Match Report

County Cup Round 6, 27^th January 2008

Final Result – FC Brimington 2 (Home) vs. Cudworth Star Hotel 3 (Away)

Venue – Boundary Sports Ground, Jordanthorpe Parkway, Sheffield.

Managers View

The weather was mild today with a strongish wind, the ground was soft but not saturated. Our opponents today hailed from Barnsley south Yorkshire, we could not find out anything about them before this game so we worked on our game at training midweek. The team unchanged for the previous two games but we had some enforced changes for this game, Phil Hirons was away in Luton moving back down south, Andrew bath was away down south also in Luton. Ben Thomas came in at centre half and Thomas Simpson came in at right back, whilst Thomas Brooke moved into midfield. Sam Taylor was away on a weekend break and James Towers was suffering some form of stomach upset so was unable to start. We failed in the league cup at this stage and at home with the same score line as the league cup game, we started badly failing to do what we trained at all week. The changes attributed to the way we started the game in the end although we recovered it was a bridge to far. Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – James Towers

Photographers – James Gebbie, Amy Lawrence

First Half

The game kicked off at 11.00am Gartlan immediately tested the Cudworth right back with a blistering run down the left but he is tackled as he tries to cut across the right back and the ball goes out of play. Cudworths first chance goes out for a goal kick.  Crossland shot on Cudworths goal goes wide, 8 mins in Collier receives the ball 20yds out and shoots but deflected for a corner. Thomas looses the ball on the edge of the box clearing it out but thankfully the shot by Cudworth goes wide. The signs are there that all is not well with the defence inviting pressure and no composure sent an unease through the team. After 15 mins a mix up between Tom Simpson and Ben Thomas allows the ball to run out of play by Thomas  protecting and shielding the ball unfortunately the last touch came off Tom Simpson with no apparent communication audible between them Cudworth get a corner. From the corner Cudworth head home unmarked at the back post 0-1 Cudworth.

The team had started badly with the midfield leaving gaps and the strikers not holding the ball up, Cudworth increased the pressure sensing all was not well. Only 6 minutes later the warnings not heeded Cudworth pickup the ball at the halfway line and ran right through the middle spurning all challenges, he tempts out Dave Simpson and plays in behind to his striker who shoots on goal 0-2 Cudworth.

At this point we start to look at making a substitution as the midfield and the defence was not working. Florent Fadiga came on in place of Tom Simpson, we reshuffled the team and Brooke went to right back, were he’s played the previous two games Kealey went into midfield and Fadiga up front. The team tries to get into our normal rhythm and forces Cudworth back. After 30 mins FCB are now pushing to get a goal back as they suddenly realize we are heading out of the competition we are in the Cudworth box and a cross delivered in is cleared to the Cudworth no.11 who runs the ball out from his own 18 yd box unchallenged with our midfield and with Brooke also left behind he runs all the way to our 18yd box which again sucks out the centre halves who had no choice but to come with Brooke out of position by the quick break, a simple pass to the waiting striker gets them their 3^rd goal 0-3 Cudworth.

Things could have been worse moments later when another break through the heart of our midfield lead to a strike from 20yds which beats Newton but thankfully not the post.

Half time

The team talk at half time was frank we said to the midfield to stop man marking and mark the space which we’ve always done, we spoke about playing it quicker with throws and corners and set pieces, and for the strikers to come short for the ball instead of waiting for the perfect pass and to put shots on their keeper as he was spilling nearly every shot that was hit at him. We were not gambling enough, higher tempo and a quick goal could give us impetus.

Second Half

2^nd half

Crossland shoots on goal but is only just wide. Soon after a mistake by Collier with a pass to Leversidge leads to the Cudworth striker intercepting and going for goal some 10yds out he shoots but Newton saves magnificently. Later FCB go straight down the other end with some great interplay from Crossland, Brooke and Kealey who then played Christie in on the near post but he stabs the ball wide with the Cudworth keeper left wanting. Urgency was needed in our play as time was starting to have a bearing on events. Great play by Crossland running into the box playing a one two with Kealey lead to a great strike across the Cudworth keeper 1-3 Cudworth view it here.

Buoyed by this FCB step up the tempo and Cudworth visibly are tiring, FCB now are dominating the game but Cudworth are resolute more attempts by Kealey and Leversidge are off target, Collier then picks up the ball and runs 20yds to the Cudworth 18 yd box evading 3 challenges the defence opens up like Moses to the red sea Collier has the time to line his shot up as the Cudworth defence backs off, he enters the 18yd box but uncharacteristically he hits the ball with great power but leans back and it goes over the bar a very good chance spurned view it here. Continuous pressure by FCB but we keep failing to take the chances that we are creating. After 80 mins Fadiga gets the ball 21yds out he turns one way then the next and shoots from 20yds out, the Cudworth keeper spills the shot like he has done all game but this time Christie anticipates quicker and gets there to tap in 2-3 Cudworth view it here.

With 4 minutes left we threw everything at them but we could not get the equalizer to take the tie into extra time. We are convinced that we would have beaten them in extra time as they were offering little in the 2^nd half due to their fitness levels.

Full time

Summary

Team changes, wrong mentality, naivety cost us today but we played a lot better in the 2^nd half but lost the game in the first half, we know our game lets stick to it. We have some work to do to get the shape right I suppose this has been the story of the season so far. We now have the one competition left to concentrate on which is the league to dream the impossible dream 13 games left 13 wins needed to be champions. Think then decide, Man of the match Kealey adapted well to his changed role. Thanks to all who came to cheer us on.

Cliff Thomas