Match Report: FC Schelp vs Loko

Sportsman's League,
Senior Amateur Division
Sun 25 Jan 2015
FC Schelp 4 vs Loko 0


FORT ALAMO LOKO FOR 80 MINUTES

   

Last time we played FC Schelp, we got tonked 9-1 and several players commented that this was the best amateur team they had ever played against.

With the pitch hard as a rock due to the recent frost, Schelp nowhere to be seen at 10:30, and a few of our better players not present, a few squad members suggested it might not be a a bad idea to get the ref to postpone the game. But, you have to wonder why you would want to get out of bed early on a Sunday morning and not wanting to play... Thankfully, the majority were up for it...

Schelp strolled in 30 minutes late. Most of them look like school boys compared to the more "mature" Loko squad and were probably ready to turn the tables and teach us as hard a lesson as back in September.

Well, this time, Loko were not going to lie down and let Schelp run rings round us. The likes of Beni, Neil, Chris, Ivan and Matt were getting stuck in and harassing them in defence and midfield.

True these guys play like a mini Barcelona with their intricate triangles. Their weaknesses? Not many... Their keeper is dodgy and they suck at throw-ins but apart from that, they certainly know how to play the beautiful game.

Loko were working hard up and down the pitch and despite the lack of support up front, James was trying his best to shake off the usual 2 or 3 markers on his back.

Loko resisted for a good 20 minutes but then their number 11 took a shot from just outside the box and the ball skidded past Ismail for their opener.

FC Schelp 1 vs Loko 0.

Loko managed to create a few chances but it was mainly on the counter -attack whilst Schelp were sensational and dancing round our players but their finishing was not up to scratch although they smacked the crossbar on 39 minutes and on many occasions last ditch efforts by Neil, Mark, Ivan and Chris as well as an excellent Ismail saved us.

Half time: FC Schelp 1 vs Loko 0.

The second half was in the same vein, ie one-way traffic but Loko seemed to heed Matt's wise words at half time, namely, let's start strong as we have been poor in the second half this calendar year.

This is how Loko turned into Fort Alamo. No matter how many times Schelp were bombarding our goal, a combination of erring finishing on their part and heroic defending from the whole team kept them at bay.

Loko were also hoping to snatch an equaliser from the occasional corner but, despite our height advantage, their defenders were excellent at averting danger and launching devastating counter attacks at a blistering pace.

However, on 80 minutes, as Beni was battling with their number 11 in our box, their man found himself elbowed to the ground and the ref blew his whistle. Penalty. One of their midfielders took it and hit the roof of our goal just above Ismail's head.

FC Schelp 2 vs Loko 0.

Things got heated just after that when Beni and their number 14 were barking at each other resulting in Beni being yellow carded.

Schelp scored a third goal from just outside the box on 85 minutes and topped up their tally on 88 minutes following an incident where Beni fouled their forward on the edge of the box. With half of our team defending on the goal line and then moving forward with the exception of Neil, their number 14 fired his shot in the roof of the net with venom from 12 yards out.

Our players trundled off the pitch probably feeling disappointed that we conceded so late in the game but knowing that they had fought their heart out.

M.O.M: The award today goes to both Neil Lionheart and Ismail (pictured above) whose saves kept us in the game.

Line-up: Ismail - Chris, Ivan, Neil, Mark - Beni, Matt, Dan, Hayden - Dave F, James