M4 vs Cirencester M4
Loss 1-4
MOM: Ollie
DOD: Tobias & Bill
This week…Fantastic effort all round.
Another tough game this week versus 2nd in the league and an opportunity to do better than the first game loss of 8-1 at the beginning of season. We had enough players, a full team of 16 so could put in lots of effort.
So how to approach this, well the team talk was to play how we wanted to play, that passing & move thing that we have been guilty of doing in patches and good motivation from Shaun who stated, ‘we need to come off the pitch knowing that we have played to our best’.
So off we went and scored! Now I would say that previously I would have been surprised, but not now, with the team playing as it is. It was a good goal, excellent team play forced a short corner, the initial shot was blocked, Ethan picked up the rebound, and his shot was saved/deflected and Ollie snaffled up the opportunity to score. Cirencester then came more into the game, and it was defensive team effort from the front to back. This broke Bill whose calf gave up so quick reshuffle at the back as Bill shuffled slowly off the pitch. The lead lasted 5 minutes and another Cirencester goal on 20 minutes meant ½ time it was 1-2. That’s not to say we weren’t creating chances, Tobias, Ethan and James all pushed the defensive with attacking play, Will keeps popping up in the right places and Raoul and Justin never let the defenders settle.
Team talk was very positive with all of us wanting the equaliser. Same effort and try to join up the moments of passing & moving as when we did this, we opened the defensive up really quick and easy. At points it was like watching the training drills.
However for all our pressing and attacks, a flick on 45 minutes (a save by Alex from a short went straight into Pete on the line) took it to 1-3 and the dreaded PC awarded right on the final whistle, so every Cirencester player was in the D meant that, even though we stopped/blocked 5/6 shots one finally went in.
In the end although we lost but it was not want of effort or application – we indeed fulfilled Shaun’s words. And Justin’s effort at the back post was fully committed just didn’t get the goals that could have forced a result.
So back for pie’s and to hatch a plan to stich Mr Kim up!
MOM: Ollie – goal and general all-round play
Honourable mentions: Mr Kim – tactical voting to get his face on social media (he hates social media), Shaun – Mid-field play, Tobias – attacking runs & Alex – saved more than went past
DOD: Tobias – not passing (again) & Bill – limping out 30s into the game
Dis-honourable mentions: Mr Kim – back chat to umpire and press-ups, Will – not knowing the short corner rules about breaking early, Justin – for not scoring at full dive at the back post (harsh I feel and I had to take his scraped his hand after the game) & Ollie – not sure.