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ASB v Welling
| Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Competition |
Season |
Result |
Goals For |
Goals Against |
| Fri 27th Apr 2007 |
Welling |
Colliers Wood |
League/LSAC |
06/07 |
won |
4 |
3 |
| Match Report |
After the stroll in the park that was the 10-0 win over the AFC Wimbledon B team last week, it was back to serious business with an LSA Cup semi final against Welling. Inga and Keir had a strong squad of 17 to choose from, and we lined up as follows:
Naz
Orv
Tina
Gary
Task
Eddie
Riz
Tim
Slouch
JJ
Jools
Subs: Woody, Nick, Immy, Weeman, Rob, Frange
We got off to the best possible start in the first minute with our first attack of the game. A long throw in from close to the corner flag was flicked on at the near post and Slouch was on hand to give us the lead from close range. The early goal gave us a lot of confidence and we dictated the play with some good passing and movement that Welling struggled to handle. And so it wasn't long before we scored again, this time a through ball from Riz found Eddie on the edge of the box, and he hit a great first-time shot across the keeper inside the far post.
There were plenty of good balls coming through from midfield and the Welling goal was always under threat. Eddie and Riz combined again and the latter thumped the ball against the bar but unfortunately it didn't cross the line. The oppo were rarely threatening us at the back, although from one corner the ball came back in for Slouch to clear off the line. Soon we were up the other end and added another goal, almost a copy of the first but from the opposite flank. This time Woodstock veteran Jools got a flick on the throw in and the ball seemed to go straight through their keeper into the net. A few minutes later JJ managed to worm his way through their defence and made no mistake from close range to make it two goals in as many games for him.
4-0 up after just half an hour and we looked to be cruising, but then Welling got a goal back in controversial circumstances. The ball was pumped forward to their striker who Rob flagged as offside, the defence stopped while waiting for the ref to whistle, but Welling played on and scored and the goal was allowed to stand. Not surprisingly there were dissenting voices all round, but the rest of the half was played out and we looked in control at half time.
A couple of changes were made; Nick on for JJ and Woody on for Gary. We looked to start the second half in the same vein as the first, and for the most part we had the ball around their area without really threatening the goal. Welling's main threat was the long ball over the top (an IFA favourite), in one instance they were clear through
but hit the post when they should have scored, soon after they made it count - Naz rushed out to deal with another long ball but their player got there first for a simple lob to make it 4-2.
This gave Welling a real boost and from here on in they looked a lot more up for it. Our intensity levels dropped and we found ourselves losing a lot of 50-50 balls and failing to keep possession. Any shots on goal were comfortably dealt with by their keeper, while at the other end we weren't dealing with the high balls as well as we had.
Welling thought they'd scored a third goal but Keir correctly called it for offside, which led to some more heated discussions amongst the players.
A couple more changes were made with Immy on for Jools and Weeman on for Task. Immy looked up for it with his usual trademark runs and some nice link up play, in one instance he released Riz into the penalty area with only the keeper to beat, but his shot went just wide. A goal there would have killed the game off, Welling sensed
this and upped their efforts as the game entered the final stages. In another attack we didn't clear our lines properly, and from the left an attempted cross was sliced over Naz into the far corner.
4-3 now, and what had looked like a comfortable lead at half time had been whittled away to make everyone very nervy. Another Welling cross was shepherded in front of the goal by Weeman while everyone else had their hearts on their mouths! To much ASB relief the final whistle was sounded, we'd booked our place in the final. But we knew today we'd been in a game, and Welling had done well to fight back the way
they had. It was the old game of two halves, we were very good in the first and below-par in the second. The heat and hard pitch took their toll on both teams, but this was a game where mental strength was the key; we had a bad decision go against us and we reacted badly, moaning at the ref and bickering amongst each other, rather than
focusing on our game and doing the basics well. This is one area of the game that we really need to improve on going forward
Still, the main thing is, WE'RE IN THE FINAL!! :o)
Cheers,
Frange |
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