On Friday night we had a confirmed squad of 11 players with 5 substitutes.
Come match day on Sunday we were down to 11 fit players and 2 substitutes with bad backs. Not ideal, particularly when playing a robust opponent and when you lose your keeper to a strain following an acrobatic save.
Between Friday and Sunday we lost, for various health reasons Ryan, Taylor, and George. Finn had already succumbed to a groin injury and was not available.
We lined up in customary 4-2-3-1. The back 4 from right to left was Sam, Ben, Lewis and Adam. In front of them we started with Freddie and Tom. The wingers were Louis and Luca with Jorge up front and Max as our Libero. On the bench, or is that stretcher?, were Hercules who had a back injury, presumably from wrestling the Kraken or some other such beast and Jacob with Xbox'itis.
The game kicked off and on a sticky/slippy (can it be both simultaneously?) we came under immediate attack from a buoyed Fintan side. Some reticence in defensive positions saw them getting shots away. We were on occasion a bit slow to clear.
There was little energy on display, no talking or communication, nothing. As the pressure continued some of the players were switching off and some petulance was creeping into the play. Fintan are a direct side and robust in the challenge, they can also play more than a bit. We know this and yet really did not get to grips with this.
Fintan were able to progress through the middle of the pitch unchallenged on too many occasions. We needed tactical discipline and switched Luca from wide right with Tom. This immediately paid dividends with Tom going on mazy dribbles that saw him drag 3 Fintan players out of position. What we were unable to do was capitalise on this by getting players around to support him. Often the good work came to nothing.
Freddie and Luca in the middle were getting on the ball more and more and trying to drive forward, using the wingers and threading the balls to Max and Jorge. Too often though our passing, throughout the team, was just slightly off. This increased in line with the game as inevitable tiredness set in. This led to frustration and the team needed to be calmed at half time and reminded that although 2-0 down we were still in the game.
We had at this point lost Will in goal. Making a save he really should not have been able to he stretched for the second ball and in doing so damaged the muscles in his torso. That was his game over. We switched him for Jacob who was on the bench, literally a nice green painted metal one. He was asked to just do what he could such was the lack of resources available and the stiffness in his back. Half time we were 2-0 down.
Second half we started much brighter. It felt like we needed a bit of luck, well actually two bits of luck really. We got them but they came at the same time. Louis linking well with Freddie out wide on the left played the ball to Max inside the area.
His trickery saw him move the ball and then be brought down (luck!). Penalty! Freddie stepped up and saw his initial shot saved but parried, he reacted quickest and fired the rebound in to the top corner (luck!). 2-1 and some fire in our bellies.
We conceded the third that turned out to be the winner shortly afterwards. Ben had taken a significant challenge right through his ankle and was not able to move freely. As the striker ran at him he could not react or divert him such was the pain he was in.
3-1.
Ben came off shortly afterwards and we played with 10 men, going to 3 at the back while we checked in with Hercules. He came on at centre back playing through the pain barrier and meaning that we had two crocked players on the pitch. The pattern of play continued and we had the better of the second half we got our second goal from Max who gave a real flash of genius in the box to work the space and finish from close range. The goal of the game and a piece of individual magic.
As time ticked on we continued to press for the equaliser but just couldn't get the final ball right. Fintan worked hard, closed us down and never gave us the time we needed on the ball. They were playing into the corners and playing the ball into our half at every opportunity.
The game finished 3-2.
What hurt us was not having the options to mix the team up and rotate players as we normally do. There was no issue with work rate, particularly in the second half, and every lad on the pitch was giving their all.
A mucky pitch made the going tough. Freddie and Luca, in the middle, worked tirelessly making tackles, winning headers and driving forward. The former was the MotM for a powerful display capped with a goal taken under pressure. This was a performance where Freddie led by example. His massively improved fitness and commitment really showing in this match. It's worth remembering that this Fintan side had a bare 11 players too so were subject to similar constraints.
There are elements we continue to work on but that perhaps we need to remember.
Too often, in forward positions we were holding the ball too much, as much due to a lack of support as anything. You need to play the opponent. Against a physical and committed opponent you cannot dwell on the ball, the challenge will be on you too quickly. We also showed indecision when defending. Failing to close the player down and then reacting to a dangerous ball or shot. This is all over the pitch.
Keeping this in perspective it is our first league defeat of the season against our bogey team. Every lad gave their all and should be proud of their effort; Max even succumbing to cramp which led to a remark from the touchline of "what is this? The FA Cup final or something?".
Keep your heads up and look ahead to next weekend where we have our final match of part one of the league fixtures against Saracens - let's make sure we get back to winning ways in that one.
