KL Vikings 3 - 1 Asterix Reds (SSLKL Premier Division)

In a very open and evenly contested game, we disappointingly went down 3-1 to the Vikings.  

The game started as it was to continue with some open and flowing football.  With a lot of space in the middle of the park we quickly settled and started passing the ball well.  However, it was Vikings who had created the early chances.  

A little scramble at the near post saw the ball hit the outside of the post and our keeper - Sugu - pick up an injury.  He was clearly struggling and we had to take him off shortly after.  Jonesy stepped up for the team and donned the keepers jersey and gloves.  This was clearly not an unexpected call up for Jonesy as he immediately called for his own gloves from his bag on the sidelines!  At this point, we settled back down again.  With acres of space in the middle of the park and time on the ball we got the ball in the box regularly and created some good chances.  However, we didn't break the deadlock and the Viking's were struggling to fashion a good opportunity to score.  That was until 3 minutes before half-time when Vikings put a ball from deep across our box toward the back post.  Some poor marking and a pre-occupation with appealing for offside as opposed to making a challenge gave the Vikings player time and space to comfortably score at the back post.  Having had enough of the ball and created enough chances to go in even or better, we were disappointed to come in 1-0 down at half-time.  

The second half began with a great response from Asterix Reds.   We immediately upped our work rate and played with intelligence and composure; passing the ball around nicely.  We regularly got behind the defenders and created a few good chances.   After around 15 minutes, we go the breakthrough our possession and creative play had deserved.  Amazingly - and I kid you not - I have no recollection of the goal and who scored it.  If you can help fill me in, please comment on the blog.  (Apologies to the goal scorer; I was clearly overcome with emotion.)

With the scores level, we were on a high and The Vikings were looking decidedly fatigued.  We continued to knock the ball around well and dominated the middle of the park; wide open due to a Viking's defence playing very deep.  We created a couple of good chances; a header from Terry Harris going just wide and Paul Williams skewing a shot off target.  Adam Scott was always a problem up front for the Viking's defence and caused problems throughout.  At this point, I was backing us to go on and score another couple of goals and win the game comfortably.  But this was not to be.  

With about 15 minutes to go, after a rare Viking's attack, a ball from deep was not dealt with and found a player in too much space on the far post.  He put a good ball across the goal which was well finished.  Having had so much of the ball and created so many good chances I was very disappointed that we'd again conceded a soft goal.  My dismay was compounded only two minutes later when we left a Viking's player unmarked on a corner to make it 3-1.  With about 12 minutes to go, we still had a chance to get some goals back, but our heads and desire dropped and we allowed the Viking's to finish the stronger team.  Only a couple of good stops by our stand-in keeper, Mark Jones, kept the score line respectable.  

There were good points and bad points about this performance.  On the plus-side, we again dominated the middle of the park to secure the lion's share of the possession.  Our front players caused the Viking's defence a lot of problems throughout.  We were slightly off with a couple of good chances which might have given us the goal or two advantage we needed.  However, we lost this game because we didn't keep the back door shut.  Whilst we're dominating the better sides at their end of the park, we need to defend better when they get into our box.  We can't let in three soft goals and expect to win many matches.  

A notable positive was the atmosphere on the pitch.  We've agreed as a team that the talking to the ref has to stop.  We did this without exception yesterday.  The Viking's didn't and it was noticeable that the majority of the 50-50 calls by the ref went in our favour.  Let's make sure we continue to maintain this level of discipline on the pitch in the future. 

It was also a pleasure to see the lads looking positively resplendent decked out in the new pre and post match ARFC polo shirts.  Please ensure that you wear them to every game.  If you've not got yours yet, catch me in training this week or at next weekend's match.  

A win yesterday would have put us top of the table.  However, the result leaves us 4-points off the Viking's who are now top but, importantly, we do have a game in hand.  Our game in hand - versus BMFC - will be played late in March over the Easter Weeekend; if we win it, we'll be right back up there in the top 3 no more than 2 or 3 points off the top of the table with 6 games to play.  

Next weekend we play DH in the fourth of our five cup group matches.  DH are currently top of our cup group with 3 wins from 3 games and 9 points; we're second on 7 points.  A win would all but guarantee us a place in the cup knockout part of the tournament.  Let's get back to it and look forward to playing some positive football.