Ghosts, 5 Goals, Late Drama & 3 Returns To Churchfields
" On The Eve Of Halloween An Old Ghost, Predictably, Came Back To Haunt Us "
Today we faced our first big challenge of the season against a team of whom we heard so much about but was yet to face. Yes they are riding high at the top of the league and yes they poached one of our best players from last season but Matt reminded us all before the start of the game that any one is beatable and on our day we will beat every single team in this league. We had a strong team out today and was not gonna throw the towel in before we had kicked a ball.
The game got off to a good start for both teams with some end to end football. Loko passed the ball well among the midfield always finding the outlet of Chris on the right who didn't disappoint on every occasion, with his now trademark head down runs, that beat his man time after time. With Chris there is also always an end product, as his first cross of the game reached Hayden who laid the ball back off to Lee who got a shot away on goal.
Our defence today started this game with complete confidence and dominance. We were all well aware of Robs ability and knew we needed to defend to a high standard to keep him out of the goals. Neil and Danny welcomed Rob back to Churchfields within the first 60 seconds, tag teaming a piggy back style move, that left him on the floor, Welcome back Rob! Neil, Danny, Scott and Stocker held a great line moving together, passing together, winning header after header and thwarting any attack that wheatsheaf bestowed on our goal.
The midfield were no different in this first half with Matt having a dominant game winning headers and free kicks over every blade of grass. Gary showing everyone that you need to go for every header no matter how high the ball is in the air and Lee M doing what Lee M does best running with the ball, hassling players gaining ground with every move to support the rest of the team wherever the ball was.
Mason, battling out on the left today, put a great ball through to Hayden who's shot was deflected for a Loko corner. Chris swung the ball in from it and Matt headed on from the front post as the ball dropped into the middle of the goal line for a Wheatsheaf player to clear! Very Close. Make no mistake we were on top of this game, we had chances, the two best being one as Lee M played a inch perfect ball to Hayden who was through one on one but went low and the out coming keeper went low and saved. Next up, Stocker making a great run on the left passed two players passed inwards to Matt who played a superb in swinging ball towards goal which Chris, from the right, headed powerfully at goal only for the Wheatsheaf keeper to make a world class save and tip the ball over the bar!!
Half Time 0-0
We were playing well, so encouragement was aplenty in the half time talk. The defence held strong and dominant, the midfield were no where near being outplayed by the self named " Ex Chelsea academy Players".
Every week we talk of coming out the blocks slow from half time but today was a little different. Wheatsheaf kicked off and immediate pressure from Loko gave us back the ball and we continued one of the longest passing streaks I've seen this season. We went back, forward, back and forward and looked good and confident on the ball, for the first time in ages I could count on only one hand how many times we went long! However Wheatsheaf started to go long as they knew Rob could hold the ball up and create chances. They profited from this tactic as a long ball was taken down on his chest and as he went through one on one with Colin his low shot fell under Colins body to trickle into the net. The Ghost of Guesty returning to haunt us. 0-1
This seemed harsh as we did not deserve to be a goal down! An inspired double substitution from Matt and Gary saw Dave F come on to the left of midfield, with our 3rd return to Churchfields, from Luke Stanton! Immediate Impact as the First action once both subs were on was a long ball down field from the keeper that was only ever gonna be won by one man on the field, Luke! The resulting knock on led to a Loko Corner. Up stepped Dave F who took a clever corner to an incoming Stocker on the edge of the box who's powerful shot was deflected back to Dave who once again provided a pinpoint ball into the box onto the head of Luke who powerfully directed the ball into the top corner! 1-1
Loko were not finished there! another run on the right by Chris saw a cross into the box as Luke lunged and was agonizingly close to connecting to give us the lead. We were on the up and started to put pressure on the opposition. Chris had a couple of shots at goal from the right. Hayden headed on a high kick from Colin into the path of an oncoming Stocker, he took the ball further down the left and a little way outdie the corner of the box he hit a great floating shot over the head of the keeper into the right hand side of the net. Banger Of a Goal on an important day for Lee! 2-1
Wheatsheaf had a few bookings today due to dissent with there center back being shown a second yellow and subsequent red with only 15 minutes remaining. With the opposition down to ten men and Loko up 2-1 we needed to close this game out. Unfortunatley we were unable to. A cross from Wheatsheaf's right wasn't dealt with, and as the ball fell onto the Hand of Rob Guest, he managed to get the ball under control and finish a shot into our Net. 2-2
Wheatsheaf had their tails in the air and sensed nerves among us as they pushed on for a winner in the remaining couple of minutes. Matt on more than one occasion making clearing headers from corners that were upon us. Colin, also returning to Churchfields for the first time this season made a great diving / flying save from a shot outside the area. As we pushed to play the offside that had worked so brilliantly in the first half we were found short this time as the Wheatsheaf Skipper was found the other side of our defence and managed to find the back of the net in the dying seconds. 2-3
Full Time
Lokomotiv 2 - 3 Wheatsheaf Ewell
Weekly 3 Questions
Did We Deserve To Win Today? Definitely didn't deserve to lose! Draw maybe fair?
Did We Put It In Today? Yes
Man Of The Match?
Everyone put in a good show today, so well done lads it was a real good performance however today's award goes to the Captain, Matt F. One of his best games in a Loko shirt. He won a lot of headers created a lot of free kicks for Loko as well as providing some great balls forward to threaten The oppositions defence. This along with some great tactical decisions, especially the subs, rounded off a great performance from the skipper.
Final Thoughts
We love to feel hard done by, at Loko, but I can honestly say it is for good reason. Offsides against us, crossbars hit, last minute goals let in in quick succession, penalties given against us....
Haydens one on one, and shot, was mimicked exactly by Rob Guest, yet they scored and we didn't.
Wheatsheafs second goal hit Robs Hand in our area before being dispatched.
Chris's Powerful header would beat the majority of keepers week in week out, however today the keeper was in the right place at the right time! The reduction of the opposition to ten men gave them the fight they needed to draw level. The goal to draw level gave then the impetus to go on for the winner.
We didn't do much wrong today apart from three silly mistakes in 90 minutes and we were punished for all three. At the start of the day most of us would of taken a draw but during the game would cash out for a win yet Wheatsheaf would of only taken a win at the start,but with ten minutes to go would of done anything for a draw, but that's football. Loads of positives today though lads.We rushed and panicked the opposition falseing them into mistakes that we took advantage off. We hurry teams these days keeping the pace of the game at high tempo and this suits us. Matts performance, Lukes Return, Defence's quality in the first half! Defenders scoring goals this season! Formation and personnel all spot on.
We win together, we lose together, we drink together, we are Loko!
Quote Of The Week
" Don't Stop When You Are Tired, Stop When You Are Done.."
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