AFA MEC Round 1
Scorer – Jannece
To cut a long story short, this is a game in which we never really got started. We played without a striker, and although we put in a manful effort, we huffed and puffed and ultimately failed. BB Eagles are an okay team, but they aren’t great, as shown by their finishing in the first half. It does not help that we were missing 6 regulars this season, but we should be able to muster more of a performance.
The first half passed without us mustering as real effort on goal, whereas BB Eagles purple-booted forward (says it all really!) finished like said boots were the shape of a toblerone.
In the second half we were undone by 3 good goals. The first one we allowed their centre midfield to waltz by 3 players and place in the corner. The second goal was scored by purple toblerone boots – how he managed to hit a shot so sweet with his previous finishing I do not know. However, it was a great finish into the top corner, which he celebrated like he had scored the winner in the world cup final (obviously enjoyed by the massed ranks of fans watching at New River). However, when he shouts ‘leave it’ before he strikes it (for about the 3rd time in the game) should the goal stand? Answers on a postcard please. The 3rd goal was a good finish by their winger but saw a comedy moment of Simmo and Macca got in each other’s way and let the ball run to him.
We shook into life after the goals, and really hammered the oppo. We drew a goal back when sub Janno volleyed a half cleared corner home.
So all in all, a game we deserved nothing from. We tired in the last 10 minutes, which suggests to me that poor turnout at training is having a cost. Next week, the first XI will have 5 players in their team who were in the Reserves last week. Those of you selected in the Reserves next week are all good enough, but we have high standards that we need to get back to.
No complacency, No excuses – I demand a response next week.
Team: Bardgett, Wootten, Moruzzi (Nugent), McLoughlin, Simpson, Gunyon, Mbelo, Morris, Carter (Jannece), O’Leary, Amankwah.
Man of the Match – Dan Gunyon – absolutely quality in the centre of the park.
