DB45s 1-4 HK ex pros

Monday 11th March at Happy Valley, K.O 6.30 p.m

Squad: Bradders, Kieran C, Juggs, Steve, Aidan, Patric, Bazz, Hymnsey, Andy C, Scott, Ariel.
Initial subs: Fela, Rudi, Michel.

A great effort by all to get to an early K.O on a mild Monday evening. Having beaten the ex-pros 2-1 in our last outing, they arrived with a squad of 18, seemingly younger than before. We knew exactly what to expect from the ex-pros and spent most of the first third on the defensive, unable to get good possession. The ex-pros focused all their attacking efforts around getting a quality ball into Detinho’s feet, with the big man laying it off one or two touch at will; or getting wide possession with pin point crosses to Detinho at the far post as he drifted on the blind side of defenders. No linesmen to help us hold a line, we were backs against the wall. The ex-pros went 2-0 up and we looked as if we might be on the wrong side of a hammering. To our credit, we hung on in there and Patric went close with a header at the far post and Andy C with a left footer against the post from distance. We got back in the game with a good finish from our guest youngster Aidan who filled in at short notice after late withdrawals from the squad. At the first break, the ex-pros decided that it was the right time for a team photo, probably so that we could get within 5 yards of them. We did a 3 for 3 rotation of the midfield, bringing on Fela, Rudi and Michel to see if they could get a hold of the middle of the park and we looked to be settling more into the game. Unfortunately the ex-pros scored a soft third goal after we failed to clear our lines on the edge of the area. Other than that goal, we could have no complaints and Bradders put in a MOM performance in goal to keep the score respectable. The ex-pro’s big man came off for the final third but they had more of a Plan B than in our previous encounters, with a couple of small but mobile runners up front to keep our defence busy. Fela came close with a right foot strike into the side netting but the ex-pros put the game beyond reach with a 4th goal towards the end. All in all an enjoyable game, played in a good spirit. In the final analysis we worked hard as a team to contain them but were not good enough in possession to threaten them enough.