Monday, October 26, 2015

Match Report: Galaxy v Loko


Bad Ref, Bad Luck & Extra Time - 

The Glamour Of The Cup

"We Lost Because We Didn't Win" . Ronaldo 1998

Today's First Round Cup game brought many challenges. With Ash, Little Matt, Scott and Ishmail all not available, although talented, the squad looked a little thin!

This forced Gary into taking the decision of starting for the first time this season. This could of went badly wrong. It was however quite inspiring the see the assistant skipper back to his old self winning headers and shouting instructions on the pitch instead of the sidelines.

The inclined pitch definitely gives an advantage to the team facing down and this was Loko for the first half. Sure enough we took advantage of this! After just five minutes, a mammoth kick from Tony, left Galaxy's defenders scared to head clear with James T capitalizing running through and slotting nicely past the keeper to open the scoring! 0-1 

Loko were pressing and forcing mistakes from the opposition. A charging out keeper was made to look stupid as James T went around him near the far left corner and floated a perfect ball across the face of the goal to meet the head of Lee who saw his header clip the outside of the post. Loko were now dominant and again this paid off after just ten minutes. Lee made sure this time finishing well to double the lead. 0-2.

Maybe at 2-0 up in the cup, you should shut up shop and park the bus to see the win out? But we are not managed by Mourinho, and Loko sensed goals and revenge from the previous 0-0 draw, that we all clearly thought should of been a win. With this In mind confidence was high, triangle passes with Gary, Hayden and Mark R were coming off on the left as Loko passed their way out. A perfect ball in from the right from Dave F met an awaiting James T who finished extremely well only to look up and see a flag from the "unbiased" linesman. At 2-0 up and a flag waving the chances of the ref overruling the decision were absolutely zero. 

This all seemed too easy and Matt was constantly reminding us that this is not over with only 15 minutes on the clock done! 
Sure enough complacency crept in and on 20 minutes their Superstar, Ginger Ninja, walloped home a shot from just outside the box giving Tony no chance as the back of the net rippled! 
1-2
Galaxy started to threaten with some seriously long throw ins and pinball being played a couple of times in our own area with good runs on both wings with pace, but they lacked that final ball, until the half hour mark when a cross from Lokos right hand side met galaxy's pacey right winger who helped the ball into the net. 2-2

Gary went off for Miguel, like for like position wise. Miguel got stuck in early doors re-vitalizing Loko. Yet another ball won in the air from the towering Luke, played James in via the hand of a Galaxy player. A strong shout led to nothing as the Ref claimed " I wasn't in the right position " ( not for the first time today! ) 
Some outstanding defending and ball carrying from Danny, kept Loko on level terms. Dave's recent transformation from Phil Jones to David Beckham continued, with a delightful free kick into the danger zone that just skimmed the wet surface and out of play.

Half Time
A reminder that we now face a literal, uphill battle, to stay in this game second half from Matt got us up for it.

Let me make this clear, "Chessington Galaxy did not have a shot on goal throughout the second half" this was down to our steady defense. Neil was back, winning every header and throwing his body on the line and Danny oozing confidence on the ball whilst preventing Galaxy coming at Us. Marks superb "professional foul " prevented the ninja carving us open, but had the consequence of a booking. Loko pressed, and pressed hard. Hayden linking mark and James on the left with James providing some lovely balls in towards Luke and Lee and Dave linking Danny and the switching James on the right again turning provider for Luke and Lee. Chances were plentifully but not always the easiest. Luke had a couple of headers, Lee and James a couple of shots and Dave a close headed effort just wide. 

If drug testing was enforced at Sunday League games then Lee would need testing regularly! His stamina, ability and effort are unquestionable. A Loko attack on the left led to a shot on goal that had beaten the keeper and span backwards on the goal line! Was it over? The Ref probably couldn't see it anyway? With extra time looming Loko pushed, but unluckily to no avail!

Extra Time 2 - 2
Vets we are not ( just yet ) but with 30 mins of extra time looming was our fitness gonna hold out?
A bad start to extra time led to a pass from the Loko left to an oncoming Galaxy player to slot past Tony. 3-2. Mark off and Gary back on, Miguel comfortably went to left back. Galaxy sat back and absorbed pressure from Loko right to the end. A delightful Matt F free kick right at the end, round the back of the defenders connected with Hayden's Lunge at it, but it went wide of goal!
A WWE style challenge from Neil at the death lead to handbags at dawn with their No.23 who has previous with us! But Galaxy's comeback was complete. 

Three Shots, Three Goals and loads of long throws from Galaxy, was just enough for our exit from the cup at this early stage.

Extra Time Done 3-2

Weekly 3 Questions:

1. Did we deserve to win?  Yes
2. Did we put it in today?  Yes
3. Man of the Match?

 Once again not a bad performance from anyone, all solid. Danny, Neil and James were all fantastic today however, Lee M was on a different level to others in so many ways. Fantastic energy and ability well deserved!

Football Quote Of The Week

" I was scouted to play for Loko "    Dave F. 2015





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