Lady Mountford Albion Vs Dentists FC 14/11/2010:Captain’s match report
After a disappointing result a fortnight ago, Dentists FC dusted themselves down
and began focusing on a tough trip to the home of top of the table – Lady Mountford
Albion. With a number of the first squad away on “International Duties”, several
changes were made to the starting line-up, with target man Rishi Gogna coming in
upfront; Jack Duthie occupying his usual role in centre-mid; Matt Morris reverting
to right-back and Mahir “Creamcheese” Karimjee swapping to his least favoured left-back
position.
Following an Ian Holloway inspired team talk and a very respectful one minute silence,
the game kicked off with Dentists FC adopting a very attacking 4-3-3 formation; with
DFC manager Nick Longridge hoping that the old proverb ‘attack is the best form of
defence’ would ring true.
Once again, Dentists FC started the brightest; spending the majority of the first
15 minutes camped inside the opposition’s half, with roughly 6 corners and 10 throw-ins
all coming to no avail. After a few early shots from mid-field pairing Nick and Joe,
the first real chance fell to the away side. Good work down the right by Matt Morris
presented Gogna with the ball before his clever offload to Longridge provided plenty
of space in the middle; a neat interchange between Jack and Nick left Duthie with
a chance that the keeper did well to deal with. This attempt sparked Albion to life,
with a cleverly disguised pass finding their centre-forward through the middle, a
chance he wasn’t going to waste. Albion 1 – 0 Dentists.
Dentists responded impressively, continuing to press Albion back into their own box.
Another spectacular Joe Brown corner almost found the back of the net courtesy of
Rishi Gogna, an attempt which left Gogna nursing a groin injury. Miraculously this
injury was nowhere to be seen when Ventre’s long-range effort was spilled by Albion’s
keeper, with Gogna sprinting 10 metres in 0.6 seconds to finish from the acutest
of angles. 1 - 1. With half-time minutes away, Dentists switched off to allow Albion
through the middle once again. 2-1. Before a speculative long ball was somehow reached
by Albion’s right-wing who lobbed the advancing Tom Edwards. 3-1. As the half-time
whistle went, Dentists FC were left dejected and in disbelieve as a five minute lapse
in concentration has left them with a lot to do.
Half-time saw the introduction of Chris ‘Rob Crossley’ Chucas for the injured Gogna,
with Matt Morris moving to occupy the Centre-forward position. The second half began
with dentists producing the best football and the best chances, most of which through
the good work of Si Clitheroe, who had switched to right wing-forward. Once again
a plethora of corners were wasted by the away team before more good work by Si produced
a spectacular chance 3 yards out, with neither Morris nor Longridge able to provide
the killer touch. Efforts by Joe Brown and Si came close, before one of Si’s crosses
was knocked down by Morris for Longridge to strike on the volley, a goal-bound effort
which struck an oblivious Albion player straight in the face. Finally, the breakthrough
came, when a clever quick through in by Joe released Matt Morris down the left, whose
perfectly centred ball was swept home by Nick via the keeper’s right hand. 3-2. More
great work by Duthie, Si and Morris produced another period of sustained pressure,
which led to 3 successive corners; before a quick break and a long ball by Albion
gifted their striker another goal, calmly slotting the ball into the bottom right
hand corner. 4-2.
When most teams would accept defeat, Dentists FC continued to pressure the Albion
defence, with several chances going astray, including a Paolo di Canio scissor-kick
half-volley by Nick which grazed the outside of the woodwork. Finally, it was game
on, as another cross from the right caused all manner of problems for Albion, with
Ventre sweeping the ball high into the Albion net at the back post. With Mike out
with cramp, Gogna was once again back on the pitch, defying not only injury, but
also campus football rules. A tense last 5 minutes saw more great play down the right
by Si, which enabled Morris to fire one towards the goal, with the narrowest of touches
tipping the ball onto the underside of the crossbar.
Final Score: Lady Mounford Albion 4 – 3 Dentists FC.
First half Man of the match goes to Rishi Gogna, with Si Clitheroe receiving second
half man of the match,
Nick Longridge
