Improving and room for improvement

With a period of what seems like months between games this LRFC team needed a work out. A friendly fixture against Tuffley just the ticket. With both sides having already played each other in the league there was no upper hand to be gained in this match. The league match ended 2-2 and today LRFC were on the wrong end of a 2-1 score line. The score line really was irrelevant as this was about fitness and playing a match. Nothing more. 

With injuries and illness affecting availability LRFC had a bare 11 players and a late substitute in the shape of Sam arriving after work. The team lined up familiarly in. 4-3-2-1 formation. Will in goal, Adam and Fin at full back, Ben and George at centre back. In front of them Jacob and Tom holding. Alf in the hole, Luca left wing, Olly on the right and Jorge up front. 

As the game progressed the formation was causing LRFC problems with the gap between defence and attack too great. The attackers were not dropping back and forcing the defence to try and push into midfield or hit the ball long. Reverting to 4-4-2 did plug the gap and also saw LRFC create a number of chances as the game reached its conclusion. 

Tuffley took the lead seizing onto a loose ball in the box following a corner to finish well low into the corner beyond Will's dive. LRFC equalised before the half was over with Jorge ringing himself in acres of space following a Tuffley mix up. He kept his cool to wrong foot the keeper and send a shot into the net. 

The winning goal, as it would turn out, came later in the same half. The Tuffley midfielder striking the ball sweetly from outside the box into the top corner leaving the keeper with no chance. 

The game was played in great spirit and while both sides refereed half a game each it could have easily continued without one. Tuffley were strong through the middle and LRFC always a threat from wide positions. Both sides created chances and but for better finishing and composure front of goal there could have been a higher score. 

That it remained 2-1 was in no small part down to the LRFC keeper who made a quite stunning save when he had no right too. A shot from close range saw him throw an arm at it and somehow lift the ball over the bar. Reactions, reflexes and strength all in evidence. A finer save you will not have seen on that given Sunday. 

LRFC played some great football and while there was an improvement from recent weeks there were similar issues, finishing and in particular composure in front of goal and in some areas fitness. 

While football is a game of skill and technique it is also dominated by work rate. All of this requires high fitness levels. Generally a team that outruns the opposition gets the result. Today LRFC showed improving work rate but there is room for improvement. With another fortnight before the next game the players should take heart from this performance as it was an improving one and also be motivated to get out and take responsibility for their fitness.

A good performance  against a good opposition and room to improve.