Wright, Dodimead, Brown(2), Glassar
A long journey out west ended with a good if unremarkable win over a decent Lyonians side. We managed to get a full 11 to the oppo’s ground in good time and got a good warm up in, with mini-Duane showing he has the potential to be a future 1’s keeper.
We started the game well keeping possession well with Chris and (big) Duane doing excellently against their central 3. We took the lead through a well worked moved involving Ollie, Dodi and Leon which ended with Louis (aka Lance?) smashing the ball home from inside the area. We kept going forward and despite leaving ourselves open at points, looked solid at the back with Sam dealing with any long aerial punts from them and Ollie and Al keeping their wingers quiet. The second goal came from a set piece with Al timing his run brilliantly to side foot home from 6 yards out.
After this the game became more scrappy with their midfield 3 getting more of the ball and causing problems running from deep, but Duane’s tough tackling and Chris’s non stop running helped keep them from getting a hold on the game . We didn’t keep the ball as well as early on and got frustrated and gave away a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions which the oppo wasted. We made it to half time at 2-0 and discussed getting back to controlling the game in the second half.
Straight from the off they put us under pressure and were allowed too much time on the ball around the edge of the area and after a few passes they got a good shot off from the edge of the area which snuck in to the bottom corner. A minute later we were through on goal with a move that somehow ended up with Dodi chipping the keeper from inside the 6 yard box, despite the keeper being standing on the line. An unusual but excellent response to their goal to relieve the pressure again. From here on in the game was scrappy again with Farhad having to make 3 good saves at the feet of their on rushing (and very pacey) striker. We made some good chances of our own with Bowhill playing the pass of the match to Dodi who was clean through and harshly ruled off side.
We had an excellent chance to kill the game completely but Dodi and Leon decided they each wanted the other to score so just passed in back and forth despite the open goal in front of them. We did get the 4th, nice football and a lovely finish from Leon. Chris who had come on wide left decided to get involved by shooting on sight, but never quite connecting with one properly, but the game was finished off when Leon was sent through again after some good work from Bowhill and Ed.
Another good win against decent oppo, although the score line did flatter us slightly.
