Saturday morning and Ramsey preparing tactics for the game against title-chasing Edwalton. George and Big W away so 13 for the game then two texts and down to 11 with Sam and Kempo the fall guys. Still at least we have two full backs in Joe and Charlie so where does Ramsey play them both. Yes centre-half. After the wingbacked wonders of Ollie and Tom the week before and JC’s wonderful job at sweeper it was more of the same with Joe and Charlie stepping into the boots vacated by Sam and George. Makelele at anchor man with Elliot and Jonno in midfield and the Knox twins up front. Am I playing from the start asked Cam? I think with only 11 players you just might be!
LC kicked off up the slope and started to play some good football looking threatening going forward and solid in defence. Despite the fact that they were playing up the slope LC were holding their own in a pretty even and tough encounter. After a couple of threatening runs down the right Edwalton got the breakthrough with the LC defence giving them a bit too much time and Harry having no chance. 0-1 and this would be a test with 15 minutes to go till half-time. LC knuckled down to the task however and created a number of chances with good forward play from Fraser, Cam and Elliot and intelligent use of the ball from Matthew and Jonno leading to a couple of corners and when the ball was half cleared Makelele bombed one in from long range which took a deflection past the keeper 1-1. Rest of the half was pretty even with Harry making a couple of good saves when he had to and Ollie and Fraser going close HT 1-1.
Second half down the slope LC moved up a gear and started to put Edwalton under a lot of pressure. A succession of corners followed and the final touch just eluded us. A mazy run from Fraser followed by a cross which the keeper parried and a rebound that Cam steered towards goal only for the keeper to turn it past the post. Another run from fraser and this time the post came to Edwalton’s rescue. Some good shots from distance by Makelele and Jonno and again the keeper saved the day for Edwalton. The LC defence was holding firm and really Harry didn’t have a great deal to do in the second period. Eventually the whistle went for full-time with Edwalton really getting out of jail and the LC boys doing themselves proud. I think had we got the second goal we would have gone on to win but alas it was not to be.
A great gutsy performance by all 11 players. Discipline, tackling and positional play were all excellent. Matthew, Elliot and Jonno were immense in midfield and the back 5 sensational. And as for those Knox boys….
Next week on to Attenborough for another tough game.
You reds! |
