Sometimes in football, games and results just don't go your way. Today was one of those days.
The first twenty minutes were very even. Both sides enjoyed good spells and created openings, but Loxwood created the better of the chances. Brodie Gunn went very close to giving Loxwood the lead, but his effort hit the side netting, Tom Pearce had a first-time effort that went well wide and George Lillywhite hesitated before pulling the trigger and his chance was snuffed out. Loxwood took a deserved lead. Harry Comber, playing the holding midfield role, broke up the play and the ball was fed through to Tom Lillywhite, who superbly jinked past two or three Cranleigh players before despatching a well placed shot past the reach of the Cranleigh keeper. A wonderful goal.
At the other end, the Loxwood defence of Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert and Theo Rawlins looked totally in control. Sadly it wasn't to last and the equaliser came minutes before half time. Louis Horsley did well to save a well struck shot, but his parried block fell to the feet of a Cranleigh striker who blasted home.
With the scores even at half time, Horsely started the second half up front and Comber donned the keeper's gloves, and all credit to him for being the only one to volunteer. Loxwood started well and looked strong in attack, but the gap we discussed at halftime between the forward line and defence was too large and Cranleigh took the lead within ten minutes. A resilient Loxwood responded immediately, a lovely through-ball from Tom Lillywhite sent Horsley racing in on goal and he smashed his effort beyond the advancing Cranleigh keeper to make it 2 - 2.
Loxwood's strangle-hold on the game was lost, however, as Cranleigh began to win the midfield battle. Their supremacy was soon converted into goals as Loxwood conceded goals 3, 4 and 5 and Cranleigh wrapped up the win. It was a difficult result to stomach after such a positive first half, although there were a lot of positive to take from the game. The first half proved that we are now capable of being competitive and on another day, we'd have got something from this game. Technically the boys are improving and every match gives us the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to win. This week the boys will have learnt that games are not won by half time and the same effort and application need to be applied in the second half.
Team: Louis Horsley, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, Harry Comber, Tom Pearce, Tom Lillywhite, Toby Chandler, Brodie Gunn, George Lillywhite
Goals: Tom Liilywhite, Louis Horsley
The first twenty minutes were very even. Both sides enjoyed good spells and created openings, but Loxwood created the better of the chances. Brodie Gunn went very close to giving Loxwood the lead, but his effort hit the side netting, Tom Pearce had a first-time effort that went well wide and George Lillywhite hesitated before pulling the trigger and his chance was snuffed out. Loxwood took a deserved lead. Harry Comber, playing the holding midfield role, broke up the play and the ball was fed through to Tom Lillywhite, who superbly jinked past two or three Cranleigh players before despatching a well placed shot past the reach of the Cranleigh keeper. A wonderful goal.
At the other end, the Loxwood defence of Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert and Theo Rawlins looked totally in control. Sadly it wasn't to last and the equaliser came minutes before half time. Louis Horsley did well to save a well struck shot, but his parried block fell to the feet of a Cranleigh striker who blasted home.
With the scores even at half time, Horsely started the second half up front and Comber donned the keeper's gloves, and all credit to him for being the only one to volunteer. Loxwood started well and looked strong in attack, but the gap we discussed at halftime between the forward line and defence was too large and Cranleigh took the lead within ten minutes. A resilient Loxwood responded immediately, a lovely through-ball from Tom Lillywhite sent Horsley racing in on goal and he smashed his effort beyond the advancing Cranleigh keeper to make it 2 - 2.
Loxwood's strangle-hold on the game was lost, however, as Cranleigh began to win the midfield battle. Their supremacy was soon converted into goals as Loxwood conceded goals 3, 4 and 5 and Cranleigh wrapped up the win. It was a difficult result to stomach after such a positive first half, although there were a lot of positive to take from the game. The first half proved that we are now capable of being competitive and on another day, we'd have got something from this game. Technically the boys are improving and every match gives us the opportunity to learn more about what it takes to win. This week the boys will have learnt that games are not won by half time and the same effort and application need to be applied in the second half.
Team: Louis Horsley, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Theo Rawlins, Harry Comber, Tom Pearce, Tom Lillywhite, Toby Chandler, Brodie Gunn, George Lillywhite
Goals: Tom Liilywhite, Louis Horsley