DB45s 0-1 HKFC Rovers
Friday 8th March at HKFC, K.O 8.30 p.m.
Squad: Stef, Sean, Matija, Steve, Morse, Bazz, O’B, Thierry, Scott, Fela, Fouad.
Initial subs: Patric, Juggs, Michel
Despite having numerous goal-scoring opportunities, we lost due to a defensive error early on in the game. We set up again with the intention of a flexible 4-3-3/4-5-1, with Fouad and Scott as the wide men and Fela up top. As with our game against Sai Kung, the tactics did not work when we were out of possession as we invariably had too many men forward when we lost the ball. For the first 20 minutes we did not help our cause with Matija insistent on pushing into midfield, giving Rovers several chances to exploit our shortage of numbers at the back. Rovers capitalized after about 15 minutes with a through ball, which Steve unsuccessfully attempted to evade, deflecting off him and allowing their striker through in a 1 on 1 against Stef. This was followed by a bit of drama after Sean unintentionally clipped the heels of their striker, who retaliated by lashing out at Sean. To be fair, the ref sent him off but allowed Rovers to replace him a few minutes later. All part and parcel of social old men’s Friday night football! We settled down for the final 15 minutes of the half, with more of a 4-4-2 and O’B settling in the back 4 instead of Matija and Alessio in the Rovers goal did well to keep the score at 0-1. In the second half, we were more organized and created a number of chances, with Morse and Matija coming particularly close when scoring would have been the easier option. Stef earned his appearance money with a decent save to impress his on-looking WAG. And the game ended in the way it began, with a little drama as Morse took exception to a “robust” challenge from behind. Not the best of performances by the DB45s, but no time to dwell on it as we gear up for another game in 3 days – even the old boys having fixture congestion at this time of year.
