So the 2010/2011 A League season continues and we were against DKFC on a very hot and humid evening. Some intel from Flabbo suggest they have some good Nigerians and a solid keeper. In any case we are used to tough games in the A League this season and as we are firmly in mid table on Division 1 the idea is to express ourselves, be positive and get a result. Given some late drop outs we have a bit of a make shift side with some guys out of their usual positions. We start with a standard 4-4-2 of:

Goal – Jeff 
Defense – Jason, Dave, Dan, Flabbo
Midfield – Matt, Miles, Chi, Ed 
Striker – Patrick, Cowley

Sub: Tom, Tel, Seb 

THE FIRST TWENTY MINUTES:
Once again the gaffer is delighted at the start we make. Lots of aggression from Miles and Chi make it impossible for them to get any cohesion. Cowley and Matt look very dangerous down the right channel when they break forward. Patrick causes many problems for the opposition down the left channel. All our defenders look very solid with Dave being the pick of the bunch. Highlights are below:

2 mins Miles tackles hard and sets Cowley free who crosses dangerously.
3 mins Flabbo and Patrick somehow we don’t get a corner 
5 mins Cowley crosses again and noone can get on the end of it 
6 mins Cowley finds himself in the penalty area and gets in an excellent shot. However, Patrick blocks with great bravery… Unbelievable 
8 mins they break free and Dave as last man slides in and saves us. 
12 mins Having got frustrated by our dominance one of their guys hammers a long shot they score
15 mins Matt shoots over 
16 mins Chi shoots from range and its saved 

THE NEXT 15 MINS
We are at sea, we work hard but our cohesion breaks down and the gaffer feels we might let in another goal or two. Despite that we have a few highlights:

21 mins Flab saves us with defensive header after corner 
22 mins Patrick works hard with one of our breaks 
25 mins The score but its Offside! 30 mins Cowley make a great run down the left and is cynically taken out with a rough challenge.
30 mins Dave takes a great free kick no one has a shot and the keeper catches easily. 
31 mins Miles find Matt with a long ball and Matt has a shot saved 

At half time I can’t fault the effort from everyone. However, give the last fifteen minutes we were unlucky not be further behind. This was disappointing given how many shots we had and the way we started. A bit of red mist from the gaffer and we know what to do in the second half. Changes were Tom for Chi, Jeff swaps with Dan and slots in next to Cowley. Patrick swaps with Tel who goes to left back.

SECOND HALF
The second half was absolutely outstanding and we totally dominate. Our passing is back, we continue the aggression and get a decent amount of shots in. We start 4-4-2, then do 4-4-3 and finally its 3-4-3 although no one can be sure!

1 min Miles finds Matt on the right with an excellent Hoddlesque pass. 
2 mins Jason crosses from the right and Jeff gets in a shot 
5 mins Matt works hard on the right and Cowley shoots.
7 mins Matt crosses again dangerously from the right 
10 mins Dave does some sweet control at the back and passes well which illustrates how well he is playing
15 mins Tom gets a shot in 
17 mins Cowley gets a shot in 
20 mins Oh no its deja vu they get another long shot they score 
25 Cowley’s through ball finds Flabbo shoots wide with only the keeper to beat.
28 min Miles gets some payback an unbelievable Matt LeTissier shot from range 

Final Result : 2 – 1 
Goal attempts : 10

MAN OF THE MATCH
Miles, outstanding goal and outstanding work rate
Other candidates: Matt who was behind many dangerous moves and was like a white Lennon, Dave who looked very composed at centre back and models his game on the young sensation Phil Jones.

MUG OF THE DAY
Sanj for using too many changes in formation in the second half and confusing the “÷$& out of our players.
Other candidates were Terry for doing the usual McEnroe while the game was going on around him. Patrick for putting his body on the line… but for the opposition

Better luck next time guys. See you on Friday for some banter and beers!

STRENGTH & HONOUR