1s vs Polytechnic – 14.11.15

Polytechnic 3 Merton 0 (HT 1-0)  ISEH Senior Cup  2^nd Round

It was a pretty miserable day all round what with the dreadful news from Paris and the weather forecast but I thought it better to get out and get wet rather than just mope around. So off to Chiswick and pretty dreadful weather but their pitch is pretty good and held up well. It rained the whole game. We started pretty well with a good shape and pressed the ball well. They are a good side but we looked to play aswell, We were a little unfortunate to go 1-0 down. The ref gave them a rather generous free kick when Weasel was too strong for their man and edged him out of the way. We did not clear their free kick well and after a bit of knockabout it went in the net. The rest of the half was pretty even and we had as much of the ball as them but they were more dangerous in the final third. Second half More rain and we started slowly and they pressed hard and made it 2-0 from a slightly fortuitous mis- strike which wrong footed our keeper and dribbled into the opposite corner.  We rallied and created chances but they scored a really good goal to make it 3-0 with a move down our left cross and good finish. That was the end of the scoring and it got wetter not better. Poly are a good side and we played better than the score line would suggest. We battled to the end and played some pleasing football along the way. The Ref Tom Cannon had a good game with a sprinkling of slightly odd decisions. Not booking one of their players for calling him a retard and not booking one of their players for a bad foul right at the end. Proud of our team’s attitude and behaviour and overall performance Highlight for me was an excellent cup of tea at half time with biscuits and on reflection moping around at home should not be dismissed quite so lightly as an option.