Loco squad digs deep against Fernside

On a bright football friendly morning at Whitecliffe Rec, Loco approached this vital Sunday morning league match with a hugely depleted side but nevertheless hungry for 3 points and hungry to amend last weeks disappointing result.

Team – Jimmy, Levi, Webby, Sean, Richie, Oli, Dave, ‘Cappin’, Arj, Hopkins, Jonny 

Without upto 11 regulars missing (for various reasons) any other team may have struggled to field a team but Loco’s depth of squad allowed for the show to go on! With stand in player/manager Sean Hebdon stepping in his tactical options were limited with Hopkins in particular playing an unfamiliar role upfront.  

The first half was largely a non-affair with goal action limited for both teams. Fernside actually started the game with 10 men but Loco could not capitalise on this but Fernside were quickly up to a full compliment of players after 15 minutes. Webby, Oli, Kirk, Richie, Arj, Dave and Hopkins; who have been limited for game time recently, got up to speed very quickly and were involved heavily. Oli looked lively as him and Levi linked up well on the right hand side playing Jonny and Arj in on occasions. Oli’s enthusiasm bubbled over as he pasted one of their defenders earning a ticking off from the ref and a yellow card.

With Kirk driving forward from midfield the only real threats to goal were a snatch shot by Jonny and a Hopkins volley into the keepers chest.

Half-Time: 0-0

 

The second half was where the action was and it was Fernside who started the brighter. A set piece was floated in from their left hand side and minus a linesman the Loco defence was breached as their man (arguably in an offside position) headed on to help the cross ball into the far corner. Loco’s threat was minimal in the second half as their defence was first to every header despite the valiant efforts of Sean and Kirk in the middle of the park. The referee was too soon influence the game in a negative fashion as Sean was harshly judged to have handled the ball even though he clearly connected with his shoulder. Jimmy was every bit a match for the Fernside player who connected poorly with the penalty kick, just as Jimmy dove to his right to scramble the threat away.

It was Fernside again however who looked hungrier for the points as they rifled in a second from a corner that wasn’t cleared. Their player controlled it just outside the 6 yard box, spun and fired an unstoppable right footed effort into the opposite left corner, no chance for Redford.

With 15 minutes left and with the effort the Loco lads had shown it was inevitable a clear cut opportunity was destined to be created. It arrived from a corner that was scrambled out to an on coming Levi Roots to slam in on the volley from 18 yards, it’s still unclear whether it was intentional or whether he meant to clear it. Game on!

Sean went onto hit the bar from a speculative shot from distance and struggled to connect with a cross from Jonny out wide but Loco were threatening. They were up until the referee had another shocker and spoilt the game. On the edge of the box and with his back to goal the Fernside striker controlled the ball with the use of his arm, with the defence waiting for a certain whistle the striker unfairly slotted the ball into the bottom corner. 3-1 Fernside.

With minutes remaining Jonny snatched a trademark consolation goal by rounding the keeper after a Seany through ball but it was too little too late as the final whistle blew.

On the whole it was a close match and a draw would have been a deserved result to reward the Loco lads who turned out and gave 100%.

Full time: Fernside 3 – Loco 2