Match Report: Wilf Kroucher FC vs Loko

FriendlySat 26 April 2015
Wilf Kroucher FC 2 vs Loko 2


STRONG PERFORMANCE BY THE LOKO BOYS

Back row: Ivan, Terry, Hayden, Ismail, Stefano, Marcel
Front row: Beni, Dave F, Neil, Lawrence, Miguel

Following last week's heavy defeat at the hands of the "Real Madrid" of the Sportsman's League, Loko welcomed three new players to the team in the shape of Lawrence and Stefano and new boy Miguel, yet another Gumtree recruit.

Despite Wilf Kroucher being announced as a very good team, Loko more than held their own right from the start, especially in midfield where the likes of Hayden, Lawrence, Dave and Miguel were exchanging neat little passes whilst Terry and Beni on the wings were creating danger.

On 18 minutes, Dave F carved the Kroucher defence open with a pass through the middle for TERRY who shook off his marker and scored from a very tight angle at the far post.

Wilf Kroucher 0 vs Loko 1

Loko were now in full stride and containing Kroucher who showed very little in the way of aerial threat with the exception of their gigantic number 4 whilst the main danger emanated from their number 7 who was twisting and turning in the middle of the park and spraying balls across the field, but to no avail.

However, on 29 minutes, as Marcel was under pressure on the left hand side of our defence, their winger ran onto a loose ball and pinged a cross into our box that evaded both Stefano and Ismail and found their number 8 who headed the ball into the back of our net from 4 yards out.

Half time: Wilf Kroucher 1 vs Loko 1

Shortly after the beginning of the second half, bespectacled new boy Louis came on and started causing trouble on the right wing with his pace and clever turns.

Loko now had the wind in their sails despite the odd incursion into our half. On 67 minutes, Neil went past a couple of players in his own half and floated a long pass down the rightr wing for Louis. The teenager controlled the ball and despatched a perfect cross for HAYDEN who was loitering with intent on the edge of their box and twisted his body as he received the cross and hit the back of the net off the far post.

Wilf Kroucher 1 vs Loko 2

Kroucher were visibly upset about this goal as they were now in the ascendancy and putting pressure on our midfield where gaps were appearing and trying to capitalise on any of our defensive errors and fouls. One of these fouls on the edge of our box saw their number 10 curve the resulting freekick over our wall and into the roof of the net past Ismail.

Wilf Kroucher 2 vs Loko 2

Loko were now fighting tooth and nail and repelling attack after attack, in particular Neil who was outstanding and Beni who was tackling like mad despite the harder than usual (3G) surface.

The railwaymen's rearguard action looked like it was going to be undone from a corner kick on 90 minutes as their big number 4 jumped higher than Ivan and his header looked like it was going to find the back of the net only for Terry to spring like a jack in the box and save with a header on the line.

All in all, this was a very good Loko performance worth remembering for its quality passing and sheer determination throughout the team.

M.O.M: This week's award goes to BENI for his phenomenal workrate up and down the pitch.

Line-up: Ismail - Stefano (then Louis, 46'), Neil, Ivan, Marcel - Miguel (then Stefano, 70'), Hayden, Beni, Lawrence - Dave F (then Miguel, 80'), Terry.