UNDER 15 MATCH REPORT: LEFC 1 - 2 Toton Tigers

It's never nice to start with a loss but perhaps last weekends 16-4 mauling of Darley Abbey Colts had given us an untimely injection of complacency. The tougher and harder opposition had been matched and in the case of Dynamo, beaten with a confidence and a swagger. Todays results leaves me thinking that some of our local rivals have no idea about the level at which we are competing in the Derby League each week.

This was a tough match against tough opposition but one in which we could've done so much better. Things did start really well. The passing and movement is much better and I can see the determination to keep the ball on the deck and play proper football. We created a couple of half chances before we eventually took the lead through Luke Gee's first league goal. A superb free kick Thunderbolt from 25 yards. I think the keeper was diving as the ball rolled back out of the net. After that it was a battle and we matched Toton in most departments, the exception being set pieces. One excellent free kick, nothing you can do, the lad hit a beauty and one poorly defended corner and we were 2-1 down. Fullbacks should stay on the post until the danger is cleared and definitely should not come off the near post when the ball is still swinging into, well..the near post. It was a gift and Toton said thankyou.

The second half was just a great contest, which saw us play well but fail to penetrate. We were too slow to react to the situations that arose and get up in support of John which left him isolated and having to battle hard to keep possession. The one big chance we did have saw John 1v1 with the keeper and unfortunately it was one of the rare occasions he fluffed his lines. Whilst that miss might haunt John tonight I have no doubt that there will be several very similar chances nestling in the back of the oppositions nets over the coming months.

So, overall it was dissapointing but nothing more. There is no long list of things we must do, there is no reason to doubt our ability and quality as a team. We just, as many teams have done, failed to create sufficient chances to win the match. Everything can be used to improve yourself, we don't even need to try harder, we just need to be a little smarter next time.

Note: The desire, workrate and performances put in by Jabed and Noddy were exceptional considering they are both nearing the end of a month long fast. It is inspirational to see the committment when I'm sure the batteries must be on empty. Well done guys.

Goals: Gee
Man of the match: Rob


Squad: Richardson, Carter, Trebski, Timson, Tourki, Gee, Parton, Al-Zubayel, Grainger,
Telfer, Fiener, Paul, Callan, Conneally, Wendy