Lakenheath Lift the Points Against Strikers

 

Having drawn with Lakenheath in a tense game only a couple of weeks ago we knew this was going to be a tough match.  Lakenheath have scored 27 goals without reply in the two games since we met them !

 

Owen, captain for the day, lined up as centre back alongside James F with James O as left back and Archie on the right. Alex M was protecting the defence and the midfield consisted of Bahador, Tom, Alex S and Henry L with Sammy as the lone striker. David was goalie and Cosmo was the only sub with both Alex J and Henry W struck down by bugs at the last moment.

 

Lakenheath have the kick-off and are soon on the attack winning an early corner. The kick is driven dangerously across the face of goal and a shot from close in is blocked on the line brilliantly by Alex S. That certainly saved a very embarrassing start to the match !   NST are quickly back on the offensive though with Tom slotting a ball through for Sam to chase but the ball is hacked away by the blues' defence and Lakenheath build again.

 

 

The game is pretty open. Henry L is working hard all over the pitch helping out the defence and then pushing forward with the attack. At the back Owen and James F are composed and unyielding down the middle with Archie industrious and tenacious in the tackle on our right hand side where the main Lakenheath threat has been coming. 

 

The home team are playing some attractive passing football and look the more likely to score, but NST are holding their own. Over on the left Bahador is looking lively and quick off the mark - backed up with great teamwork from Alex S and James O. Although we don't look in too much trouble at the back we haven't quite got a cutting edge up front. Sammy is chasing tirelessly but the balls through are leaving him isolated and with too little support to really make an impact. Then Lakenheath strike. They work the ball down our left hand side and get a cross into the box which is well finished to make it 1-0.

 

Lakenheath continue to probe but even when the ball makes it past our defenders David is in great form and deals with any trouble. Judy swaps Cosmo for Tom and he is soon involved in the action. James F  clears and Alex M  cracks a quick ball forward for Sam to chase. Henry L takes over and  steers the ball across the edge of the box but Cosmo is just hustled out of it. The drizzle is starting to get heavier and the weather colder but we are soon overjoyed as Alex M goes on a little foray. He picks the ball up in midfield and runs down the right. The Lakenheath defence melts before him and he cracks the ball across the goalie for a sublime finish which leaves the ball nestling in the back of the net ! It's our first decent attack and we've got a goal. Fantastic! 1-1 and we're back in the match.

 

Rejuvenated now the Strikers find fresh legs and press back on Lakenheath. We win a corner after some good work by Cosmo and Sam, but the kick is cleared away. NST are stroking the ball around confidently now and looking good. Then disaster nearly strikes. Lakenheath win the ball deep in our half and play a quick one-two  to round our defence. Their centre forward gets his foot on the ball and pokes it past David but it hits the post and rolls along the line for Archie to clear. Phew that was close ! Thankfully the ref blows for half time and we all get a chance to catch our breath.

 

After a breather the match restarts. Alex M is in goal and David has been given a run in midfield. This seems to be a cracking re-organisation. With the wind and rain behind them NST are well on top pressing deep into the Lakenheath half. A great ball through from Cosmo sets Sammy off down the pitch; he clashes with a defender in the box and ends up on the floor. The ref waves play on - probably would have been harsh to award a penalty for that - but we've seen them given... There is a period of sustained pressure with the boys knocking the ball around well. Now, if we could only get a finish on one of these balls... Lakenheath are reduced to hopeful punts forward and Owen and James can deal with those all day long. 

 

Just when we're thinking this is going to be our game after all, disaster strikes. Our defence dwells on the ball too long in the box and is dispossessed. Before we can recover, the ball is in the back of the net and we have a mountain to climb. 2-1 to Lakenheath. The boys continue to plug away but Lakenheath are buoyed up by the goal and have recovered the touch which had temporarily deserted them for the opening 15 minutes. They look assured and don't need to chase the game. They work the ball well and are unlucky when a curler hits the post. Soon they are on the attack again and when the ball comes in sharply from the left  there's a clash of bodies and the ball is scrambled over the line from two feet out. That makes it 3-1 and now our legs are starting to get weary and we've only got one sub.

 

Nonetheless, the Strikers continue to chase the game. David is all over the pitch and Archie is showing great energy. Alex and Bahador are still creating opportunities down the left, but then a terrific dribble by a Lakenheath attacker puts the game beyond doubt when he slots past Alex to make it 4-1. There's  a big cheer and tremendous ovation from home crowd - apparently he had 50 shots last week and couldn't buy a goal - so glad we could oblige !

 

The game has been killed off but the boys keep going. Tom shows some dazzling footwork in midfield and Archie has another dynamic burst down the right but in the end it's all for naught. As the drizzle gets heavier all we want is a warm car and bacon butties back home. Eventually the ref blows for full-time and with a quick three cheers and shaking of hands all round we're ruefully on the way back hoping pondering on what might have been. 

 

Well done Lakenheath and bad luck Strikers. 

 

Squad: Archie, Alex S, Alex M, Owen, Cosmo, Tom, Bahador, James, F, James O, David, Henry L, Sammy.

 

Scorer: Alex M (1)