Another Saturday morning and another 3-2 win, this time against local neighbours Chiddingfold. This was a great performance which should give the team confidence for a tough set of fixtures coming up.
Unusually for this encounter we were able to put out virtually a full squad of 15. This raised a bit of a challenge for the coaches in managing the substitutions but it’s a great feeling to get a win against one of our local rivals.
Given both sides had decent numbers we agreed with the opposition to go for 10-a-side, and so had the unusual experience of playing a 3-3-3 formation, and so the game started in a cagey fashion with the extra player on both sides making the midfield in particular a very congested area with neither side able to take control. Loxwood were looking quite secure at the back with the ever vocal Neo in goal marshalling his defence of Nathan, Liam and captain Zach. But it was Chiddingfold who took the lead with a good finish following a period of pressure to finish 1-0 up in the first quarter,
In the second quarter, Loxwood began to create more opportunities by trying to use the width with Tom in the middle seeking out Dan and Hamish on the wings, but Chiddingfold were just crowding out the midfield and looking very dangerous from set pieces. So the second quarter finished at 1-0 to the opposition in what was proving to be a really tight encounter.
Then, in a tactical masterstroke messrs Guardiola and Southgate would be proud of, the coaching staff changed the formation to 3-4-2, bolstering the midfield to combat Chiddingfold’s midfield passing game and enabling more use of the wide areas. Loxwood continued as a result to look dangerous on the break with Gethin, Will and Rowan being fed by central striker Ethan.
The breakthrough came in the third quarter when some pressure from Ethan and Paddy resulted in a Loxwood corner. From a lovely set piece from Charlie this was headed home by Tom. Get in!! Soon after however, Chiddingfold broke away and swept a nice goal home to enter the final quarter 2-1 up.
In the fourth quarter Loxwood really began to pile on the pressure with Neo doing a great job as stand-in centre half supported by Paddy and Fraser at the back to keep it tight with Jack in goal. The midfield quartet of Nathan, Will, Tom and Hamish were beginning to gain a foothold and after a through ball by Nathan there was great pace and brave play from Gethin to bundle the ball home and make it 2-2. Great play !! Into the final five minutes and it’s end to end stuff, and Hamish wins the ball on the left to fizz in a piledriver for the ball to bounce off the keeper out to Charlie to poke home what would be the winner. Scenes !!
The last few minutes was frenetic stuff as Chiddingfold went for the equaliser with Loxwood looking dangerous on the break but the game finished 3-2 with Loxwood the worthy winners. Phew!!
Well done everyone in what was a great team performance. See below for the interview from Captain Zach.
Unusually for this encounter we were able to put out virtually a full squad of 15. This raised a bit of a challenge for the coaches in managing the substitutions but it’s a great feeling to get a win against one of our local rivals.
Given both sides had decent numbers we agreed with the opposition to go for 10-a-side, and so had the unusual experience of playing a 3-3-3 formation, and so the game started in a cagey fashion with the extra player on both sides making the midfield in particular a very congested area with neither side able to take control. Loxwood were looking quite secure at the back with the ever vocal Neo in goal marshalling his defence of Nathan, Liam and captain Zach. But it was Chiddingfold who took the lead with a good finish following a period of pressure to finish 1-0 up in the first quarter,
In the second quarter, Loxwood began to create more opportunities by trying to use the width with Tom in the middle seeking out Dan and Hamish on the wings, but Chiddingfold were just crowding out the midfield and looking very dangerous from set pieces. So the second quarter finished at 1-0 to the opposition in what was proving to be a really tight encounter.
Then, in a tactical masterstroke messrs Guardiola and Southgate would be proud of, the coaching staff changed the formation to 3-4-2, bolstering the midfield to combat Chiddingfold’s midfield passing game and enabling more use of the wide areas. Loxwood continued as a result to look dangerous on the break with Gethin, Will and Rowan being fed by central striker Ethan.
The breakthrough came in the third quarter when some pressure from Ethan and Paddy resulted in a Loxwood corner. From a lovely set piece from Charlie this was headed home by Tom. Get in!! Soon after however, Chiddingfold broke away and swept a nice goal home to enter the final quarter 2-1 up.
In the fourth quarter Loxwood really began to pile on the pressure with Neo doing a great job as stand-in centre half supported by Paddy and Fraser at the back to keep it tight with Jack in goal. The midfield quartet of Nathan, Will, Tom and Hamish were beginning to gain a foothold and after a through ball by Nathan there was great pace and brave play from Gethin to bundle the ball home and make it 2-2. Great play !! Into the final five minutes and it’s end to end stuff, and Hamish wins the ball on the left to fizz in a piledriver for the ball to bounce off the keeper out to Charlie to poke home what would be the winner. Scenes !!
The last few minutes was frenetic stuff as Chiddingfold went for the equaliser with Loxwood looking dangerous on the break but the game finished 3-2 with Loxwood the worthy winners. Phew!!
Well done everyone in what was a great team performance. See below for the interview from Captain Zach.
