Match Review
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AGFC 3 vs. 4 Loco Splott
Date: 23-Feb-2010
Venue: Sophia Gardens
Goals:
Craig Boote
1
David Morgan
1
Enda Hayes
1
Man of the Match:
Report:
A fresh night but a cold feeling as Loco arrived with a team that was largely unrecognisable from the usual collective – AGFC realised that they didn’t know what to expect and therefore they needed to up their game. Other than Emyr playing up front as the lone striker (God help us all!!) there was a very natural and settled feel to the AGFC team although they were rocked by the late withdrawal of Capt Dobbo citing aching bones.
The game, as always against Loco, was played in the usual good spirits but their insistence on playing with the light ball supplemented by the springy pitch did make control and passing a bit of a lottery at times. AGFC got off to an excellent start with the midfield dominating – a short pass from Steve to Enda was shipped on to Booty, on the edge of the box, who finished low into the corner. AGFC were passing the ball brilliantly and should have had another when a sweeping move from the back resulted in Emyr squaring the ball to Morgan who was to be denied by brave goalkeeping. Loco, rattled but confident, started to influence the game by ignoring the midfield and going long over the top to their new fast and old physical strikers. One ball was deftly lifted over Deano in the goal despite a last gasp tackle by the AGFC defence (either Pete or Chris??). More chances went a begging but AGFC were playing far better football once it was on the floor. Booty and Morgan, wide right and left respectively, were pushing forward, as our back four, aided as required by Steve, were so comfortable, and our wingers were a cause of serious consternation for the Loco defence due to the quality of their crosses – shot from Simon just wide, shot from Emyr blocked, header from Enda just wide!! However, once the ball was off the desk and in the air, AGFC were struggling to deal with the bouncing ball which was starting to resemble a prop from the Sony Bravia advert due to the erraticness of its movement. During another session of ping-pong in the square, Loco stole another goal – halftime LOCO 2 – AGFC 1.
Slight reshuffle at half time resulted in a like-for-like swap with Enda going between and sticks and Deano slotting in seamlessly into midfield. Again AGFC applied the pressure and the back four of Nari, Chris, Pete and Andi were now confident with the spritely ball and were comfortably able to swat out any Loco attacks. The breakthrough came when Morgan galloped through from the halfway like a sex starved peacock on a promise, ignoring the futile screams of offside from the Loco defence to slot the ball neatly past the keeper. 2-2. Loco once again upped the ante and started to throw themselves into tackles and win ball. Their nippy striker was starting to find space and clipped one of the bottom of the post and his rising poked rebound was touched over the bar. Continued Loco pressure resulted in corner after corner and the pressure finally told when a fresh air shot by Pete allowed the evergreen Dom to clip it past the keeper. 3-2. AGFC, realising that Loco were only in the game due to errors, continued to battle. Booty, Deano, Simon all found space for a few shots, Morgan was again peppering the Loco square with crosses and Emyr came close with a cross that skimmed the post. In the final minutes, injury to Nari required another reshuffle with him volunteering to keep the goals for the remainder. Deano into right back and Enda pushing on. More chances, more drama but it was Loco who got the breakthrough when their striker collapsed under pressure from Enda to win a dubious free kick (more of an old man fall than a foul!!) - good delivery, good header, questionable defence: LOCO 4 – AGFC 2. In the dying minutes AGFC pushed on and in the move of the game incorporating swift, crisp passing from back to front, Morgan delivered an excellent cross to give Enda the easy tack of nutting it in from a couple of yards. Final score LOCO 4 – AGFC 3.
A good and solid game had by all and but for a bounce of a ball or an extra foot or two on a pass it could have been a different result!!
Duckhams:
· Pete swinging his leg at the ball and missing for Loco’s third.
· Simon, thinking about a bicycle kick but wisely deciding not to at the last minute.
· Deano slipping and falling over as he went to have a shot at goal.
Reporter: Enda Hayes