Match Report
League, 06th April 2008
Final Result – Hollin Bush FC 2 (Home) vs. FC Brimington 2 (Away)
Venue – Handsworth Grange School, Handsworth, Sheffield.
Managers View
The weather was good today sunny with a slight warm wind but cold when stood, the pitch was soft. Preparation for today's game was inappropriate with the meeting time not adhered too, the mentality of an individual or a team can be seen with such little things before a performance whether the wrong or right approach! This game was important for both teams in the battle for promotion and the title as only a point separated us today a win would keep our title ambitions faintly alive and further bolster automatic promotion with 4 teams still able to go up at this stage. We thought this game would be tough as we predicted bush would concentrate their efforts in stopping FCB playing. The loss today of Ben Leversidge did prove instrumental to the result as well as how the team shaped out and we missed his attacking prowess. Team formation today 4-3-3
The starting line for today's match was as follows:
G. Cosgrove
E. Christie
T. Brooke
M. Collier
J. Towers
M. Gartlan
C. Kealey
D. Simpson
A. Crossland
C. Connor
Andy Bridgewater (Goalkeeper)
Andy Bath (Midfield)
Florent Fadiga (Striker)
Match day reporter – Bev Bridgwater
Photographer – Tom Simpson
First Half
The game kicked off at 11.00 we quickly realized that Bush was intent on making the game physical to knock us off our stride. It took nearly 15 mins for the first real effort on goal, it was a Bush shot which Newton saved but the ball fell again to the Bush player who stabbed it over the bar. Bush now in the early ascendancy again fashion out another chance which again sails over the bar. Brimington have not got going and seem flat, certain players seem to be laboring, the midfield is not functioning and Bush are controlling early possession.
FCB win a corner which Collier takes from left to right the ball is delivered to the far post which Kealey unmarked heads in 1-0 FCB we thought but the goal was disallowed for an infringement in the box on the keeper allegedly so the score remains 0-0. A great move down the centre by Collier who finds Christie with his back to goal, Christie sees Gartlan overlapping and sends the ball perfectly into his path, Gartlan gathers and accelerates past the Bush defender in the box and shoots across the outcoming keeper and the ball flies into the bottom right corner 0-1 fcb.
3 minutes later Gartlan burst into life down the left flank and skips past two Bush defenders Gartlan sees Christies run into the box and cuts the ball back perfectly to Christie who had time but elected to shoot first time with the outside of his right foot and the subsequent shot was under powered and straight to the keeper from 8 yds out. It needed him to look up to see he could have taken a touch to line up the shot maybe with his left foot. Gartlan motors down the left again beating all challenges and crosses a peach of a ball finding Christie unmarked 4yds out at the far post with the bush keeper racing back from the other post Christie heads past the post instead of between and the score remains 0-1 FCB.
Brimington should be 3-0 up at this point but Bush are still in the game. A quick break out of our box finds Collier just in Bush' half with Bush holding a high line Collier plays the ball through and Christie springs the offside trap bush appeal for offside while Christie takes it round the keeper and scores to make it 0-2 the replay shows in the match video that the referee got it spot on as Christie was being played on side view it here.
An FCB throw-in taken quickly by Collier just outside the bush 18yd box finds a Bush player who tries to clear up-field but the clearance is blocked by Gartlan and rebounds into the Bush area with a clear run at the Bush goal from a slight angle Gartlan elects to take the shot with his weaker right foot has the ball was positioned for a right foot strike but he shoots across the goal when he had time and could have gone on to side foot past the keeper.The score remains 0-2 at half time.
Second Half
2nd half kicks off and Brimington are kicking up hill now and we needed to keep the game tight early on. A good bit of skill by the Bush striker sells Cosgrove a dummy after the ball was played down the right channel to him he cuts inside leaving Cosgrove rooted to the spot and squares the ball to the edge of the FCB 18yd box, a Bush player running in strikes the ball hard and low and the ball seems to evade all persons in front of it and nestles between Newton and the post 1-2 Bush.
Just what the doctor did not order. Bush now buoyed by this are in the ascendancy and winning every second ball. An FCB break manages to find Gartlan who attacks the Bush back line and shoots but the keeper gathers. Yet another FCB corner right to left and Collier delivers into the box the keeper drops the ball and Towers scores with the loose ball but the goal is yet again disallowed for an infringement on the keeper view it here.
Bush attack on our right and the ball is not cleared effectively this leads to the Bush players crossing to the FCB far post with Cosgrove not picking up the man lurking behind him and our other defenders found wanting, the Bush player heads freely into the goal 2-2. poor defending from the team in general. Crossland comes off for Bath and Kealey comes off for Fadiga.
FCB find new impetus with the changes with Bath and Fadiga both creating chances for themselves and the other forwards. The missed chances in the first half are now haunting us. FCB are in possession and trying to get the winner but Bush are resolute in defence it takes a Gartlan run on the left to create the opportunity seemingly the last clear cut chance for FCb when he delivers a cross into the box finding Christie unmarked again dejavu the keeper is nearpost and the goal is gaping to the far post, Christie heads for goal but yet again heads past the post. The last chance!
Full time 2-2.
The Performance meter
| Player | Score |
Reason |
| Newton | 5 | kicking amiss |
| Brooke | 6 | made the most runs from wingback to assist strikers |
| Cosgrove | 5 | not a left back and is better at centre half |
| Connor | 6 | could be an awesome player if he can fight the demons on Saturday nights |
| Simpson | 6 | did most things right got caught on the ball a few times dribbling out |
| Towers | 7 | worked hard to hold and got stuck in when the game was feisty |
| Crossland | 5 | subdued from the start looked under the weather did not seem up for it today |
| Collier | 6 | gave away possession on too many occasions held onto the ball too long and drew challenges, did not run has much today and was found wanting. Best ball was for Christies goal. |
| Gartlan | 9 | led the team and was involved in anything good that we did today scored a great goal and assisted in 3 great chances for Christie. Ran them ragged. |
| Christie | 7 | doesn't move enough up front, missed 3 great chances and prevented two goals being allowed for infringements. Took his goal well but needs to be more clinical when chances like the ones today are on a plate. |
| Kealey | 5 | not at the races seemed lethargic, scored a goal but ruled out. |
| Bath | 7 | came on and helped increased our possession % had a few chances and deployed the right attitude once on the pitch. |
| Fadiga | 7 | created a few chances and one for himself tried to rally the troops to get the winner showed his skill by attacking the right gave us hope. |
Summary
Brimington under performed today it seems we mess up when we should not. Letting a 2 goal lead at half time disappear and failing to take clear cut chances. Individuals know why they did not perform today! Not to prepare is preparing to fail. The promotion race is between 4 teams and we could yet fail to be promoted even after scoring 91 goals so far in the league. To score that many and not to win the league shows a mental weakness which we must address next season whichever league we are in. One player stood out today that was Michael Gartlan man of the match. Leversidge was badly missed today the midfield was at another game today playing into Bush's hands. Not enough balls found Gartlan in the 2nd half who was having joy against their defence. Don't think its all over for promotion as Bush, Southey and Civil are fighting for the same.
Who dares loose!
Cliff Thomas