1s vs Civil Service – 15.10.16

Civil Servants spoil all the fun

A mixed start to the day was a good forerunner for the game itself.

On the plus side, Milo was on time for his pick up and Chaz and Jonny arrived EARLY. Which suggests Sam might be the cause of their normal lateness! On the other hand Willgo and Clowesy were 25 minutes but again looking for positives they did visit three SAL grounds. Having arrived at Chiswick station in plenty of time they first went to Poly, wrong, then they went to IBIS, wrong, and finally they arrived with us at Civil Service.

On a big pitch we kicked off up a slight slope and into the wind. We settled well but couldn’t maintain possession or get in behind their back four enough. This wasn’t helped by Vanny going off after less than 10 minutes with a pulled hamstring. It’s amazing what missing training can do to your fitness levels.

Civil Service started to get some joy down their right, with Kearnsey being given an uncharacteristicly tough time by their winger, and one strong run led to a penalty as Kearnsey pulled him back in the area. He did go down easily mind. After last week’s heroics a penalty isn’t as bad as it looks these days, and so it proved. An unconvincing penalty was well saved by Siri, low down to his left.

This should have galvanised us but it didn’t and the half continued in much the same vein. We defended solidly but couldn’t make the ball stick up top, whilst the midfield was bypassed. 0-0 at half time and not much for Browner to be happy about.

We were much better at the start of the second half but still got caught up in little battles, that suited their strong combatitive style of play, and the game soon drifted into the scrappy affair it had been in the first. The introduction of Browner and James Laughton, with 20 minutes to go, gave us a bit more energy in midfield and creativity out wide and this combination almost brought us a goal as James crossed but their keeper just got in front of Browner to gather theball.

Just as it looked like drifting to a fair 0-0 Civil Service’s centre forward twisted well in the box and drilled a good cross onto the head of the advancing right winger. 85 minutes 1-0 and it looked like our hard work would be to no avail. But then, Willgo was played in down the right, the keeper came out, Willgo lifted the ball over him and towards goal only for the Civil Service centre back to punch it off the line. Penalty and a red card.

With a minute to go could our come from behind luck be in again. With Woody on the penalty it certainly felt good but alas this time he changed his mind mid run and put his kick over the bar. This was virtually the last kick of the game and we lost 1-0.

This was a good test for a new look team and one we need to learn from. We got muscled out of it most of the game and were a bit naive with fouls for and against.

MOTM: Charlie Hockless (Siri was solid again and Chaz further enhanced his reputation)

DOTD: Woody (it wasn’t close)

Line up: Siri, Clowsey, Chaz, Clappers, Kearnsey, Will Low, Woody, Willgo, Vanny (Milo 8, James Laughton 71), Charlie, Jonny (Browner 65)