew, Neil, Ivan, Mark (then Shaun 48’) – Gary, Matt, Dave F (then Luke, 46’) – Dave K, James - Adil
UNLUCKY LOKO PLAY OUT OF THEIR SKINS BUT SUCCUMB TO SUCKER PUNCH
Encounters against the excellent AFC Maverick are an occasion to savour. These types of games against strong teams that play good passing football always seem to motivate the troops and ensure all players prepare professionally. Manager Terry’s careful plans quickly went up in smoke though as Gomes pulled out on the morning of the game whereas captain Matt decided to reshuffle his defence for the day, playing Mark as left back.
Loko started very strongly and played with great confidence from the outset. No doubt, the return of Dave K (pictured above) also proved beneficial. Dave immediately stamped the game with his class. On 14 minutes, the big man departed on one of his trademark runs in the Maverick half and forced his way through their defence, passed to ADIL just inside the box who coolly slotted the ball to the keeper’s right for our deserved opener.
Unlike in recent games, Loko were aggressive and alert in midfield with Gary proving invaluable as an additional defensive shield. True, Maverick managed to untangle themselves from the Loko vice now and again and launch quite a few venomous attacks but the defence where Matthew, Neil and Ivan in particular excelled themselves remained rock solid. When beaten, John’s ability was an additional guarantee fuelled by a pre-game can of…energy drink.
Unfortunately for us, Maverick are blessed with a few high quality players, in particular their perfectly coiffed number 7 who shrugged off 3 defenders' attempts to muscle him out of the way and then placed a delicious angled shot from 5 yards out that nestled just inside John’s far corner for Maverick’s equaliser.
Despite this setback, Loko were in no mood to let the opposition dominate and the usually composed Maverick were visibly perturbed by the railwaymen’s vigorous challenges.
The last 10 minutes saw a Maverick revival and perfectly targeted attacks unlike the numerous match balls that flew over King’s House inadequate perimeter fence so much so that, at some stage, it looked like the game was going to have to be abandoned through lack of available footballs!
Half time: AFC Maverick 1 vs Loko 1
At half time, another welcome comeback saw Luke’s return instead of Dave F and despite being 50% fit, our additional midfield maestro took to the pitch like a duck to water after a long lay-off due to a knee injury.
Speaking of which, 3 minutes after the ref blew his whistle to usher in the second half, Maverick launched an attack down our left hand side. As Mark tried to cover his wing, he jumped for a header and, as he landed, his hamstring popped and our defender crumpled to the floor. Now unopposed, their right winger scampered down the wing and crossed the ball into the box for their number 11 to divert the shot straight inside John’s left post and into the net.
A terrible stroke of bad luck indeed and certainly a demoralising one at a time when it was obvious to all that we were in a with a great chance to vindicate our cup hammering against the men in yellow.
Shaun came on for Mark at left back. Matthew was playing brilliant as a makeshift right back, Neil was encouraging his teammates, Matt was spraying balls around the pitch at will, Luke was going in both strongly and skilfully whilst, James, Adil and Dave K were causing Maverick countless headaches with their meandering runs.
The breakthrough came on 79 minutes. Adil passed to Dave K on the right of the box and our number 10 swivelled and unleashed a ferocious shot that was about to hit the bar but was palmed off by their keeper who was unable to stop JAMES’s header into the far left corner. Cue massive Loko cheers.
Sadly, jubilation was short lived. With only 8 minutes on the clock, a loose ball in midfield bounced over Gary’s head and the ball’s trajectory was interrupted by Ivan but the ball was eventually collected by their number 11 who passed to their number 8 who made his way into the Loko defence, beat 2 defenders and slammed the ball under the crossbar and into the net.
Neil was now battling on despite a crushing ankle injury and so were the railwaymen despite this sucker punch all the way to the final whistle.
All in all, this was a phenomenal Loko performance that deserved a draw. Very rarely do players leave a football pitch after a defeat in relatively high spirits as was the case today but it was obvious to all that this was a genuinely superb performance all the men involved ought to be proud of.
Fnal score: AFC Maverick 3 vs Loko 2
M.O.M: this week's award goes to not one but to 4 players who are all worthy of the accolade: Matthew, Neil, Luke and Dave K. but as mentioned above, all of today’s players deserve a pat on the back.
Line-up: John – Matthew, Neil, Ivan, Mark (then Shaun 48’) – Gary, Matt, Dave F (then Luke, 46’) – Dave K, James - Adil
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