Loco fall at the first Hordle

Locomotive put in a brave performance against Hordle Spurs in the second of the Ferndown clubs’ pre-season friendlies on Sunday as we scored four goals against a Bournemouth Sunday Premier League side… the only slight concern was that we conceded six!

Loco started with Kris in goal, and a defensive line up of Neil, Mat, Chris Hopkins and Dean Grice. In midfield we had Dave, Keith, Andy and Luke Mellor; and this left Rik and James Clease up front. Sam, Jimmy Redford, Webby and Cashmore were on the bench – with the latter reffing for the majority of the match.

The pitch at Hordle was quite a small one, so we didn’t really get the space to play the sweeping game that we know and love – however this didn’t stop us putting in a good performance, and indeed it was the away side that took the lead as Andy Smith headed home from a cross from the right after 5 minutes – 1-0 to Loco.

This goal set up 30 minutes of you score, we score. Hordle equalised, we scored a goal, Hordle score again, we score again… In amongst the goal frenzy, Mat Robinson went off and was replaced by Jimmy Redford.

So by half time it was 3-3, but it was a couple of good Loco goals that got us there, with Mellor and Rik Watkins both notching. Mellors goal was a stunning strike, after Watkins won the ball on the right, and squared the ball back to Luke on the edge of the box, who steered home a rasping drive past the flailing keeper – a good goal scored by a player who had an excellent half.

Riks goal again was classy. It was a solid strike after the ball was attempted to be cleared by the Hordle defence, and the cheeky striker was on hand to volley the ball into the back of the net.

The three conceded goals were all headers – not great goals to let in. Each and every one should have been prevented – however it does perhaps provide a blessing in disguise that we have learned to defend better in the air when the season starts.

The second half was not as good in terms of quality of football. Both sides lost the ball a lot, and the home team scored three goals compared to Loco’s one.

Sam came in on the left and Webby on the right. Chances were few and far between for Loco, but we did net through Keith, who headed in a Luke Mellor cross from the left, and truth be told he should have notched another, when he had a shot from close range, however it was blazed over the bar.

Hordle in the meantime has a couple of set pieces which resulted in headed goals, and then at the end of the game it was a lob from long distance from the right winger that outfoxed Kris in goal – making it 6-4.

It was a tough scoreline which didn’t really reflect the game itself. Loco could and should have won. There we bright sparks throughout the game from new midfielder Dave. Luke Mellor also looked lively, and Keith Jackson was an engine in the centre of the park. Rik Watkins too deserves a mention for his cracking goal, and superb skills throughout the game – a really hard working performance from the lad.

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 4 – 6 Hordle Spurs