Tiegla pick-pocket three points from Loco

Locomotive somehow lost 3-0 on Sunday, in a game where we ruled the roost for 70% of the game.  We came up against high flying Tiegla Tiles at King George on Sunday, in a match would would really be a good indication of how we’d fare this season.

On the football side, Loco would have nothing to worry about as we not only matched them, but outplayed them through much of the game - but in terms of the all important goals, well, Tiegla were the side that came away with the last laugh, scoring, as they did, three quick fire goals.

Loco began the game with Kris in goal, and a back four of Chris Hopkins, Mat Robinson, Matthew Webb, and Paul Cashmore.  In midfield we sported Luke Mellor, Andy Smith, Sam Davis, and Ali Carmichael.  Up front was Jonny Haines and Dave Hall - Neil was our only sub.

We pretty much realised last season that Tiegla are a confidence side - if they concede first, their heas go down, but if they score first, they play like a team of pros.  Unfortunately for us, our opponents took the lead inside the first 60 seconds!  In a sweeping move starting from the right, they managed to get a cross in, and their striker was on hand to nod it home at the near post.

Unbeleivable as it was, Loco brushed ourselves off, and then outplayed our fellow Division Three side for the rest of the half.  Chances came relatively frequently, with Ali laying off for Sam, who fizzed wide.  Dave had a chance to net, and Ali coldn’t get a shot away in time.  Jonny was proving a menace up front - and during all of this the Ferndown defence was incredibly resiliant, with Mat and Cash particularly impressing.

Somehow, we didn’t score for the rest of the half - and this was a travesty con sidering the amount of possession we had.  Even with a threadbare squad, we were playing some tremendous football at King George, and it was only by fortune that we didn’t equalise.

Indeed, our misery could have been compounded further when a long range Tiegla shot came in on 40 minutes, a power-driver of a shot.  Thankfully though, the legend that is Kris Legg in goal, managed to pull of an incredible save, and touch the ball onto the cross bar, ensuring the ball went up and over, rather than up and in!

Half time: Ferndown Locomotive 0 - 1 Tiegla Tiles

The second half, again, saw Loco come up trumps in herms of possession.  We managed to carve out chances, but the finishes just weren’t there, with Dave on 60 minutes being particularly guilty of not putting the game away, with a right footed lob over the bar, when a left footed thwack would have surely been easier…

This, unfortunately, was a bit of a turning point for Loco, because moments later a long hopeful ball from a Tiles defender, went intot he path of their number 9, who did well to keep his feet, then side foot home a lovely finish to the left of the diving Kris Legg - to make it 2-0 to the away side.

Then later, it was 3-0 - as a free kick was conceded on the edge of the box, and a Tiles midfielder stepped up to blast the ball into the top-right of the goal, taking a deflection off Mat Robinson on the way - meaning the Cashmore’s attempted clearance would only be in vain.

3-0 - unbelievable!

Well, the game petered out somewhere for the home side in the last few minutes, and as the final whistle blew our team were quite simply astounded at how we managed to leave the pitch with no points whatsoever.

Fair play to Tiegla, they stuck to their guns and did the business in front of goal.. but I can assure them, that next time we play them, we’ll certainly try to teach them a few lessons!

Final Score: Ferndown Locomotive 0 - 3 Tiegla Tiles