Loco keep on track with draw
Written on 22/01/08 21:13

Jonny scored a brace at Potterne Park on Sunday against AFC Verwood, as Loco maintained their unbeaten run with a deserved draw with our fellow promotion contenders.

The conditions were relatively good on the flat, once frosty pitch, and by half ten the pitch was perfect for an entertaining game of football – and, we got it.

Kris was in goal for this fixture, with a defence consisting of Jimmy Redford, Luke Mellor, and Simon Candy. This left a midfield five of Andy, Sam, Kirk, Chris Hopkins, and Paul Cashmore. Jonny and Sean were up front, meaning the bench consisted of Matt Webb, James Bolt and James Clease – all of whom played a vital part in this fixture.

Loco found it very difficult to get into this game, and some of our passing at times was atrocious. Movement was poor, and we were slinging it up the pitch, getting scant reward. So it was only just when Verwood took the lead… and it was through a wicked bounce from a long shot, which deceived Kris in goal.

Loco however used the rest of the second half to assert their territorial dominance on the fellow promotion contenders, by keeping the ball in their half. We really could and should have notched a couple of goals, however we couldn’t quite get it together. Verwood on the other hand, on the few times they did break our defence, looked pretty mean. So, given the fortune with their first goal, the half-time score really should have been 0-0 – but with the home side a goal to the good, there was enough confidence within the Loco ranks to rescue the fixture.

Half-time: AFC Verwood 1 – 0 Ferndown Locomotive

The second half was a little better for Loco, but we had to work hard to gain the rewards. Often, we had to work too hard, as we made it extremely difficult for ourselves at times – with the shape being pretty poor, and the general movement not being good.

Kris was solid in the Ferndown goal, and the Loco defence looked pretty sharp, with Jimmy Redford taking every opportunity to come forward any time he got the ball. Mellor, too, was sturdy, and Simon’s trusty left foot saw a few last ditch tackles and clearances.

The midfield was where the game was being won and lost, and with changes on the pitch being made with the two James’s and Webby coming on for Kirk, Andy, and Sean - Loco wanted to try to get some momentum going in a fixture that was really starting to slip away from us. There was little in the way of cohesion, and if anyone, Verwood looked like they would be the next team to get on the scoresheet, but thankfully, it wasn’t…

On 68 minutes, Loco gained the ball back, and a consise through ball from Cash found Jonny Haines running towards goa, and with the ball bouncing by his side, the nippy striker managed to latch on to the ball and hook it into the back of the net to make it level – a much needed equalizer!

However, the new-found confidence that ran through the Loco side caused a bit of havoc, with our shape going AWOL, and two goals being conceded to boot… the first from a long-distance free kick which swirled in the wind, and the second being from a corner which was converted by a good header.

So, with 87 minutes gone, Loco’s unbeaten record looked to be over. Cash tried his best by netting from the half way line, but it wasn’t to be. However there was a chink of hope when Loco got a corner, and it was put into the box, and netted by a Verwood defender – with Simon Candy trying to unsuccessfully claim it. 3-2 to Verwood.

Then in the last minute Verwood lost the ball deep into the Loco half, and it was picked up by Sam, who went on a run towards the opposition goal. With defenders backtracking, Davis carried on the run until he saw Jonny free on his left, who coolly slide-ruled the ball home into the corner of the net to make it 3-3, much to the delight of the Loco players.

Unfortunately, we had little time to make it 4-3, and the whistle blew, in a game where we really should have won. We crumbled at times.. and a big improvement is required for the rest of the month, where nothing but winning is essential.

Final Score: AFC Verwood 3 - 3 Ferndown Locomotive

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