Match Report

League, 27^th March 2008

Final Result – Fairbank Rhodes 0 (Home) vs. FC Brimington 5 (Away)

Venue – Woodburn Road Stadium, Attercliffe, Sheffield.

Managers View

Tonight's opponent Fairbank Rhodes will be a much more difficult side to beat as they will have gained some knowledge from the last encounter of which FCB won 12-1. We expect the game to be tighter and their play to be focused around stopping us getting into our passing game. The pitch is good and flat the venue is fantastic with the big stand one side and the running track around the pitch we knew this pitch would suit our style of play. There is a slight chill in the air but otherwise a perfect night for football. Team formation today 4-3-3

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

Match day reporter – Tom Simpson

Photographer – James Gebbie

First Half

The game kicks off at 7.30pm the early stages are scrappy as Fairbank close down quickly and compress the play, FCB with a few changes to the starting line up struggle to find any rhythm and its Fairbanks who are enjoying the early exchanges. An error of judgment in defence nearly allows Fairbanks the opener when a flighted ball from Fairbanks nearly finds their striker when Towers goes to head out and misjudged the flight allowing the ball to go over him and the Rhodes striker to latch onto it, but some good recovery work by Simpson, Brooke and Newton prevented the goal.

Another mistake at the back from a clearance which is blocked and rebounds back to a Rhodes player heading towards FCB goal is snuffed out by Crossland who raced across to take the ball away from the Rhodes striker who was just about to pull the trigger. It took 25 mins before FCB started to exert any pressure on the Rhodes defence with our superior movement starting to create Rhodes some problems and pushed them back into their half of the field. FCB win a sequence of corners but Bath and Christie headed wide then a through ball by Crossland found Christie on side who races into the Rhodes box 1v1 with the keeper who stood is ground and Christie seems to psych himself out and tries to round the keeper but is forced wide by the keeper, Christie then delivers the ball into the box but the shot by bath is over the bar.

What a great chance to break the deadlock. With 35 mins gone the breakthrough came after a period of domination of the ball by FCB, a pass by Collier to Gartlan on the left who's stride is overrun slightly so Gartlan crosses into the box and Christies run into the box is inch perfect and he left foot volleys into the goal to make it 0-1 FCB view it here.

A big relief has Rhodes were more resolute than the last time we met. FCB now seem to relax more and start to play better football and increasing the tempo of the game this soon led to the 2^nd goal when a Rhodes attack is dealt with by Brooke who started shakily but composed himself after 15mins, the ball goes out of play some 15yds in our own half with Rhodes light at the back due to their attack Brooke put the ball back into play instantly with a throw-in he finds Fadiga who gathers the ball and runs at the goal, Fadigas first start since the SUJB game in December, Fadiga is chased by a solitary Rhodes defender but turns inside to get his shot off. He does this and the Rhodes keeper parries the shot but only to Christie who slots home from 6yds 0-2 FCB view it here.

Fadiga is playing superbly, the best I have seen him this season Fadiga again is involved in another burst into the Rhodes box with an attack from the left but a pass to Leversidge then to Gartlan who finds Christie and back to Fadiga who delivers an inch perfect pass to Bath who shoots and drags his shot across the keeper missing by inches.

Second Half

FCB knew that the 3^rd goal was important to kill the spirit of the opponent, this came after some feisty play when a through ball by Collier finds Gartlan who accelerates past the Rhodes defender and strikes home from 8yds to make it 0-3 FCB view it here.

Credit to Rhodes they carried on pressing us at every moment we had the ball and their spirit were not dented but the quality was with FCB, and a corner from the left delivered in by Collier is met by the near post run of Crossland who guides the ball home to make it 0-4 FCB.

Bath and Towers are exchanged for Cosgrove and Kealey, Kealey soon starts to use the fresh legs with his pace and is troubling the Rhodes midfield with his trickery more chances follow as the game draws to a close with Fadiga and Christie both missing 1v1's with Christie doing a Johnny Wilkins and Fadiga procrastinating when to shoot the perfect ball and is forced wide and his shot is saved. Gartlan then misses near post before a mistake by the Rhodes defender trying to run the ball out of his own area is foiled by Gartlan who duly dispossesses the defender and punishes him by shooting home 0-5 FCB with more spent efforts proceeding the game closes on 0-5 FCB.

Final score 0 - 5 FCB.

Due to the poor visibility and lack of power in the camera we didn't catch the last two goals or get a post match interview.

Summary

Not vintage FCB but they are showing signs and qualities that they will need in the run in. Man of the match was a close call but Ben Leversidge gets it from Crossland who lit up the game with his sunshine feet. Levo drove from Liverpool to play in the game as that is where he is working at the moment and then drove back to Liverpool after the game that is commitment. Flo played superb and only a goal would have capped a fantastic display.        

The team kept a clean sheet tonight the first in a long time, excellent. We are creating many chances to score and this game could have quite easily have been 10-0, had we finished better. So lets sharpen up and compose ourselves in front of goal and we will surprise ourselves.

The title race is back on so lets concentrate on the next game Sunday no complacency.

Who dares loose!

Cliff Thomas