2s vs Norseman 17.01.15

Norsemen have some of the best facilities in the SAL . The top pitch is well grassed and close to excellent modern large changing rooms. Even the drive round the M25 wasnt too bad. Weather cold and bright but when we got there the pitch was very wet. In my view it was unplayable ; one of the goal areas was a quagmire. The ref deemed it playable. And then both teams proved me wrong by attempting to play and to a large extent succeeding in playing good quality passing football on the bog. We got off to a good start but after 10 minutes and a couple of missed opportunities Norsemen took control. They scored after 25 mins and made it two nil after 35 mins when their No 9, a very strong player, held off a couple of challenges running through and firing home. A couple of really good saves from Sherbs kept us in the game at only 2-0 at half time. There was optimism as we kicked off in the second half changing from 4-4-2 to 3-5-1. We were also kicking downhill  with the wind and defending the shallow end. We also had then tide with us but on the downside the end we were attacking had not stood up very well to the first half skirmishing and resembled a hippos wallow. Still we dominated the second half and Connor Murphy gave us the belief we could at least get a draw by scoring a spectacular volley with half an hour left.  We pressed and pressed but could not get in a decisive strike and Norsemen were always dangerous on the break. So we lost 2-1. Norsemen Res play some very good passing football and have some very talented players. Merton are a very good football team on and off the pitch with great attitude. I was very proud of them all. No man of the match for me every one of them gave everything and Wilgo had them organised on and off the pitch. Even to to the extent of retrieving our match footballs from the same people who stole the points. If the pitch was not unplayable at the start it certainly was at the end.

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