|
Long Eaton United v Maltby Main 11 August 2007 |
|
|
|
Well, it seems like yesterday when we started pre-season but we have all been looking forward to our first league game. We've had a good pre-season with some encouraging performances and the increased competition in the squad has given us an extra edge to our game.
We have had some difficult decisions to make on todays team but if we are to successfully compete in the top half of this league we need a good squad......its not just about having 14 capable players. The 14 involved today might be different in the next game and level of competition and consistency will be a large factor in how we progress this season.
Todays team : Steve Smith, Adam Holmes , Paul McGinty, Micky Allsop, Matt Hallam, Marc Strzyzewski, Nathan Parker, Alex Steadman, Ben Roffey, Michael Buckley, Graham Fowkes..... Subs: Scott Downie, Matt McCaul, Danny Beldham.
First Half
"Difficult decisions to make on todays team"
Alex Steadman made his league debut
"Allsop needed treatment for a blood injury"
Alex Steadman was making his league debut for The Blues and was looking a danger playing on the right hand side. He made several good runs and nearly beat the keeper with a cross come shot which the Maltby keeper did well to back pedal and stretch to keep out.
On 25 mins an elbow on Mick Allsop, from the Maltby number 10, brought the fist caution of the day and Allsop needed treatment for a blood injury. Maltby were getting frustrated at not being in the game and the second caution came when a rash tackle by Long Eatons Parker lead to a confrontation in the centre circle for which he was shown a yellow card. Maltby responded to this and it gave them a spark which that had lacked until this point. They stepped up the competition for the last 15 mins of the half but it all lead to nothing and Long Eaton went in at half time with a well deserved 1-0 lead.
HALF TIME SCORE ..... Long Eaton 1 - 0 Maltby Main
"The lively and hard working Michael Buckley got his reward in the 50th & the 62nd minute"
It was difficult to see where a Maltby chance might come from with their forwards once again continually being caught offside. Long Eaton made two changes in the 60th minute with Matt McCaul coming on for Nathan Brown and Scott Downie coming on for Ben Roffey. On the 62nd Minute The Blues extended their lead with a tremendous striker from Buckley. He hit an unstoppable shot into the keepers right hand top corner. Scott Downie had a chance to extend their lead even further when the ball flashed across the box from a Fowkes cross but he didnt get a good connection on the ball and his attempt went weakly to the keeper.
Maltby were now looking subdued but just like a wounded lion they were given a lifeline in the 70th minute when a corner from their right hand side was met by Malby's Parker who climbed well, allbeit unchallenged, and headed powerfully into the Long Eaton net. This brought about an attempt by Maltby to increase the tempo of the game. They caught The Blues off guard for 5 mins and had their best spell of the game but under the supervision of the impressive Allsop, Long Eaton kept their heads and played the game out to complete their opening day victory.
|
