CROSSPOOL JUNIORS v ABBEY LANE 2/12/07

[Craig Millward]

CROSSPOOL JUNIORS (3) v ABBEY LANE JFC (2)
GOALSCORERS - Sam Terry - 2
MAN OF THE MATCH AWARD - Callum Douglas


MATCH REPORT

Abbey Lane travelled to Crosspool on a wet and misty day and were very unfortunate to come away with a 3-2 defeat.
The match started and both teams were pretty much on a par, as they cancelled each other out. Abbey Lane struggled to get any kind of rhythem going on a pitch, as agreed by both managers to be of poor quality, with big areas where the grass has completely dissapeared. The lads were struggling to anticipate where the bounce of the ball would drop. A keeping error gifted Crosspool the opening goal of the game on fifteen minutes, where a shot from distance, hit high saw the keeper try to catch the ball but ended up falling into the net,through mis-judgement on the flight of the ball. Abbey Lane looked ruffled to say the least as every time we pushed forward the ball would either bobble or be shot wide. With five minutes of the half remaining Crosspool scored a second, with no evident danger, the Crosspool player broke through.

I explained at half time we were unlucky to be 2-0 down, but i didn't think we had been good enough in the first half, and we needed to show a little bit more in the second half.

The whistle blew and Abbey Lane started to show that they wanted this game, there was some excellent passing football being played with players passing the ball around in triangles forcing Crosspool to chase around a little more. With ten minutes of the half gone Abbey Lane pulled a goal back. A good run down the left wing by FURNISS saw a great ball crossed over, new striker SAM TERRY chased the ball as the keeper struggled to reach it and from an awkward angle fired home. This gave the team a tremendous lift and they pushed hard to get the equaliser. The football at this point from Abbey Lane was top class as they spread the ball around the pitch finding players with ease. With fifteen minutes of the half gone Abbey Lane got the equaliser they richly deserved. A cross into the box from the midfield saw the keeper fail to hold onto the ball under pressure from our new striker, fumbling it, saw SAM TERRY get his and his teams second goal of the morning. This was a great comeback from the lads, and we were getting stronger and stronger as the half went on, as we pushed to get the winner which looked as though it was only a matter of time. Unfortunately with ten minutes remaining, Crosspool scored a third with possibly only their third attack of the second half, a ball from the Crosspool right was deflected in at the near post. Abbey Lane threw everything at Crosspool for the last eight minutes but just could not find another goal. There were the usual calls for handball etc in the area but it wasn't to be as the final whistle blew.
Abbey Lane Man of the Match Award went to CALLUM DOUGLAS for a solid midfield performance, showing his quality and coolness on the ball.

I really feel for the lads today, as this is a game that we really needed to win. If only we can rid ourself of costly errors, as this seems to be our problem this season. I would like to congratulate SAM TERRY on his two goals for the team on his debut, and i hope people can now see why i have brought this lad into the team, once i found out he was available i didn't hesitate in the slightest about signing him. I know he will go on and score some great goals for us this season, and i am sure he will also bring out the best in the players around him. It is good now to have a little bit of competition for places, as i think it will keep all the lads on their toes, which should hopefully benifit the team. I have not ruled out the possibility of another signing before the end of December deadline.