Match Report
Match Report - 20 Oct 2013, Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers drew with London Rhinos
Rovers!
Rovers 1 – 1 London Rhinos
If ever a draw felt like a defeat, I’d say this was it.
We created enough chances to win the game 5 or 6 – 1, hit the post twice and missed a penalty with 3 mins to go.
We didn't play our best football of the season, too often looking for the killer long ball rather than patience possession, but at the end we were unlucky to common away with a draw.
The tactics were to use Howard and Godders as 2 wide forward players to get in behind their full backs and have the Horse as a central presence to hold the ball up and feed the midfield.
It was therefore a bit surprising that our first real chance came from the Horse running onto a through ball, outpacing a lone Rhinos centre back and firing fiercely at goal. Despite the shot being almost straight at him, the keeper still takes a great deal of credit in getting down low and scooping the ball over the bar with his forearm.
Our goal came from Godders receiving the ball in a deep right position, scampering into the box, turning through a few defenders and squeezing a shot under the Rhinos keeper.
London Rhinos were gaining chances by breaking from midfield and trying to play through balls behind our defence but overall i'd say we were not too worried as I don't remember a clear cut chance for them.
Our second half team talk saw us commit to playing better more patient football and to the most part we did.
We forced a flurry of corners which we were either cleared off the line, made their keeper look shaky or forced a subsequent corner.
The Horse showed his commitment to the cause by nutting one the Rhinos defenders as he challenged for a high ball. He came back onto the field a little later sporting a Terry Butcher esque bandage but which also look liked a 1800s Queen's Rifles helmet (for those of you who watch Sharpe.)
London Rhinos were still proving quite difficult to break down as we searched for a 2nd from open play and it was to their credit that they maintained a foothold in the game by scoring an equaliser. A breakaway wasn't fully cleared from inside our box and a Rhinos player was on hand to arrive late and smash the loose ball into the roof of the net giving Danny no chance.
Bunny, Matt and Ed proved the driving force to get us back into the game by taking the game to Rhinos in response. It was almost the Thomas Gravesen and Lee Carsley show as I continually got Bunny and Ed mixed up with the sun in my eyes.
Jordan gave us fresh impetus and pace from the bench as he entered the fray for Howard.Kelly@live.co.uk. Godders also showed impressive stamina after 6 months out injured. He skinned the right back once again, opened up his body and clipped the bar past the keeper. Agonisingly, with the keeper beaten all ends up, the bar kissed the far left post and went out for a goal kick.
We still didn't give up though and a lung bursting run took Ed (Lee Carsley/Thomas Gravesen) along the byline towards the goal before being clipped from behind for a stonewall pen.
After all the pressure, it didn't cross my mind that we wouldn't score. Unfortunately, in the manner of the Budapest coup where he mercilessly ribbed Smudger for his penalty prowess before missing in the game, Bunny squirmed the penalty wide.
There were literally seconds left and unfortunately that was our last chance for victory.
Overall I'd say we deserved the win after our chances created but if you don't take them, at some point you're going to get punished.
Division One
1 1 Accrington Stanley Bowles v FC Lonsdale
King's House (Civil Service) SG W4 2RZ
1 1 Clapham Rovers 'A' v London Rhinos
King's House (Civil Service) SG W4 2RZ
1 3 Parklife 'B' v Lokomotiv Londres
The Griffin Club 12 Dulwich Village SE21 7AL
6 0 Real Northern 'A' v Worcester Park Rangers
Westminster Schools CR4 1DE
We are due to give a team a humping at some point so not let's get too disheartened. There's no one in this league that we can't beat.
UTFR!
Division One : League Table
9 Teams Games
Played Games
Won Games
Drawn Games
Lost Goals
For Goals
Against Goal
Difference Points
FC Lonsdale 4 3 1 0 12 2 +10 10
Real Northern 'A' 4 3 0 1 20 7 +13 9
Clapham Rovers 'A' 4 1 2 1 4 7 -3 5
AFC Maverick 2 1 1 0 6 3 +3 4
Lokomotiv Londres 2 1 0 1 3 3 +0 3
Accrington Stanley Bowles 2 0 2 0 2 2 +0 2
London Rhinos 2 0 1 1 3 7 -4 1
Worcester Park Rangers 3 0 1 2 3 15 -12 1
Parklife 'B' 3 0 0 3 2 9 -7 0
Clapham Rovers Clapham Rovers 1 - 1 London Rhinos ()