 |
| Match Reports |
 |
|
| Season 2001-2002 Bedford Pre-Season Tournament (Sat 4th August) (Format: 2 groups of 4 / top two of each qualify for semi-finals/match duration of 40 mins) Dera F.C 0(0) - (0)2 Olympia After a long team talk, Scott (the manager dude) decided to opt for a 4-4-2 formation utilising myself on the left-wing. This was the first of our three games in Group A, and after a promising start to the game, we soon realised why they were tipped as tournament favourites. Retaining possession was a major problem against a much fitter team, and the Olympians soon won the battle in midfield and peppered our goal with crooses and shots. However, our defence held on resolutely until half-time. We conceded shortly after half-time but our heads didnt drop, spurred on as we were from by Stan's vocal support on the touchline. Our best chance came just after their goal when Baz (striker) ran on to a flicked ball and lifted itover the goalkeeper only to see his attempt cleared off the goal-line. As legs tired, substitutions were made half way through the second half, and I was taken off along with Neil (left-back). We continued to defend well, but they eventually managed another before the final whistle was blown. An encouraging performance all round from the lads. Dera F.C 1(1) - (0)2 Team name unknown I began this game up front with Dave, and after winning the coin toss, I opted to kick-off. We began the half extremely well and that set the tone for its remainder. We dominated proceedings and I came close with two shots. We were winning the battle for midfield (THE most important factor in league football) and as a result, were gaining a lot of healthypossession and, thus, supplying our forwards with several chances to open the scoring. After coming close on several occasion, we finally opened the scoring on around 10 minutes. A searching pass from our left-back Neil found myself, and I lifted it over the heads of the two central defenders for Tony to run on to - he did just that, and as the keeper game out to meet him at the penalty spot, he managed to lift it over his head under pressure from the two aforementioned defenders, and it went in off the underside of the crossbar with Chris Heaney sprinting in for the rebound. The second half continued much in the fashion of the first, and vocal frustration soon set in in the ranks of their defenders. However, 5 mins later disaster struck - a long, hopeful ball from their GOALKEEPER landed on the rough turf just outside our penalty area. With our keeper off his line anyway, he misjudged the bounce and it literally bounced over his head and into the goal via the despairing boot of our central defender Stan. Heads really dropped after that and 5 mins later they had scraped a second - again, from suspect defending. We outplayed this team, and found defeat hard to take. Dera F.C 0(0) - (0)2 Team name unknown In the knowledge that we couldn't qualify for the semi-finals, we couldn't really give a **** about this match. Our pride was at stake at we still wanted to win the match, but we used it instead to try several people in different positions to assess how they would perform. Recognised as being tenacious in the tackle (in pub language, a dirty *******), I was chosen to play on the left of midfield to help out our left-back Neil. I thrived in this position, soon finding myself in the centre of the action and getting a few tough tackles in. The match had no real pattern and the second half was merely a microcosm of the first - aimless scraps in midfield with no real passing fluidity. By this point, their right-winger was beginning to irritate me with his dainty dribbling style which was too effective for me liking and, when he received a short corner, I came running in from behind and won the ball off him, scything his legs in the process. The following dialogue ensured - "What sort of ******* challenge do you call that?" ... "Try staying on your ******* feet asshole". Not too pleasant. They scored two goals soon after and we lost the game. An encouraging start to our season - once again to emphasise the point - we were playing against teams two divisions above ourselves but played well. That thought didnt stifle our dissapointment after the tournament, and we promptly headed to the Bumblebee afterwards for a drink to ease the pain. Bedfordshire League Division IV Season 2001-2002 *****Fixtures TBC******** |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
