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LEAGUE MATCH
St John's Bowling Eagles 4-2 LRBC
ENDEAVOUR NOT QUITE ENOUGH FOR LRBC
Ed Jackson reports...
LRBC were in good spirits prior to their match away to league leaders St John Bowling Eagles, and they were still not daunted when their first sighting of the pitch showed players brushing away the water from the goalmouths. It was going to be a tough game, but after the draw earlier in the season LRBC knew they had nothing to be frightened of.
From the kick off the home team took the game to LRBC, and their swift passing moves started to catch LRBC wanting. The home team's central midfielders were finding too much space to play in and pulled the strings to all their team's moves. It was no surprise, and unfortunately reflective of LRBCs season to date, that the home side scored first. Their dangerous crossing, and good movement leading to a crisp shot that found the back of the net.
This served to wake the Leeds team up. Words were spoken and they set about trying to get back in the game. It was perhaps ironic that they looked as threatening as the home team when they were able to get the ball forward into the Bowling half. This was happening too rarely though and it was the home team who scored next. After a corner was half cleared, LRBC failed to charge out of defence as a unit, leaving three players available for the return cross. One of them planting a firm header past Anthony Thorpe.
2-0 down then, and much to do. It seemed that matters were getting worse when Jackson looked set to go off after about 20 minutes clearly suffering with left hamstring trouble. The irony was that the big home defenders appeared oblivious to this problem with a succession of fouls on the player, ensuring that he had little chance to run and do further damage.
Jackson stayed on, and it was his left foot pass that set up LRBC's first goal. Goal machine Burgess drove through the home defence and ran onto the pass and was clumsily brought down in the area. Experienced campaigner Jonathan Parkinson made no doubt with the coolly struck penalty.
LRBC were now taking the game to the home team. They were battling, closing down and putting them under real pressure. A chance came to Jackson when after a couple of corners from Burgess, he controlled on his chest but could only fire over from the edge of the box. LRBC could not quite make the pressure pay. The best chance fell to Walsh who after a flowing move was put in by Jarvis inside the box, but he was unable to convert. There was a good shout for a penalty when Burgess was again brought down in the box, but the referee waved away the appeals. 2-1 at half time and LRBC were still in the game.
Playing down the slope and wind assisted the second half gave the LRBC team the edge as they looked for the equaliser. LRBC started to win more in central midfield as the game became more disjointed with a number of freekicks being given. The passes started to be more effective and the home team were struggling to cope with the charging attacks of LRBC.
Despite better possession, LRBC could not quite find that cutting edge and half chances were the best they could muster. It was route one that brought he deserved equaliser, when Thorpe launched a kick down field and Burgess got goal side of the defender, showed great strength to hold him off and finished beautifully past the keeper.
With substitutes Truman, Sykes and Tobin on, LRBC hoped that the fresh legs may well reap dividends as they pushed for a winner. The home team were also pushing forward, although their excellent crossing of the first half was replaced with some fairly poor attempts in the second.
The vital fifth goal of the match was always going to come, and it went to Bowling. The home skipper finishing a move with a nice strike after the away players failed to close him down quick enough. Despite the determination and endeavour, LRBC could not fight back again. Their passing was lacking crispness and incision and they could not cut through the home defence. The killer fourth goal for the home team came with six minutes to go when a corner came across and their diminutive left back found himself unmarked to head home. There was no way back now.
LRBC came out of the game with a lot of pride, they worked hard and never gave up. The home team showed better quality on the ball, but LRBC matched them with sheer grit. Again though they were hindered by a poor start, which meant they were always playing catch up, a task particularly difficult against the team topping the table. The obvious areas to work on are marking players more tightly and basic pass and move. In this league you do not need to play like Brazil to win it, but simply finding your team mates with three or four passes can create space and good chances.
Special praise is due for the back four of Duncan Brownutt, Tim Thompson, Steve Robinson and playing his best game for the club Simon Thompson, for their resolute defence.
LRBC Team: A Thorpe, S Thomson, D Brownnutt, T Thomson, S Robinson, J Jarvis (A Trueman 60), L Walsh (D Sykes 55), J Wilson, J Parkinson, J Burgess, E Jackson (A Tobin 70).
LRBC Goals: J Parkinson (pen), J Burgess
LRBC Man of the Match: J Burgess