Match Report: Oak Cup Final Loko vs Galaxy

8 Goals, 2 Pens, 2 Reds and Collapse

" How?........."

This is not the match report I had planned in my head on Friday afternoon.....

With our biggest squad this season we traveled together by coach to Banstead's home ground to play this Cup Final. Our opponents are the only team in this league that we have not yet beaten this season and we are all well aware of it. This was always gonna be a difficult game.

The game started with Galaxy very dominant in the first ten minutes or so. Their " Number 32 " has all the attributes needed for a center midfield player and today he was gonna show us how good he was. They passed among themselves and crossed from their left side on a few occasions early doors showing us what they had both on the floor and in the air. With play spread out to the wings they also ran at us with Hayden sliding on numerous occasions to block crosses and intercept passes with Scott as solid as ever behind, we coped. A couple of shots and a couple of headers just wide and over of goal showed their capabilities and threats, We hadn't started yet.

A Loko long ball over the top toward Rob saw us win our first corner of the game. Dave providing a lovely cross into the danger area where a scramble ensued with Ash finding himself with the ball at his feet, and as recent form has shown he finished his chance! 1-0

Our heads were now up and nerves calmed, we started to see more of the ball and create chances. A superb ball in from the left saw an equably superb header from Rob, saved once again equally superb from the Galaxy Keeper. Great football! Rob continued, as per every week, showing the large crowd what he can do and exactly how he would punish them given the chance.

A flurry of corners from Galaxy saw us defending well with Danny, Neil and Scottcoping with the stepped up pressure, including a corner that fell to a Galaxy player on the edge of the box who's shot was well saved of the line by Daves Bolloxs on the post! This led to him going off for Mason! 

Hayden closing down on the left found the ball at his feet past one defender and inside the second with the cross into Rob that saw him brought down by an angry Player, Penalty! The offending player decided to vent his frustration verbally at the young Ref who produced a red card! Galaxy down to 10! 

Matt stepped up and once again found the back of the net. 2-0

With the opposition down to 10 we wanted to punish them. Again Hayden down the left cut back inside to Gary who's shot was not far off the left post!

Ash's Turn next , passed two players and a venomous shot just over the bar! Mason, recently on was well fired up! He has brought pace, Tackles and energy all season to Loko and today was not gonna be any different! Gary, not letting the occasion of the final get to him at all, as he continued to win every header asked of him along with a few slide tackles to compliment the pitch surface . Lee although quieter than normal was running everywhere trying to cancel out their best players influence on the game . 

Loko were on the up so it was disheartening to see a chance shot from Galaxy outside the box sneak past Tony to give them some hope. 2-1

Half Time 2-1

Half time talk concentrated on the fact that this game is not won! 10 players is always dangerous, although a goal lead as well, was always gonna give us confidence. Colin on for Tony.

Galaxy started very well second half. They were gonna give this a go! The Ginger Twins backed up by " number 32 " started to dominate. They went through on goal on three occasions with Loko being very lucky not to concede. Danny had a good first half but picked up an injury so went off for Mark.

A long throw from Scott on the left came off a Galaxy head and straight into the head of Rob who finished a half chance brilliantly only to be denied by an incorrect offside decision????

Minutes later this bad luck was to be reversed as Ash was released down the right side and the incoming keeper couldn't stop him passing the ball passed him to roll towards goal. Now any person reading this report or connected with Loko will know that I am a team Player, I'll always pass over shooting, set up others over glory, so when I say I thought Ash's shot was going wide you will all know I mean it, including Ash who congratulated me as I poked the ball over the line into the Galaxy net. 3-1

Hayden Off for Luke. I think at 3-1 up against 10 men we all had visions in our head of lifting the cup, the problem was, so did Galaxy. Two quick goals in concession not only put Galaxy level at 3-3 but have them a massive spring in there step. Apart from Mason who continued to run at the opposition on every opportunity we were looking tired. A long ball into our area saw A Galaxy player go down for some reason unknown to everyone except the ref who blew up for a penalty ? A booking ensued for A frustrated Colin who now faced a penalty from the Galaxy captain who Dispatched it well. 3-4

Minutes later Colin saw himself pick up a second yellow and the resulting red card for Discent. Colin and Ash off for Tony. We now we're level in player numbers but a goal down to pull back. James acknowledged this and started to run at the Galaxy defense causing them to adjust their formation to cope, but a late mistake from Loko gave Galaxy there comeback as well as the Cup. 3-5

Full Time

Lokokotiv 3-5 Chessington Galaxy

( Ash, Matt, Hayden )

Weekly Questions

Did we deserve to win today? No

Did we put it in today? Yes

Man of The Match?

Some decent performances taking into consideration it was a fairly big occasion but Masons energy and pace outshone everyone else's performance today.

Final Thought

I started the report asking, " How? "

And that's how I'll end it, How? We will all have our own ideas and reasoning as to how and why we lost today but ultimately they were the better team on the day. We have failed to beat this team on 5 occasions this season.

It's important to remember we didn't lose the cup we finished 2nd. With a chance of finishing in the top half of the table this year as well, our first season has been fairly successful. To also be too down hearted with events on Friday night also takes away the effort that went into making it a good occasion and that is a double blow for some of us.

We will be back, of that I have no doubt!

Quote of the Week

" Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn "