An emphatic victory this might have been yet after 5 minutes LRFC found themselves a goal down and thinking that this could be a long afternoon.
The Lydney goal came from a long shot across the keeper. Will at full stretch could only parry the ball. The conditions and slippery ball made catching it impossible. As the ball broke there was a Lydney player to put it away.
This was the only real. Jan s Lydney created. Other shots and attempts were routine for the keeper.
LRFC equalised through Gus. Luca broke down the left, jinked inside challenges and crossed for Gus to finish high into the net from close range. LRFC were now back in the game and had their tails up.
In midfield, Seth and Ryan either side of Gus were working great in the holding role. Their willingness to sit in front of the back 4 and be destructive provided a real attacking platform for the more offensive players. They might go unnoticed in games but are vital to how this team plays.
LRFC had a makeshift line up today with injury and work taking its toll. Jacob spotted in alongside Ben in the heart of the defence, Gus dropped deeper and Jorge cane in up front.
Jacob and Ben are probably the two most technical players on this team and were able to keep the Lydney attacks at bay. Their positional sense and reading of the game seeing them rarely caught out. Alongside them Tom and Sam as full backs both had excellent games and registered goals.
Tom following a very typical run. Typical in that his head was down. As he feinted left and right he found himself in the box and finished under the keeper. Just desserts for a really commanding performance from left full back. Is there a fitter player in this team?
Sams goal should have been one of a brace. His header a yard over the line incorrectly missed by the ref. It had no bearing on the game and his goal cam from a sweet strike off his shin and in at the near post from some distance.
You know you’re playing well when your full backs both score.
Up front LRFC were always a threat. The drive of Alf, the trickery of Luca and desire of Jorge and Hayden providing a solid attack. With Gus pulling the strings from deep and Seth and Ryan also driving forward this was a multiple pronged attack.
Alf scored twice, the first a drive following a quick free kick taken by Gus. His second a far post diving header following a cross by Luca.
Luca would score a goal for his efforts being put through, again, by Gus.
Jorge started the game working through the middle. He came close with a couple of chances but in the goal mouth scrambles somehow Lydney were able to clear. The same was true for Hayden, who came close a couple of times but was blocked at the last.
Gus was MotM for a dominant display in midfield. Scoring once and setting up two. He was full of energy and drive today. There were though excellent performances everywhere and that is what will take this team forward.
I’m guessing everyone is available for that right?
Tuffley 4 (2) v (3) 5 LRFC Cougars
LRFC’s first Cup match was away to Tuffley. The platform in Harry Potter is probably easier to find than the ground but Glevum Park looked and played great.
Short of numbers with Seth not available, Hayden’s ankle not being up to it and Lewis inability to tell the time and date LRFC lined up in a slightly changed 4-3-3 formation.
In the early exchanges LRFC were dominant, Jacob controlling the tempo and linking well with team mates. With Alf and Luca wide and Jorge working hard through the middle there willing runners to be picked out. In defensive positions the back 4 of Ben, George, Sam, Tom and Will in goal were holding firm. Ryan was playing with intelligence covering George when he broke from deep.
Despite dominating possession Tuffley were first to register a shot and though it was pulled wide it was a warning. This led to the opening goal with Tuffley finishing from close range at the post following a mix up in defence.
The scores were levelled with a fantastic strike from Luca. Picking up the ball wide left he cut inside and sent a right-footed shot into the far top corner leaving the keeper with no chance. 1-1.
Tuffley would score again making it 2-1 in what was the last time they would be in the lead in this match. LRFC scores again to level with Alf sending an excellent header past the keeper from Gus’ header. Gus then put LRFC ahead with a lovely strike from a free kick, over the wall and beyond the keeper. 3-2 and how it was going to half time.
Second half and Tuffley had some fresh legs on the pitch. Lewis had also turned up for LRFC giving them an option off the bench.
Inexplicably LRFC started the second half lacking the intensity that saw them take the lead and conceded a goal very quickly following good work from Tuffley.
Luca then scored his second. Jorge pressed the defence winning the ball close to the byline his cross evaded everyone with Luca on hand at the back post to put it in from a foot out. 4-3.
Tuffley scored again to make it 4-4. The game was now a struggle for both side as fatigue set in. There was an unfortunate incident that saw Tom have to come off with a nasty injury. Losing his balance he slid into a challenge that saw players collide and Tom take the full force in an area that is really not designed for that impact. That saw his game end and him pick up a booking too!
A change was made, Sam coming on in his place. With less than 10’minutes to go the decisive blow was struck. Luca receiving the ball wide left drove towards the box and smashed a shot into the top right corner. The ball leaving his boot rising all the way.
It was a bit all hands to defend following this as Tuffley pressed for another equaliser. It wasn’t to be and LRFC are through to the next round of the league cup.
So many great performances today, Fergus and Jacob controlled midfield. George driving from deep, Ben making tackles he really has no right to. Alf a powerhouse on the right, Ryan quietly effective covering holes all over the pitch. Tom and Sam playing like Tripper and Rose. Up front Jorge showed he now gets what we want by working hard and putting his aggression into the game. Will in goal may have conceded 4 but kept LRFC in contention particularly late on. Luca showing the form of two seasons ago when he was destroying full backs and smashing home goals was the deserved MotM.
We have two remaining fixtures in 2017.
03/12 - we are home in the GFA County Cup to Lydney.
10/12 - we are home to Longlevens in the league.
That’s it until 07/01.
Rodborough can feel aggrieved as they tuck into their dinner tonight. How they managed to not get at least a draw despite dominating the game is in no short measure down to the game that the LRFC keeper had.
LRFC did score two goals, the opener from Luca racing on to a through ball. The second from Gus who was strong enough to hold off the defender and then clever enough to scoop the ball over the onrushing keeper.
It was 2-0 going into half time. The second half was made immediately harder when LRFC contrived to gift a goal. The goal was played backward all the way to the centre backs who weren't expecting it and were unable to clear the lines. The ball was played back to the keeper with Rodborough closing down fast. A ricochet later and it was 2-1.
Embarrassed faces all round.
This is how the game would end but not for lack of effort and application from Rodborough.
It was, at times, Rodborough versus the LRFC keeper with the keeper coming out on top. There was a third goal for LRFC ruled out for offside. Hayden reacted first to a long punt that evaded everyone and clipped a smart finish with the outside of his right boot only for the flag to be raised.
LRFC cannot continue to play this way and get results. The answer is simple, playing the ball quickly to a team mate and moving to anticipate a return ball. Playing the ball quickly while there's time and not when under pressure. Keeping it simple. Keeping the shape of the team.
The LRFC keeper, Will, was the motm for a superb display. Blockbuster saves and dominating his penalty area he kept the team in the game.
There was a highly notable performance from Sam playing wide right. His driving forward and crossing was superb today. So often in the right place. Seth also caught the eye particularly when moving into the holding positions.
With another game away at Cleeve next week at least there's time to get it right.
LRFC 3 v 2 Gotherington
Naunton Park
Gary Lineker once said of playing Germany that "two teams kick a ball for 90 minutes then the Germans win on penalties". Our games against Gotherington tend to have a familiar path too. We take the lead, go two goals up then Gotherington come back and we draw 2-2.
Today was almost like that. It was an own goal away from that exact scenario. Same as last season. At 2-2 with 6 minutes to go you could have been forgiven for leaving the stadium(!). You would have missed a lovely free kick from Sam that the defender, under pressure from Alf, headed into his own net.
Yet, as it always does it started so different. The early exchanges were dominated by LRFC. Pressure high up the pitch. The wide players hugging the touch line and the outlet every time even if they couldn't be found.
A new back 3 looked comfortable.
Gotherington play one way and keep playing that way. They do not let up. They keep plugging away and they get back into games.
Tom opened the scoring, rounding the keeper he slotted in coolly from a tight angle. A nice opening goal after maybe 6 or 7 minutes. The lead was doubled with Sam heading Luca's corner kick beyond the keepers dive.
Rather than push on LRFC started to show some nerves in possession. There were two debutants in Connor and Seth and a returning player after a year playing rugby in Lewis. Add to that a new formation and maybe it was harder once players stop playing instinctively and start to think.
Gotherington, as the half wore on pushed LRFC back towards their own goal and scored an improbable goal. A free kick from deep that Will looked to have caught on the wind and eluded him. In conditions such as this just one of those things. The equalising goal came in the second half from fine individual work by the Gotherington striker.
Just before the equaliser LRFC had a goal ruled out for offside despite the ball coming back off the crossbar from where the keeper had pushed it. This denied Connor opening his account but his chance will come.
Connor and Seth Beth impressed on their debuts playing the wide midfield role. It takes energy and reading of the game to play there and they both will take a lot from this match.
To start with a win is all you can ask. LRFC played well in patches and showed great character and desire to come back after being brought back to a drawing position. As fitness and understanding of the pattern of play develops there will. W more to come from this team.
A solid start and flashes of plenty to come.
The 4-Minute Drill (Aerobic)
WHAT TO DO:
Use cones to measure out a distance of 100m (the approximate length of a full-sized football pitch), with cones placed at regular 10m intervals. Run up and down the full 100m line as hard as you can for four minutes, and measure the total distance you cover. Rest for two minutes then repeat the exercise. Now work out your average distance per set by dividing your combined distance over the two sets in half, and check your times against the chart below.
HOW YOU RATE:
Sunday League footballer = 1000m
Good amateur footballer = 1100m
Championship footballer = 1200m
Premier League footballer = 1300m+
Horrible 100s (Anaerobic immediate / Phosphocreatine)
WHAT TO DO:
Measure out a distance of 100m (the approximate length of a full-sized football pitch) and sprint the distance as fast as you can. Repeat this 6-8 times in a set, with 40 secs rest in between each repetition. Measure your time for each rep, then add the times together and divide by however many reps you completed in order to work out your average time per 100m. If you choose to do a second set, allow 2-3 mins of recovery first.
HOW YOU RATE:
Sunday League footballer = 18 sec/100m
Good amateur footballer = 16 sec/100m
Championship footballer = 14 sec/100m
Premier League footballer = 12 sec/100m
Napalm Shuttle (Anaerobic short-term / Lactate)
WHAT TO DO:
Set up a 25m shuttle-run course with cones every 5m. Perform shuttle runs (run to the first cone and back, then run to the second cone and back etc) for 30 secs and record the total distance covered. Repeat the shuttle run six times with 30 secs recovery in between each set. Divide the total distance covered by the number of sets performed to work out your average distance covered.
HOW YOU RATE:
Sunday League footballer = 90m
Good amateur footballer = 100m
Championship footballer = 110m
Premier League footballer = 125m
