silverlion
Well-known member
A decent first half but the second half deteriorated as it went on but…..we won.
It was almost a disastrous start after their first attack in the first minute. Their attacker got a firm challenge, went down and the ref pointed to the spot. The attacker got up with a smile from ear to ear, got lots of plaudits from his team mates, their mob went nuts and then saw the flag up for offside. It was our turn to pour scorn on their celebrations but it was a close thing! Then we settled down. Azeez looked particularly lively on the left, tricky Esse looked similar on the right and the Serb was leaving no stone unturned up front. It looked exiting and we pressed hard when we had the ball. To be fair they had a lot more of the ball early on but they did not look a threat. They were a little arrogant and their left back got caught in possession on the wing. Esse had a couple of nibbles and won the ball. He pushed it inside the defence and Honeyman ran on to it and cut it back sharply to Esse fifteen yards out. He struck it low and hard and despite their keeper trying to get a hand on it and a defender on the line it beat them both and nestled into the back of the net. The Den went nuts and Esse had a big smile on his face. We were all thinking that this opening goal could open the flood gates but they had other ideas. Within a few minutes they had their best chance of the game. Their dangerous Whittaker hit a good floated cross from the right, their CF got between our two CB’s and his firm header was straight at Jensen who gathered it cleanly. A yard either side of him and it was 1-1. They pressed hard but despite them having more of the ball it was us that looked more dangerous. Azeez cut in from the left and hit a firm shot wide and a couple of minutes later had a good header saved by their keeper. Jensen made one blip of poor control in the box but recovered and was spared his blushes when the ref thought he had been fouled. We had our noses in front at the break.
Second half was a different story. Fat Wayne had pepped them up in the break and they came at us strongly. We had to stand firm and Leonard was exceptional on the right, Cooper and Tango were tight and Joe kept a tight rein on Whittaker. They were pouring forward but they never really threatened but it was taking its toll on us. There were tired bodies and tight muscles everywhere and Azeez was the first to be subbed with cramp by Wintle. That was followed by Kelly and Langstaff for Casper and the Serb. The situation got worse when Danny replaced Esse and we went to a back five. We really invited them on when they had really not threatened for the previous eighty minutes and they accepted our invitation with more pressure. At the death Jensen fumbled a corner and it was real heart in the mouth for the six added minutes. Fortunately they did not have the skills to take advantage and we ran out winners.
Jensen had a couple of blips but fortunately did not conceded. Leonard was a rock on the right and Cooper and Tango were solid. Joe played well and kept their Whittaker quiet. Sav ran his heart out and Casper looked assured but faded near the end. Esse was full of tricks and scored a great goal and got MOM from the club. Azeez had a much better game and looked the part at times. Honeyman ran his nuts off and fell in a heap at the end. The Serb looked good and made their defenders really work in the first half. He also laid of a couple or short passes in their box to set up chances and I was impressed by his skills. Wintle and Kelly ran hard. Langstaff had his moments and Danny was his usual feisty full back.
All in all a fair performance but a win, a clean sheet and three points which pushes us to 13th and some respectability. This was no classic but it puts us back on track. COYL.
It was almost a disastrous start after their first attack in the first minute. Their attacker got a firm challenge, went down and the ref pointed to the spot. The attacker got up with a smile from ear to ear, got lots of plaudits from his team mates, their mob went nuts and then saw the flag up for offside. It was our turn to pour scorn on their celebrations but it was a close thing! Then we settled down. Azeez looked particularly lively on the left, tricky Esse looked similar on the right and the Serb was leaving no stone unturned up front. It looked exiting and we pressed hard when we had the ball. To be fair they had a lot more of the ball early on but they did not look a threat. They were a little arrogant and their left back got caught in possession on the wing. Esse had a couple of nibbles and won the ball. He pushed it inside the defence and Honeyman ran on to it and cut it back sharply to Esse fifteen yards out. He struck it low and hard and despite their keeper trying to get a hand on it and a defender on the line it beat them both and nestled into the back of the net. The Den went nuts and Esse had a big smile on his face. We were all thinking that this opening goal could open the flood gates but they had other ideas. Within a few minutes they had their best chance of the game. Their dangerous Whittaker hit a good floated cross from the right, their CF got between our two CB’s and his firm header was straight at Jensen who gathered it cleanly. A yard either side of him and it was 1-1. They pressed hard but despite them having more of the ball it was us that looked more dangerous. Azeez cut in from the left and hit a firm shot wide and a couple of minutes later had a good header saved by their keeper. Jensen made one blip of poor control in the box but recovered and was spared his blushes when the ref thought he had been fouled. We had our noses in front at the break.
Second half was a different story. Fat Wayne had pepped them up in the break and they came at us strongly. We had to stand firm and Leonard was exceptional on the right, Cooper and Tango were tight and Joe kept a tight rein on Whittaker. They were pouring forward but they never really threatened but it was taking its toll on us. There were tired bodies and tight muscles everywhere and Azeez was the first to be subbed with cramp by Wintle. That was followed by Kelly and Langstaff for Casper and the Serb. The situation got worse when Danny replaced Esse and we went to a back five. We really invited them on when they had really not threatened for the previous eighty minutes and they accepted our invitation with more pressure. At the death Jensen fumbled a corner and it was real heart in the mouth for the six added minutes. Fortunately they did not have the skills to take advantage and we ran out winners.
Jensen had a couple of blips but fortunately did not conceded. Leonard was a rock on the right and Cooper and Tango were solid. Joe played well and kept their Whittaker quiet. Sav ran his heart out and Casper looked assured but faded near the end. Esse was full of tricks and scored a great goal and got MOM from the club. Azeez had a much better game and looked the part at times. Honeyman ran his nuts off and fell in a heap at the end. The Serb looked good and made their defenders really work in the first half. He also laid of a couple or short passes in their box to set up chances and I was impressed by his skills. Wintle and Kelly ran hard. Langstaff had his moments and Danny was his usual feisty full back.
All in all a fair performance but a win, a clean sheet and three points which pushes us to 13th and some respectability. This was no classic but it puts us back on track. COYL.
The commentators even said it was a soft challenge which he made more of! Rooney grasping at straws!
that does not suit us at all, whoever plays in it.
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