Great Performance / Bad Result

LRFC Cougars (1) V (2) Fintan FC

Naunton Park

After the Painswick game i remember saying to the lads that we won't play that well again and lose. Turns out i was a liar. 

Our recent performances have not matched the results. That we lost this game 2-1 after dominating the match and passing the ball so well is so frustrating and disappointing. Fintan are a strong side and probably physically stronger than we are, where we excelled at the weekend was in the passing and movement. Dominating possession and playing large periods of the game in their half. Having said that for all our possession we did not register many shots and at times were guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net. 

We went a goal behind from a free-kick. There could be some debate as to whether it was a free-kick or not but it was given. The Fintan striker struck a fierce shot that hit the wall but then dipped towards the goal. Will could only react and parry the shot down, Fintan reacted quickest and following up scored from the rebound. 1-0 down. 

We continued to play our way, Jorge playing up front started to come deep and look for the ball to great effect, Tom and Louis were combining on the left with Freddie playing left back covering the defence behind them. Centrally Jacob and Luca started well winning ball and driving forward at every opportunity. With the slope on the pitch and wind there was not much action coming down our right. For all our possession we still failed to register a shot of any note. Fintan conversely when they had the ball came as us very quickly with the intention of having a strike on goal. Very similar to Painswick, when in range have a go. 

The performance though was excellent. The improvement in heading and challenging for the ball has been immense and so good to see. We were winning a lot of ball in midfield with Luca in particular winning a good proportion of headers, George and Lewis (a really solid centre back pairing) winning most of what came there way. Freddie who was MotM was excellent, using his body so well to keep possession and dance out of trouble. Against a physical opposition he gave us a real presence in midfield. having started at left back Freddie moved into centre midfield when Jacob succumbed to a groin injury. This saw Dan G come on at left back. Dan had a great game back there against a strong opposition and when he has the confidence and makes the decision to drive into a tackle there is frankly very little that will stop him. The first half played out 1-0 with us having dominated the game albeit without really troubling their keeper.

The second half started and we started as we had finished the first. Tom and Louis continued to be the outlet with intricate passing and some nice tekkers. The equaliser when it came was from playing the ball into the box. Sam and Will linking up on the right, the ball played across arriving at Louis feet who despatched it past the keeper. 1-1. We should have been able to push on and seal the points.

As we pushed on into the Fintan half they regained possession and broke.Their striker broke clear of the defence and put the ball past Will leaving him no chance. It was brave keeping as he had been clattered not long before in a similar one-v-one.

With around 5 minutes remaining we pressed for the equalising goal again but to no avail.

The game finished 2-1. 

There were strong performances across the team, George and Lewis forming a formidable and settled centre back pairing. The full backs adept on the ball and able to push forward to support the midfield when the opportunity arises. Playing three centre-midfielders is also working for us, with one holding player and two that can roam and pick up the ball this is a high energy position but one that we have the athletes to play in. Luca and Tom were excellent playing similar positions in different ways. Louis on the wing was a constant threat, got his goal, and takes a cracking corner. We had a great moment from one such corner, the ball was fired into the box, Luca met the ball with his head, it his the post and as he followed in with a shot the keeper parried it away. It was a great moment not least of all because we won the ball in the air from a corner! 

We are playing well at the moment but need to be braver in front of goal. It's as simple as that. If you don't shoot you don't score, if you don't by a lottery ticket you don't win the raffle, you need to kiss a lot of frogs to find your prince....? 

We won't play that well again and lose (crosses fingers nervously).

One final comment, as a team we need to keep our cool whatever the provocation verbal or otherwise. It happens in games and if we lose our cool we are the ones that will be punished. Just walk away. The referee is always right too and they never change their mind.