2G - Westway Sports Centre, Shepherd's Bush - 9.20pm - 6-a-side - vs FootyAddicts Westway League
It's easy to get down-hearted, a 8-1 defeat on paper isn't the greatest result. But there's way more of a back story to this than first meets the eye. This was our first ever competitive match, to get here was a huge result for us, one more important than the eventual score line. Still much work needs to be done, the turn out was a struggle, but we got 6 players, and we're aiming to join a 5-a-side league, so that's a positive.
Game wise, the boys were nervous, understandably so, all the talk had stopped and now it was down to us as a team.
Early on, we competed, tackled, and played the ball around nice and expansively, but after some good possession we lost the ball and conceded early on. Heads dropped a little once the second goal was banged in and soon we were 3-0 down. A couple of these goals were just poor play, mis-placed passes and losing possession in dangerous places in our own half.
We regrouped and some nice wing play from Tey, and the resultant cross ended up with Shaun Whittle running into the box to slot it neatly away. Our first ever goal in a competitive game.
It turned out to be our only goal, as Newco FC turned the screw and capitalised on our inexperience, winning 8-1. They also had a sub, which made a big difference to our team, as this was our first game. They are a seasoned league team who play week in week out. In fact we found out that they were in with a shout at winning the league before that day's schedule of fixtures.
These games will be good, because even if it's 6-a-side, it shows off the areas we need to improve. Sure, 5-a-side is different, but not hugely so. The things we got wrong were the basics. We were trying long balls, high balls.....all of which don't help. It requires more time for us to get the ball under control, it requires better fitness, and these were stacked against us.
There was a great debut from Joao in goal, who got injured early on, so we were essentially down to 5 players as the game went on.......but as I said before, it's the easy thing to get dispirited, the real sign of great character is being able to see where we need to strengthen, and more importantly, how you implement those changes and how you come back as people and as a team from a tough defeat.
And we'll see. We play another league team in Bobby Firmino Out FC this Wednesday....on paper, they should represent a slightly easier game, but one thing we know for sure, is that easy doesn't exist when it comes to footy. We have a slightly more familiar line up expected......Jumbo returns, and hopefully our debut maker Doswell will sign up too, a younger player, so hopefully skilful and fitter !
Until then, the FC7 story goes onwards and upwards
Comments