The AP entertainers
When you score 4 and hit the bar 3 times you usually win a game comfortably. Unfortunately on Saturday we were involved in another game where we played well, scored a few goals and could have scored a few more but conceded too many.
If you were an Alexandra Park supporter who did not mind which side you watched as long as you were entertained there is no doubt that it would be the 6th team that you go to watch each weekend. So far this season we have played well and lost 4-3, played well and lost 3-2, scored 6 and only got a draw, drawn 2 all and lost on penalties, and now lost 7-4. Simply put our games are not boring.
We lined up in a 4-4-2 with Chris Noakes in goal, Mike Myers (wearing the captains armband for the first time) at left back, Gareth Banton and Chirac Shah at centre half and Harald Krefting at right back. From left to right in midfield were Francesco Guenzi, Melvin Loughnane, Declan Dunning and Craig Dawkins. Up front were Ashley Brade and Andrew Chovjka.
We should have taken our chances
For 45 minutes we, once again, passed the ball well and going forward looked like scoring at every opportunity. Ashley and Andrew both missed good chances before they scored first in the most ridiculous of circumstances; Norsemen were attacking us when we won the ball deep in our own half, broke quickly at pace and forced their goalkeeper into making a save which went for a corner. I do not understand why we took it quickly. Their goalkeeper caught it and 30 seconds later the ball was in our net.
We created a few more chances before getting level through Francesco who scored with a shot from the edge of the box after the ball was only partially cleared.
We then hit the bar twice and missed a few more chances before scoring again through Ashley, who left their defence for dead before finishing greatly. Apart from one very good save from Chris they really did not create much. In the 20 minutes before half time we should have killed the game off but did not and the second half we were made to regret it.
The crazy second half
The second half was crazy. There was 1 red card, 2 yellows cards and 7 goals. A bit of silly defending, more wasted chances, 3 dubious goals from them and we hit the bar. We very nearly scored the best team goal I would ever have seen not on TV when Melvin, Ashley, Andrew, Craig and Francesco were involved in a passing move that carved Norsemen apart – unfortunately Fransesco shot straight at the goalkeeper.
In what order what happened I cannot remember. What I do remember is that:
A paragraph about the referee
I have deliberately not spoken about the referee until now in this match report. I am leaving it late, as he did with showing up on Saturday; (I wonder if the league will fine him as we would be if we had caused kick off to be 15 minutes late?).
Things did not getter better for him in the 90 minutes; his performance was farcical and he was directly responsible for us conceding 3 goals because he does not understand Law 11. In fact the only thing he did get correct all afternoon was sending Francesco off. I have written to league asking for their observations – I will let you know how I get on!
Its time we won a game
All of my players are a pleasure to have and in the dressing room and I cannot fault anyone’s commitment – everybody worked their tail off on Saturday; however it is time to stop saying “we played well but” . . . . . . it is time to start winning games . . . to do that we need to defend better as a unit, take more of the eons of chances we create and hope we get appointed a referee who has an idea about what the laws of the game are.
Team: Chris Noakes, Mike Myers, Gareth Banton, Chirac Shah, Harald Krefting, Francesco Guenzi, Melvin Loughnane, Declan Dunning, Craig Dawkins, Ashley Brade, Andrew Chovjka.
Unused Substitute: Anthony Mills
