Sunday, October 04, 2015

Match Report: Loko vs Gander FC

Chessington Sunday League, 
Division 3
Sun 4 Oct 2015
Loko 2 vs Gander FC 4

BACK TO EARTH AS LOKO ENDURE A BAD DAY  AT THE CHESSINGTON OFFICE
So bad today that Dave F is scratching his head wondering what's going on
Gander FC are currently league leaders and, based on their performance in the early stages of the game, they look like they deserve to be there.

Starving our midfield from any balls and putting pressure on our defence, they looked more fluent, fitter and hungrier than us.

But, against the run of play, Loko took the lead on 9 minutes when James crossed from the right hand side and LUKE's powerful header beat the keeper at the far post.

Loko now looked more comfortable and two shots by James in the ensuing 15 minutes should have ended up in the back of the net.

However, on 30 minutes, their number 11 - who was lurking in our box with his back to our goal - lost his marker, spun around and walloped the equaliser into the net from 3 yards out, giving Tony no chance at all.

The last noteworthy chance in the first half was yet another powerful Luke header from a corner but the ball flew over the crossbar.

Half time: Loko 1 vs Gander FC 1

As Loko often play better in the second half, the team got back onto the pitch after the break confident they could nick a result.

Sadly, as our midfield was tiring and gaps were appearing in our 3-man defence, Gander were now in the ascendancy and punished us with two goals within the first 15 minutes of the second half.

Gander put the last nail in the Loko coffin on 69 minutes as Scott's back pass to Tony got intercepted by their nimble number 12 who rolled it into the back of our net.

On 77 minutes a long ball over the Gander defence saw James one-on-one against their keeper whom he rounded but his shot was miraculously headed out of danger by their central defender.

Loko pulled one back with 1 minute to spare when Ash's cross was mysteriously headed into its own goal by their central defender - but it was a case of too little too late as the ref blew the final whistle within a few seconds of the restart.

Overall, although Gander are clearly more within our reach than the likes of St George, Schlep and Clapham Rovers in last year's Sportsman's league, we will have to work harder to get results and there is no place for complacency.

Having said that, today was certainly atypical of what we are capable of. Too many of our passes went astray, too many dribbles were blocked by the opposition and we can only assume that this was simply not our day.

Final score: Loko 2 vs Gander FC 4

M.O.M: Very difficult to award any player this week but, based on the danger he created and his assist, the award this week goes to JAMES.

Line-up:  Tony - Danny, Mark (then Ivan 60'), Scott - Little Matt (then Ollie, 17'), Ash, Matt, Dave F, Hayden- Luke (then Ismail, 70') James

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