Our game against Weston on a bright, sunny autumn morning was supposed to be played on their vast grass pitch. At the last minute there was a venue change and we played instead on turf. A scrappy and staccato game ensued, with Weston defending dourly for 89 minutes, helped by the narrower pitch and some highly questionable refereeing decisions.
In the opening minute we looking dazed and bemused as Weston robbed the ball and ran it down our right flank. A quick pass was played inside and a powerful shot from 20 yards fizzed past Mike's ear into the top corner. So much for the Weston chances: the rest of the match was played out in their half.
Our equaliser wasn't long in coming as Bardot ran onto Peter's long pass down the right wing, cut inside and drilled a low shot that the 'keeper couldn't hold at the near post. A short while later Bardot repeated this run down the right and was scythed down as he cut in ahead of his defender. A quick survey of amateur referees on the sideline resulted in 100% in favour of the yellow card for this offence; the ref on the pitch did at least award a free kick.
For the remainder of the half Weston were often playing with ten men behind the ball, and weren't giving us much space to move. Lots of niggly fouls and physical play also succeeded in breaking up our rhythm.
In the second half we generated a few more chances, but when they arrived we had little time or space to capitalise. Ivan snatched at a rising ball only to see his shot from 15 yards bounce back off the crossbar. Karsten produced an acrobatic bicycle kick from a corner that hit Samuel and deflected wide. Mike A had a shot from the edge of the area that Steve G deflected off a defender, but the 'keeper was alert and managed to get down to the collect the ball. Pap put in two or three excellent crosses from the left that were closed out. And Andy hit a delightful free kick from 20 yards that grazed the outside of the post with the 'keeper stranded. These highlights aside, the second half was a continuation of the dour defending and hilarious refereeing.
But there should be no excuses: Weston played a tactically savvy game, switching the venue to a narrower pitch where they could more easily defend in numbers. Our failure to get to the bye-line and cut the ball back or otherwise put the 'keeper under pressure led to our first loss of points this season.
Squad: Mike O, Kirk, Mike A, Tim R, Pap, Steve S, Andy, Karsten, Victor, Peter, Ivan, Steve G, Christer, Bardot, Samuel
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