Sun 9 March 2014
Loko 2 vs Parklife B 0
LADY LUCK SHINES ON LOKO
Jack Wooding
Official Lokomotiv Correspondent, Photographer and Player
Beautiful weather, a full 14 man squad, a team in good spirits after scoring a goal after 1 minute of play, what could possibly go wrong?
Answer: Dave F hobbling off injured after only three minutes. This was however after TOMMY, our stand in striker for Adil, scored a great header from Mark's cross to open the scoring after only 1 minute on the clock.
Dave was replaced by Hassan on the right side of midfield and for the first 15-20 minutes of the first half it looked as if Loko would be the team to score the all important second goal. Tommy was leading the line well up front, muscling and harrying defenders at every opportunity with his strength and Matt and Terry looking to play early balls for James to run onto.
After 15 mins Tommy controlled a long ball played up to him, turned his marker and played a ball with the outside of his foot forward towards James. Unfortunately Parklife's covering defender was in the right place at the right time to clear the ball to stop James running onto this pass and a probable second Loko goal.
Loko were failing to get their passing game together and resembled a team more like 80s Wimbledon playing constant long balls forward with a lack of support to Tommy and James up fron,t which enabled Parklife to gain confidence and control the game.
Time and again Parklife were attacking through the centre of midfield and putting balls past Ismail and Mark out wide to their wingers but a lack of cutting edge upfront and good last ditch defending from Loko was keeping our clean sheet intact.
Terry realised this and changed the team round. He went to right back and Ismail slotted into the defensive midfield position alongside Luke. This personnel change didn't have the desired effect as a constant stream of Parklife attacks down both sides almost resulted in goals. John was doing well despite injury to keep Loko in front whilst awful finishing by Parklife kept us in the lead. Loko somehow went into half time 1-0 up. Having only two shots all half compared to Parklife's numerous efforts.
Half time: Loko 1 vs Parklife B 0.
The second half began much as most of the first half went. Loko under pressure, rushing possession and a lack of team cohesion and shape allowing Parklife chance after chance to level the scores. Things threatened to boil over when John and Neil started arguing after a Parklife corner almost resulted in an equalizing goal and Terry deciding to kick a Parklife player straight in the balls, which was thankfully missed by the female referee.
On 55 minutes, Parklife missed an open goal, two yards out, smashing the Loko cross-bar and bouncing out to safety. This was to be punished as Loko finally put a counter attack together, which resulted in a through ball to JAMES who finished under the keeper, who really should have done better. Parklife were not downhearted and continued to find joy getting shots at the Loko goal but John stood firm.
After 70 minutes Loko made their final changes. Jack W came on for Hassan and Ivan came on for Mark. Neil went further forward to support the attack with Ivan slotting into defence alongside Gary. Terry went to left back and Ismail right back.
Still Loko failed to control the game with Parklife players arguing amongst themselves about all their missed efforts. Loko could have actually made the game safe after 80 minutes when Tommy put Neil through one on one with their keeper but his effort was weak and went wide.
Loko managed to see out the game following last ditch defending from Gary and Ivan as well as Ismail making a great tackle in the area that Parklife claimed was a penalty but the referee was in a good position to make the right call.
We will have to up our game next weekend against traditional rivals FC Lonsdale in order to secure three points if we want to challenge the promotion places.
MOM: John, Tommy, Terry, Neil and Gary all performed admirably this week and our good goalkeeper, defence, and strikers were the key to this victory compared to Parklife's woeful finishing and questionable goalkeeper.
Line-up: GK JOHN: DF - ISMAIL, NEIL, GARY, MARK (IVAN 70'). MF: TERRY, LUKE, MATT, DAVE F (HASSAN 3', JACK W 70') FW: TOMMY, JAMES
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