Post by redway on Apr 20, 2010 6:28:25 GMT
Match Report: 18th April 2010:
Leighton United 1 v 3 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: Jack Westbrook, Mitch Tofts and Kevin Feldman
Beautiful day and in the end a beautiful result if not quite the example of the beautiful game we had all hoped for. Firstly though can I just mention the Leighton United facilities which are very impressive and I must say their website doesn’t do it justice. Knowing quite how much work goes into any club those behind this new facility need congratulating.
This was a League Cup quarter final which the Lions needed to win to keep their hopes of a league and cup double alive. In addition we are due back at Leighton for a league game midweek so we also needed a good result to get confidence up.
As it was we didn’t start well again and if anything we looked flat. We had made a few changes from last week with Jack Allen starting in central defence with Ross, Jack Crox back with Matty in midfield and Brandon and Eben wide. Given John and Michael rotate the side this shouldn’t have made an iota of difference but we just seemed on the back foot throughout the opening 15 minutes.
The pitch was hard but flat and at times we did get into good positions but too often our quality failed us. We never saw Luke or Dan Booth in any attacking role until late in the half such was the lack of fluidity. In attack it was all a bit “pretty” and our opponents regularly turned defence into attack with a single pass without enough pressure. As the score above tells you our opponents took the lead when we didn’t deal with another long ball. Yet again we showed a lack of positivity and somehow the Leighton forward got into our 6 yard box. Whilst his shot hit the post it rebounded to his strike partner and Dan had no chance. It could have been two moments later when we lost concentration and the home forward shot straight at Dan although I would suggest good save not poor miss.
We did get better and we had a couple of half chances from corners and Matty in particular had a couple of decent efforts fly just wide. Brandon and Eben wide on teh flanks did get glimpses of daylight but we just never capitalised on them or chose the right option. All in all a pretty poor half lacking in passion and quality.
.
I wasn’t sure what John and Michael said at half time but it certainly made the difference with a display of such contrast to the first it was difficult to comprehend. We did make one change with Alex joining the other chuckle brother in defence but it was the overall attitude that was the difference. More urgency, more pace and when we did get the chance we moved the ball with more purpose. We did suffer one scare when the aging linesman missed an offside and the home forward shot across goal and Dan saved his blushes with a fine save.
Other than that it was all one way and once Westy had equalised with a well times header it was a matter of what the score might be. That happened after 10 minutes but by then the management had made a subtle change and moved Liam back into the midfield moving Kevin up front. It brought Liam more into the game and gave the home defence another problem to deal with. Eben had started to dominate on the right and Luke and Mitch (sub for Brandon) started to get the upper hand on the other side. However it was a mixture of both flanks that set up the second goal. A move broken up by Dan and Eben saw the latter switch the ball into Liam and then Matty. All the time Mitch was making ground down the left and with Westy and Kevin taking players the other way, the ball left to Mitch saw him with time to place a first time shot back across the keeper into the net. Really good looking goal and even the home management acknowledged as much. 3 minutes later and we were almost home when another loose ball was collected in midfield and this time delivered down the channel for Kevin. He used his pace to get a yard on his marker before striking a ferocious drive past the keeper before he could set himself.
After that we did hit the post twice I think again Kevin was involved and Liam as well. John had a run for the last 10 minutes after his injury last week and he came through okay so good news all round at the end.
That game however is now ancient history and we have to start again on Thursday and it will be difficult against this committed Leighton Utd side. We can’t afford to start slowly again and it is imperative the pace and passion we displayed second half is there from the start. Once we do that and earn the right to play our football then hopefully chances will appear.
Well done and we should find out who we get in the next round very soon but until then eyes down and full focus on the next game at hand.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth and Alex Collard
Leighton United 1 v 3 NPTFC Lions
Half – Time: 0 - 1
Scorers: Jack Westbrook, Mitch Tofts and Kevin Feldman
Beautiful day and in the end a beautiful result if not quite the example of the beautiful game we had all hoped for. Firstly though can I just mention the Leighton United facilities which are very impressive and I must say their website doesn’t do it justice. Knowing quite how much work goes into any club those behind this new facility need congratulating.
This was a League Cup quarter final which the Lions needed to win to keep their hopes of a league and cup double alive. In addition we are due back at Leighton for a league game midweek so we also needed a good result to get confidence up.
As it was we didn’t start well again and if anything we looked flat. We had made a few changes from last week with Jack Allen starting in central defence with Ross, Jack Crox back with Matty in midfield and Brandon and Eben wide. Given John and Michael rotate the side this shouldn’t have made an iota of difference but we just seemed on the back foot throughout the opening 15 minutes.
The pitch was hard but flat and at times we did get into good positions but too often our quality failed us. We never saw Luke or Dan Booth in any attacking role until late in the half such was the lack of fluidity. In attack it was all a bit “pretty” and our opponents regularly turned defence into attack with a single pass without enough pressure. As the score above tells you our opponents took the lead when we didn’t deal with another long ball. Yet again we showed a lack of positivity and somehow the Leighton forward got into our 6 yard box. Whilst his shot hit the post it rebounded to his strike partner and Dan had no chance. It could have been two moments later when we lost concentration and the home forward shot straight at Dan although I would suggest good save not poor miss.
We did get better and we had a couple of half chances from corners and Matty in particular had a couple of decent efforts fly just wide. Brandon and Eben wide on teh flanks did get glimpses of daylight but we just never capitalised on them or chose the right option. All in all a pretty poor half lacking in passion and quality.
.
I wasn’t sure what John and Michael said at half time but it certainly made the difference with a display of such contrast to the first it was difficult to comprehend. We did make one change with Alex joining the other chuckle brother in defence but it was the overall attitude that was the difference. More urgency, more pace and when we did get the chance we moved the ball with more purpose. We did suffer one scare when the aging linesman missed an offside and the home forward shot across goal and Dan saved his blushes with a fine save.
Other than that it was all one way and once Westy had equalised with a well times header it was a matter of what the score might be. That happened after 10 minutes but by then the management had made a subtle change and moved Liam back into the midfield moving Kevin up front. It brought Liam more into the game and gave the home defence another problem to deal with. Eben had started to dominate on the right and Luke and Mitch (sub for Brandon) started to get the upper hand on the other side. However it was a mixture of both flanks that set up the second goal. A move broken up by Dan and Eben saw the latter switch the ball into Liam and then Matty. All the time Mitch was making ground down the left and with Westy and Kevin taking players the other way, the ball left to Mitch saw him with time to place a first time shot back across the keeper into the net. Really good looking goal and even the home management acknowledged as much. 3 minutes later and we were almost home when another loose ball was collected in midfield and this time delivered down the channel for Kevin. He used his pace to get a yard on his marker before striking a ferocious drive past the keeper before he could set himself.
After that we did hit the post twice I think again Kevin was involved and Liam as well. John had a run for the last 10 minutes after his injury last week and he came through okay so good news all round at the end.
That game however is now ancient history and we have to start again on Thursday and it will be difficult against this committed Leighton Utd side. We can’t afford to start slowly again and it is imperative the pace and passion we displayed second half is there from the start. Once we do that and earn the right to play our football then hopefully chances will appear.
Well done and we should find out who we get in the next round very soon but until then eyes down and full focus on the next game at hand.
Squad: Dan Shaw, Luke Parker, Matty Cullis, Liam Scott, Jack Westbrook, Kevin Feldman, Mitch Tofts, Brandon Banda, Jack Allen, Johnny Harman, Eben Darko, Ross Wheeler, Jack Croxford, Dan Booth and Alex Collard