Banter - Sunday 16 November

Cup hopes and dreams - but how many remain after today's games?

lost 5-4 to frolesworth today 3-1 up and 4-2 terrible discipline from us today ended up with 9 men lost count of how many mark connolly booked on both sides.
in the whingeing stakes we narrowly edged it as frolesworth were nearly as bad.
felt sorry for the ref not enjoyable at all!!

Swinford Chequers 4
Wigston Rangers 1

EW Foster.

We had quite a few injuries today but that in no way accounts for how bad we were in the first half. Some shoddy mistakes particularly from set pieces made the game an uphill task and we were 3-0 down at HT.

Rallied well second half, even after losing our goalkeeper and centre mid, managed to create a number of chances and on another day it could have been a lot closer. Another competitive game against a good team and we can hopefully improve again when we play them in the league.

Wigston Fields 5 - 3 Medz

Danny lawlor x2
David Swanson
James Field
Steve Toone

Hard fought win for us today which puts us into the third round for the first time in our history. Having two let us down on the morning wasn't ideal but We started brightly created a few good chances but couldn't convert them. Some good play down the right wing after saw mark Allen drill a ball across for Danny lawlor to slide in the opening goal for fields. We didn't really kick on and Medz started to put some pressure on us. Failing to clear our lines Medz equalised with a drilled shot and found themselves ahead when they converted a penalty for handball. we didn't really wake up and were losing possession and second balls but almost out of nothing from a set piece the ball was cleared only for Steve Toone to win the header on the edge of the box and our centre back David Swanson to turn and left foot volley the ball into the top corner. Half time was 2-2. Second half we woke up a bit and a combination of good finishing and poor defending but us in control. Almost as he had done last week James field cross come shot lobbed into the top corner at the near post. Shortly after we were 4-2 up when the keepers clearance was met from a controlled left foot volley from near the half way line by Danny lawlor which looped into the open net. After some good play a mark Allen flick on the edge of the area teed up Steve Toone to side foot in. Medz pressed and created chances which caused us problems but fortunately they couldn't convert. It was almost end to end stuff for the last 20 minutes. Both teams hitting the wood work as well. Second half was much more lively and better play.

Oak 3-5 Phoenix

Scorers
Matt Copson
Wes Gilbert
Jay Oliver

Turned up with another impressive squad making life difficult for our managers with a squad of 17 again.

Were quick out the blocks yesterday and found us 1-0 up through a great strike from full debutant Matt Copson, chesting it down and unleashing a half volley into the net from around 25yards. The disappointing thing was we didn't kick on from there and seemed to wake Phoenix up who outplayed us for the rest of the half. This saw them take the lead and be up 3-1 at half time. Some very sloppy defending gave the Phoenix attackers all the time in the world to take control of the game.

Phoenix seemed to open us up at will for the opening of the 2nd half. The last half an hour though I think we created as many chances we have in the whole of the season put together. We just ran out of luck I guess as everything seemed to hit their keeper.
We did pull goals back through a calm finish from Wes Gilbert and a close range effort from Jay Oliver.

Impressed with a couple of debuts and hopefully we can kick on and get them gelled In for the coming weeks!

Martin Dexter reffed very well as usual! Phoenix bunch of young lads who didn't like a tackle and weren't too great with a bit of banter either!

LDA 1-3 United Revolution

Warren Ball
Martin "Stix" Sayer
Ryan Broderick

A good team performance from us to overcome a solid LDA side two divisions higher.  Needed to make a few changes from the previous week due to an increased injury/unavailable list including two debuts.  Last years regular Jamie Johnson returned and impressed at Wing Back, while Scott Nielson was reunited with some fellow team mates from his huncote days put a man of the match performance in along side the skipper in the middle of the park.

A disorganised start all round due to hangovers and late arrivals (namely me!) but once the whistle went the lads went about things in the right manner, game was played in the right manner from both sides and was enjoyable.  We took an early lead from a well worked goal finished by Warren Ball and added a second before half time (not going to tell you about that Stix has already bored me with it numerous times )  LDA pulled one back to make the last 20 minutes an defensive training drill which we coped with (and rode our luck) before grabbing a late 3rd via substitute Ryan Broderick, who is making a habit of coming of the bench and scoring

Good luck to Nathan and the rest of the LDA lads for the remainder of the season and a rare cup run for us beckons with some luck

Aths 3 Club 1

2 tough games in the past 2 weeks, gritty performance with a depleted side. Must of had about 8 or 9 away and 2 pulling out in the morning. Took the lead with a great cross and volley, doubled the lead just before half time. Club pulled one back which gave it a nervy finish. Think it was the lad who's scored a lot of goals for them, he is a very good striker, rated him. We scored a 3rd around 5 minutes from time thanks to top scorer Joe Hetterley with a lovely slotted finish. Humberstone and Countesthorpe next 2 who are 2nd and 3rd. Been a very tough November!! (CFA, Athletic Blaby, Club, Humberstone & Countesthorpe - all 5 sides that can play football)

Huncote Sunday 4-3 Desford Rangers. EW Foster
Harry Nutt x2
Wes Johnson
Ryan Smith

This should of been a lot more comfertable than what the score line suggests but fair play to Desford they kept digging.
We had numerous chances on a boggy pitch but just couldn't hit the target. With not much of the first half left to play, Harry found himself free in the box to tap in.
HT 1-0
We came out of the blocks in the second half, more chances came and more chances went begging. A lucky goal from Ryan made it 2-0 and not long after that a great freekick from Wes made it 3-0. Desford had their chances through the game a pulled 1 back from a defensive mistake from us before we went up the other end and scored a cracker into the top corner for Harry's second and Huncote's 4th. With the score at 4-1, we should of seen the game out but Desford kept going and scored there 2nd with a tap in and their 3rd came just before the final whistle.

I also need to mention the referee..there wasn't one! This is the second time this season that our referee has not shown up. we waited until 11am and in the end one of the away team referee'd it and done a good job. We tried ringing our ref with no answer and the ref sec with no answer. I'm sure were not the only team this has happened to but for it to happen twice already and for the season not to be half way through is a shambles.

had you previously confirmed game with referee during the week