Match report for our disappointing game at the weekend...

ASB v Millwall at Old Deer Park

Conditions: Soft pitch with a strong wind

Apart from winning the competition in 2002/3, ASB's cup record has
mirrored that of QPR's in recent years - every single cup match has
resulted in a first round knock-out. This season saw ASB reach the dizzy
heights of the second round and being rewarded with a home tie against
Millwall.

Facing a strong wind blowing directly down the pitch ASB lined up as:

Rob

Frange Orv Sonny
Task

Brian Jordan Reg
Slouch

Nick Sharkey

Despite kicking off into a strong wind ASB started brightly. After only
two minutes a high ball into the box had the Millwall defence struggling
to clear. The ball fell kindly for Brian 12 yards out but he could only
hit his shot agonisingly wide. A similar chance inside the box presented
itself to Slouch a few minutes later but he failed to get proper contact
on the ball and could only hit it tamely back to the keeper.

Millwall settled quickly and looked to make use of the favouring wind.
Although they had plenty of possession they were guilty of overplaying
on several occasions, wasting promising positions with a poor final
ball. It's fair to say that the ASB defence did a lot of good work under
pressure during this period and mopped up several attacks on the edge of
the ASB box. ASB were looking to play on the break with some success and
subsequently wasted a third glorious chance when Sharkey went in for a
50-50 ball with the Millwall keeper, the ball broke free and stretching
for the ball he could only direct his shot across the open goal.

Millwall continued to threaten and after Rob misjudged a corner that
caught the wind Slouch was able to head the ball onto the bar and away.
As half time approached, it seemed that ASB had managed to contain
Millwall's attacking threat. Jordan was orchestrating things in the
middle and just as it started to look as though the match would be
goalless at the break a long ball over the top caught the ASB defence
flat-footed and Millwall's striker was able to nip in front of Rob and
give Millwall the lead. Nothing further of note happened in the last few
minutes of the half and the ref blew for half time with the score of ASB
0 Millwall 1.

Zack decided to make full use of his squad and made several changes
during the interval. We started the second half like this:

Rob

Tom H Orv Sonny
Tom D

Keir Jordan Reg
Slouch

Nick Sharkey

With the wind now blowing in our favour ASB started brightly, seeing
plenty of the ball in Millwall's half with Sharkey and Nick combining
well up front and Keir providing fresh impetus on the right. Jordan
continued to excel in the centre and was the instigator of most of ASB's
attacks.

Despite putting Millwall's defence under sustained pressure for long
spells, ASB found it difficult to carve out clear-cut opportunities. A
scramble in the Millwall box was hacked clear, Sharkey almost got in on
goal on a couple of occasions and Jordan had a couple of long range
efforts saved by the keeper. As the game became more open there was an
increasing amount of space on the flanks and Slouch shot across the face
of goal after being sent clear by Sharkey and Keir managed to get behind
Millwall's defence but his cross was cleared to safety.

As time began to run out for ASB Nick was forced off with a hamstring
injury and Brian came back on up front. ASB continued to attack in
numbers and Brian was harshly judged to have handled the ball when
through on goal after he had charged down a clearance. Millwall did have
a couple of opportunities with their striker blazing over when well
placed, however ASB looked the more likely to score the crucial second
goal. It was therefore something of a surprise that Millwall scored
their second when an attempted clearance by Orv was charged down,
allowing Millwall's striker to run through and score his second of the
match. With the game poised at 1-0 for so long this goal was decisive -
having scored it, Millwall relaxed visibly and were now content to
frustrate ASB by playing keep ball. They scored a bonus third goal after
a moment of hesitation allowed a high ball to bounce over the ASB
defence and although the first shot was saved by Rob a midfielder
followed up well to score.

As ASB heads dropped in the last 5 minutes Millwall were able to add a
fourth goal and the game ended 4-0 in their favour. The final score
masked what had been a pretty even contest for 75 or so minutes - the
second goal was the proverbial turning point and ASB paid a heavy price
for failing to score when on top during the first and second halves of
the match.

 Report by Slouch