Loco made it three wins on the bounce with a deserved 2-1 victory away at Smugglers AFC, beating them for the second year in succession by the same scoreline.
The match started with both teams fiercely competitive for the ball and several tough challenges flying in. However after a sloppy patch of play from both teams, giving the ball away, Loco forced their first corner from the right hand side. Bear, opting to take the corner, threw one of his speciality set pieces into the mixer and after at least six deflections, the ball squeezed its way in at the near post to give Loco an early 1-0 advantage.
And it seemed like it was going to be a ‘Brown’ set piece day when minutes later, sibling Chubbs took centre stage with a free-kick from the edge of the box, causing the keeper to produce an excellent save tipping the ball onto the crossbar. Unfortunately for Loco, Butterfingers, John Hill was taken off after 15 minutes when tweaking his thigh muscle was not able to continue, giving another debut to Kyle Conway.
The rest of the 1st half was a pretty even affair with neither side creating much in the way of chances whilst the wind blowing across the pitch tending to dictate play. This was extremely evident in that the hard-working Nick ‘The speedy sperm’ (see this months Splinter!) Lord managed to touch the ball only twice, and not because he was beaten for pace every time the ball went near him (you should of seen him run for the pub at the end of the game though…)
In fact the left side of Chubbs and Patton were keeping Sideshow Bob and the General??? quiet in a game they could’ve dominated if it had not been for their superiority.
Going in at the interval with a 1-0 lead Loco were in a confident mood. In fact this confidence was taken into the half with a very accomplished display – the central defensive pairing of Taylor and Gamwell impressing in particular. The ever-battling Ricky Lister sent Patton through 1 on 1 with the keeper, and was extremely unlucky to see the ball whizz past the post from around 25 yards out (almost made that sound impressive!), and Micky Bellis missed a couple of well worked chances.
Injury to Andy Brown added further to the woe on the sidelines but things were about to get even better with the introduction of Ade ‘Lightnening’ Dent who seems to be after Phil ‘Late’ Patton’s title of getting to games an hour too late…
Within ten minutes the born-again striker (20 goals remember?) had notched up his 2nd of the season with a well-taken goal. The build up started from a Taylor quick throw in which was flicked on by Jono Lister. The ball rolled into the path of sibling Ricky Lister who fed a lovely pass into the feet of the Flash of Lightening, who after beating the defenders with some quick feet, managed to shin roller it past the advancing keeper into the bottom right corner for a 2-0 lead.
Unfortunately for Loco, with the game seemingly safe they ended up enduring a nervy last few minutes with an uncharacteristic mistake in defence from Glen Tanton let the Smugglers in, with the striker being able to blast the ball home from 10 yards giving Substitute keeper Kyle Conway no chance after an impressive display between the sticks.
Overall a very solid defensive display, with both teams battling hard, but on clear-cut chances and overall display, Loco probably just edged this one and the result went the right way – Onwards and Upwards!
Loco achieved their first win of the season with a comfortable victory away at Waltham RBL.
Loco started off slowly and went behind early on after a speculative shot from around 25 yards out caught Hill out. This may not have been the case if Keith Castle had not been so confident in shouting 'It's wide', when the ball nestled comfortably in the top corner.
However the young lads from Waltham who had been knocking the ball around well, were not ready for the Loco tactic of the Bear Long throw. Within 10 minutes of the Waltham goal, Loco were back in the game when Ricky Lister flicked the ball on from the throw in and Jono Lister nipped in to head the ball home and get his first league goal for this season.
Loco started to take control of the game at this point and went 2-1 up from a corner. This time it was Ricky Boyer who scored his FOURTH (of 20) of the season and gave Loco the lead they deserved. Things almost turned sour just before half-time when James Drewery took a bad knock to the foot (suspected broken) and the mouthy young lads of Waltham almost ended up with a boot in the head, thrown however not stamped... This gave an early entrance for Adi 'Where are we playing? I've been here since 9 this morning' Dent to make his mark on the game and he almost achieved this when being sent 1 on 1 with the keeper but could not keep his composure and finish the game off.
The second half was a similar affair to the 1st with Loco dominating the game and looking in control throughout. The lead was extended early in the second half when Ricky Lister put through Ricky Boyer and the latter kept his cool before calmly slotting the ball under the advancing keeper (FIFTH - This wagers going well Ricky, don't reckon many will have the balls to take you up on it....???). With the game seemingly safe, Patton and Kevin Petty were given a run out for Boyer and Jono Lister. A couple of speculative chances came from Dave 'Bear' Brown but these failed to trouble the keeper.
The defence of Lord, Taylor, K. Castle and Andy 'Chubby' Brown (who now seems to have cemented his place as left back) had an extremely solid game and were unlucky to concede a late goal after a strong run and driving shot from the edge of the box which really gave John 'Butterfingers' Hill no chance.
However, it was too little too late and within a minute the Referee blew for full-time to give Loco their first league victory of the season. Lets hope Loco push on from here, start achieving better results and move up the table.
Loco finally got their first point on the board with a hard fought draw against fellow strugglers ECGS.
Loco started without regular keeper John 'Butterfingers' Hill giving manager Castle headaches before the kick-off, fortunately the experienced Andy 'Chubby' Brown willingly offered to deputise. The game started reasonably even, Loco creating some good chances, several of which fell to Keith 'Refs mate' Castle who found the keeper in inspired form. The solid first half display that saw Loco go into the break with a two goal lead courtesy of a brace from Ricky (20 goals a season) who was not to be denied.
However the second half was a slightly different affair as the fitness of the younger ECGS started to tell and the Loco players tired and going into the last minute of the game at 2-2 it seemed the only likely winners would be ECGS.
However up step Ben 'Geroge Best' Taylor, who started a jinking run from his own 6 yard line, beating player after player, going on a 100 yard run before being hacked visciously down in the ECGS box, the referee having no hesitation in pointing to the spot. And it was the man himself, Rick Astley who calmly stepped up to slot the ball home which seemed to give Loco an unlikely victory.
Unfortunatley for Loco, with tired legs and a desperate final attack from ECGS, with their keeper even joining the attack, a teasing cross that substitute keeper Dave 'Bear' Brown failed to grap hold of was knocked home by the impressive Ginger lad up front to pull the teams level again in what was the very last kick of the game.
Overall a disappointing end to a game which could have provided Loco with the boost they needed but gives the team plenty to build on.
Loco Went into this league match with hopes of continuing their form after a great performance in winning their first ever cup game the previous week.
However it seems from the off things did not go to plan - Adi 'Lightening' Dent was nowhere to be seen and therefore classed as AWOL. On top of that there were many players missing through either injury and work commitments. This meant the team had to field a weakened team, with the Genius himself taking on the right back spot with a mismatch defence.
Things turned from bad to worse and without the humiliation of being 4-0 down at half-time, several players picked up knocks meaning further switches around the pitch were made by the Loco team.
The second half did not read much better, with a solid Louth team passing the ball round for fun, and creating chance after chance and even with some desperate defending and great goalkeeping another 6 goals were added to the tally and unfortunately leaving Loco struggling with a double figure scoreline against them.
However credit must go out to the makeshift team, and cameo roles for Stolworthy and Drewery who gave it there all for the the time on the pitch... Lets hope for a better result next week...
Enough said!!!
FC Locomotive made an impressive start to their 2008/9 Cup campaign by booking their place in the 1st round of the Junior Challenge Cup...
With the absence of the inspirational manager and tactical genius Neil Castle, things always looked liked being an uphill struggle on a bright but blustery day. Fortunately Loco's summer signing and dedicated Assistant manager Nick Drewery has more than stepped up to the hot seat to guide Loco to glory. In a game which the referee himself stated seemed tough on paper (yes he had it in for you from the start Keith!) began in any which way but expected. In fact it took all of eight minutes before Loco took an early lead and set the precedent for the game when Ricky (20 goals a season) fired in an early shot from a delicate set play.
"Don't worry" came the cries of the AA property players... "That’s all they've got".
Little did they know...
As Phil "I cant be arsed to turn up on time" Patton arrived at the ground and began placing his shooting boots, Loco went 2-0 up. This time a simple short free kick set Johno 'Lycra' Lister on a mazy 55 yard run before blasting it home beyond the outstretched keepers arms to the joys of the crowd and players around him - the spectacle had just begun.
Within 15 minutes it was 3-0. This time a well placed (as always) Andy 'Chubby' Brown corner was met by the Keith 'Refs Mate' Castle who inexplicably but amazingly turned in the cross with one of the most amazing flicks, ala Zola, of all time. In an interview after the game Castle was heard to state "Most players dream of having the agility and presence of mind to achieve such goals, to me it just comes naturally".
With Drewery heard to be shouting from the touchline his tactical plans - using the pace of Adi 'lightening' Dent, it was important for Loco to keep sticking with their two banks of four as AA Property became more dominant in the game. However it was not long before 4-0 arrived and much to the delight of the Loco bench, it was Ricky 'The Fish' Lister who leapt like a Salmon to direct a powerful header into the top corner.
Half time came and went, and still the Property boy’s thought Loco would collapse, their tactics bound to come undone with their interesting passing game. Unfortunately for them they found the rock-solid defence of Smith, Dazza, Astley and Macca in one of their less forgiving moods. Adding to that the superb placement of John 'Butterfingers' Hill the likelihood of a clean sheet seemed ever-more the likely.
It was therefore no surprise when Loco added a fifth. Again the well-rehearsed set piece tactic of the BEAR long throw landed kindly for Keith 'delicate' Castle, whose flick header baffled everyone as it rose into the roof of the net. It was at this point that Drewery decided to rest some of his battered warriors as Castle made way for the electrifying Adi Dent.
However this injection of speed did not prepare the stunned crowd for what was about to happen next. As Dent, Brown and Bennett cleverly made triangles towards the AA Property penalty area, Bennett found himself in acres of space, with a quick glance up he saw the keeper just a couple of yards off his line, then produced one of the most audacious chips of all time into the top far corner. Many will say that it rolled awkwardly off the shins; others will just have to live with their own denial...
At 6-0 it was deemed safe enough to bring the Phil 'Lazy arse' Patton on - who to his credit had one half-chance form 45 yards out. Hearing a cry of 'Lob Him' Patton tried just that only to see his effort drift just inches past the post. More chances may have been created for the sprightly trio of Rickster, Dent and Patton but for the tiredness sinking in to legs of the overworked defence. In fact the cries of "I'm too tired to kick it" came from a certain Mr Taylor as he sidestepped his marker for the 15th time - No wonder, just clear the bleeding thing!!!
Looks easy this game doesn't it, two banks of four, quality set pieces and players that will die for each other's cause... The only way is up! Eh Ben?!