Craig Millward
09-20-2009, 12:38 PM
GREENHILL JFC v ABBEY LANE JFC.
GREENHILL JFC (6) v ABBEY LANE JFC (2)
GOALSCORERS - JORDAN MARPLES-DOUGLAS (PEN), OWN GOAL/JORDAN MARPLES-DOUGLAS.
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD - LUKE LAZENBY
MATCH REPORT
Abbey Lane travelled the short distance to arch rivals Greenhill and came away on the wrong end of a 6-2 score line.
To be honest the score line isn't a fair reflection of the game overall, but as i have said before goals are what count.
The game started at a fast pace, with both teams well aware of the pace in both squads that could be a serious threat. With 10 minutes on the clock Greenhill drew first blood, with the Abbey Lane defender slightly wrong footed, the pace of the Greenhill striker was too much as he side footed past the Abbey Lane keeper. The heads didn't go down, and Abbey Lane battled to try and force the equaliser, but on six occasions the Abbey Lane strikers were adjudged to be offside, which in my opinion on at least two occasions was very questionable. With 38 minutes on the clock, Greenhill broke and scored a second.
The half time whistle blew, and all i could say to the players was just keep doing what you are doing as i could not fault the first half performance for effort or the quality of the football, but i was been asked if i could explain some of the referees decisions.
The second half kicked off and with only 4 minutes gone, Greenhill broke again taking the score to 3-0, with a superb strike. Three minutes later on 7 minutes Greenhill increased their lead with a fine header that left the Abbey Lane keeper and defence no chance.
At 4-0 down it would have been easy for Abbey Lane to roll over and die, but that is not what this team are about, as they upped the tempo and tried to force a come back. With 11 minutes on the clock, MARPLES-DOUGLAS was flattened in the area, he cooley stepped up and buried the awarded penalty. This raised the team, and with 13 minutes gone Abbey Lane scored a second to take the score to 4-2. Again it was MARPLES-DOUGLAS challenging in the area that saw the ball either come off him or the defender, to which i am sure all parties would be happy for the Abbey Lane player to claim the goal. Abbey Lane were now on fire and hell bent on trying to level the game, with loads of possession, they just could not force their way through. With 26 minutes on the clock a quality strike from the Greenhill striker killed off the chance of a memorable fight back as the score stood at 5-2. Abbey Lane kept up the fight and had a couple of good chances, but Greenhill some how managed to keep the ball out of the net. With 42minutes showing (of a half that is only 35minutes) Greenhill scored again to take the score to 6-2.
The difference between the teams today in my eyes was the quality of the Greenhill striker ADAM MAHMUD, with his sheer pace and quality. He appeared to be at least one year more advanced than the rest of the players around him.
Overall i can not complain about my teams performance as they worked hard and played some excellent football at times, but just lacked a little in front of goal when it mattered. If some of the dubious offside decisions had gone our way along with the dissallowed goal this game could have been a much closer battle.
GREENHILL JFC (6) v ABBEY LANE JFC (2)
GOALSCORERS - JORDAN MARPLES-DOUGLAS (PEN), OWN GOAL/JORDAN MARPLES-DOUGLAS.
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD - LUKE LAZENBY
MATCH REPORT
Abbey Lane travelled the short distance to arch rivals Greenhill and came away on the wrong end of a 6-2 score line.
To be honest the score line isn't a fair reflection of the game overall, but as i have said before goals are what count.
The game started at a fast pace, with both teams well aware of the pace in both squads that could be a serious threat. With 10 minutes on the clock Greenhill drew first blood, with the Abbey Lane defender slightly wrong footed, the pace of the Greenhill striker was too much as he side footed past the Abbey Lane keeper. The heads didn't go down, and Abbey Lane battled to try and force the equaliser, but on six occasions the Abbey Lane strikers were adjudged to be offside, which in my opinion on at least two occasions was very questionable. With 38 minutes on the clock, Greenhill broke and scored a second.
The half time whistle blew, and all i could say to the players was just keep doing what you are doing as i could not fault the first half performance for effort or the quality of the football, but i was been asked if i could explain some of the referees decisions.
The second half kicked off and with only 4 minutes gone, Greenhill broke again taking the score to 3-0, with a superb strike. Three minutes later on 7 minutes Greenhill increased their lead with a fine header that left the Abbey Lane keeper and defence no chance.
At 4-0 down it would have been easy for Abbey Lane to roll over and die, but that is not what this team are about, as they upped the tempo and tried to force a come back. With 11 minutes on the clock, MARPLES-DOUGLAS was flattened in the area, he cooley stepped up and buried the awarded penalty. This raised the team, and with 13 minutes gone Abbey Lane scored a second to take the score to 4-2. Again it was MARPLES-DOUGLAS challenging in the area that saw the ball either come off him or the defender, to which i am sure all parties would be happy for the Abbey Lane player to claim the goal. Abbey Lane were now on fire and hell bent on trying to level the game, with loads of possession, they just could not force their way through. With 26 minutes on the clock a quality strike from the Greenhill striker killed off the chance of a memorable fight back as the score stood at 5-2. Abbey Lane kept up the fight and had a couple of good chances, but Greenhill some how managed to keep the ball out of the net. With 42minutes showing (of a half that is only 35minutes) Greenhill scored again to take the score to 6-2.
The difference between the teams today in my eyes was the quality of the Greenhill striker ADAM MAHMUD, with his sheer pace and quality. He appeared to be at least one year more advanced than the rest of the players around him.
Overall i can not complain about my teams performance as they worked hard and played some excellent football at times, but just lacked a little in front of goal when it mattered. If some of the dubious offside decisions had gone our way along with the dissallowed goal this game could have been a much closer battle.