Thursday 22 July 2010

Effra 1 Random Unknowns 4

What was intended to be an Accies kick-around tonight resulted in an impromptu 11-a-side against the young lads who had hired the other half of the Dulwich astroturf pitch. What we hadn't anticipated is just how much of a competent bunch they were!
We were chasing shadows for long periods of the first-half as our random opposition played some excellent passing football. We retreated further and further back in to our own half, and so inevitably invited more pressure upon ourselves. It was incredible really that we went in to the half-time break with the scores still even at 0-0. This was thanks in no small part to a wonderful fingertip save by Lee Clifford just before half-time.
I said during the interval that we needed to push up the pitch, condense the space that we were affording our opponents, and so be able to close them down quicker than we had previously been doing. Unfortunately, we came out in the second-half and very quickly went 2-0 down. From there, we suddenly tried to assert ourselves, chasing back, and playing balls in to feet when moving forwards. We were getting closer to the opposition goal, and we eventually got ourselves back in to the game (after going 3-0 down), thanks to a fine finish from Phil Caldwell, who again performed admirably in the lone striker role.
We couldn't convert our late rally in to any more goals, and were hit by a sucker-fourth. It was harsh on us as we were enjoying the lion share of possession.
The MOTM went to Lee Clifford tonight. Lee had a great first-half in goal and an inspiring second-half at the heart of our defence. Phil Caldwell came in a very close second.
Keep the faith!
Joe

No comments: