ARDEN V OLTON

Subs

• Broadhurst

• Ryan

• Stokes

The 1st half of this game was possibly the strangest I have ever been involved with when it comes to mixed feelings. We started the game at tremendous pace and we were soon on top. I lost count of our efforts on goal and half chances. The Arden keeper was kept busier than he will have been in a while and he responded well with a number of fine saves. Halloran was 1st to step up, latching on to some neat work in midfield. Mike powered through and shot wide under a strong challenge from the defender.

Our midfield of Mark, Ross, Rob and Dayle were on top in the early stages and this led to more chances. Ross tested the keeper from distance and Halloran once again got down the right and delivered the perfect ball into the box. Dylan had made a great run and was unlucky not to score when the ball rebounded back off the keeper. More pressure led to a free kick. Graham stepped up and crashed it toward the top corner, once again the keeper kept us at bay. Mark then had two shots from distance and a header from a corner all well saved.

The goal our pressure deserved did not arrive and slowly Arden were coming back into the game. Then we had the major 10 minute period of the game. 1st we lost Ross to injury. Ross and Mark had been very influential in our early dominance. Next game a very soft penalty award against us. (So soft in fact that the Arden parents stood next to me both laughed and said “never”). To top it off the referee came to me at half time to apologise for the bad decision. Not many refs admit mistakes though so that made a nice change. Within a few minutes James also limped off with injury. This was then followed by a through ball in between Jacko and Matty and amazingly we were 2-0 down.

If we thought that was bad enough, 2 became 3 and then 4 within minutes of each other. The loss of Ross and James had disrupted us and Arden were now getting in behind us at ease. Credit must go to the Arden forwards though who really know where the net is. Almost every time they were in on goal they scored. Stevo will be disappointed with the 4th goal that crept underneath him but all of the other goals were clinical finishes.

So after 35 minutes, we were putting in our best attacking display of the season, we felt we were on top and that we should have been 2 or 3 goals to the good. The score was 0-4??? Difficult to work out I know but that’s was this league can do to you.

Just before half time we got the goal we deserved. Dayles corner bounced around the box and looped up in the air, Halloran rose highest to head home.1-4.

The 2nd half was not quite as action packed. Arden were the better team but this half was mostly half chances to both teams. Mike and Dyl continued to work together well upfront to give the back 4 a hard time. Mark worked tirelessly in midfield and our back 4 worked hard to ensure the score never got anymore out of hand.

I guess I should be disappointed with a 5-1 defeat and obviously the score hurts but I can only take optimism from the fact that we made a far greater effort to compete and score and goals against a top side than we have previously. We have spent a lot of time working on improving the attacking side of our play and with a little more luck we could have score 4 or 5.

Steve