Match Reports for Saturday 14th March 2015

5th XI LOST 5-0 (Away) at Crouch End Vampires

We started the day with a couple of no shows with Ed and David Campbell dropping out at the last minute. This left us with a bare 11. We decided to start with a 4-5-1 to keep things tight, but unfortunately that did not happen. With a number of our core regulars missing yet again we had to make do with the players we had on the day and some of them playing out of their regular positions. From the off the oppo had us on the back foot and we looked very iffy especially at the back and after 5 minutes we gave the ball away in defence and the oppo forward gladly accepted the gift 1-0 down. A few minutes after that we gave the ball away cheaply yet again from defence when our centre back was trying to play the ball out and lost position with the oppo player stealing in to finish 2-0 down within 7 minutes. We tried to pick ourselves up to get those mistakes out of our system when in the 20th minute another moment of inexplicable madness when our keeper miskicked the ball which seemed to go to our right back but the oppo stole in and kicked the ball toward our goal with our keeper seemingly looking favourite to get to the ball but somehow just didn't and the ball was bundled over the line 3-0. We continued to give the ball away sloppily, especially when in defence (when just booting the ball clear would have been the best option). Yet again not learning from our defensive mistakes the ball was given away

which seemed to be the pattern this time from our left side with the oppo finishing sweetly over our keeper 4-0 down. A few minutes before half time the ref gave the oppo a dubious penalty decision when Ross cleanly won the ball. Penalty was dispatched 5-0 at half time. In the second half a few positional changes were made,we decided to go 3-5-2 with Alan Amato coming out of centre back and john Murphy going right up top,with AJ and Mike D and Nelio dropping into the back 3. We seemed to have more belief now and dominated more of the play with a nice balance to the team. The oppo were beginning to realize that things were not as easy as the first half and to be honest the back 3 dealt comfortably at what was thrown at them. As we pushed for a goal or two to win this half our midfield pushed on and Wais come close but hitting over the bar. Craig also had a shot which was just a bit too high also. We continued to push and pegged them on the back foot for long periods. But it wasnt to be. The ref blew up for the end of the game. To be honest If we had started in this vein it would of possibly been a different result. A game of two halves. We need to get out of the blocks early and be more positive from the start. But hats off to the lads for not giving up the ghost and to be playing out of their normal positions and just getting on with it. It was a pleasure to be wearing a Stationers shirt and well done lads you represented OSFC with a fantastic attitude. Man of the match it goes without saying AJ an absolute beast of a performance strong and dependable at the heart of defence. You did justice to yourself and we may now have found a new centre back. To the next game where we need to get quickly out of the blocks COYS