DBFC 45s 0-5 KCC 45s

Monday 5 June 2023 at King’s Park, K.O. 9p.m.

Team: Baz/ Kieran C, Nik, Matija, Steve/ Jon, Sam, Will, Laurence/ Ricky/ Greg. Initial subs: Anago, Juggsy, Patric, Derrick.

We eventually managed to gather a strong squad thanks to a number of non-regular players, with particular thanks to Baz stepping in as GK. We had a plan to use our two most mobile defenders at CB to counter the threat of the KCC CF who has been a prolific scorer at this level, and generally to compete against a team that were clearly making full use of the concession which allows them to play 5 players between 40-45. We started the game badly and went 1-0 down within 5 minutes. Their CF was given far too much space to turn and pick his spot from outside the area, which on the small King’s Park pitch is no great distance. We went further behind after 20 minutes, Matija bringing the ball out of defence and running into traffic, with their CF getting on the end of a quick counter-attack. We were not getting into any passing rhythm and were looking for longer balls rather than keeping any possession. To make matters worse, Will went off injured and Patric came on at CM next to Sam. We had a couple of excellent chances to get back into the game – a header that appeared to hit the underside of the crossbar and then Greg not quite able to get his shot away at the far post after good work from Laurence down the left. We went into HT disappointed but hopeful that we would get back into the game as KCC brought on their older players. Derrick and Juggsy came on at full backs for Steve and Kieran, and Anago at RM for Jon. The second half was disrupted after about 10 minutes with an injury to their player and there followed a bad 5 minutes from our point of view where we gave them 2 soft goals, in both cases their player having an open goal to pass into after indecisions in the central defence. There was no way back after this. Jon came closest after getting in behind their defence but having his 1 on 1 saved by the GK. Their striker Merlone saved his best till last with a glorious volley in the left channel after a diagonal ball from RM, without doubt goal of the season at 45s level (which he will be in about 5 years time!). All in all a disappointing performance, albeit against a decent side.