It's impossible not to feel disappointed. Not at the performance or the effort, but at the result. I'm also disappointed for the boys, who really deserved something out of this great match.
Not for the first time this season Loxwood started the brighter and stronger. The forward line of Ollie Williams, Toby Chandler, Hamish Ramsay and Tom Pearce got in behind the Ewhurst defence but were unable to make the most of the chances and openings. Notably Ramsay and Chandler went close with efforts. At the other end, playing our first competitive match as an 11-a-side, we looked solid at the back, with Toby Nicholls and Ollie Zeffert forming an effective central defensive partnership and both Josh Arnold and Theo Rawlins looking strong in the full-back positions.
15 minutes in, and totally against the run of play, we conceded. Nicholls did well to get something on Ewhurst's shot, but inadvertently sent the ball past the stranded Keegan Pafford in goal. There followed a few rocky minutes, during which the boys did well to steady the ship and turn the game back in our favour. 10 minutes after conceding, we were back on level terms. A free-kick on the edge of the box was cleverly and quickly taken by Ramsay and placed into the roof of the net, over the outstretched arms of Ewhurst's keeper. Loxwood continued to enjoy possession and limited Ewhurst to one or two half-chances, one which was well saved, low and to the left of Pafford for a corner. Credit must go to Harry Comber for being a menace in the centre of the park, breaking up play, blocking passes and shielding the back-four through the middle. Ramsay went close to making it two. A neat through-ball from Tom Lillywhite and Ramsay created space to get a shot off, but he could only curl his effort wide of the post. The breakthrough came on 30 minutes. Chandler charged down a clearance, Ramsay fed Williams out wide and the ball into the box was smashed home by Chandler. To their credit, Ewhurst came back, forcing Pafford into one more save before half time, but Loxwood held firm to retain their lead.
Ewhurst came out in the second half determined and began the stronger of the two teams. More than once, they found joy down the wings where in the first period they had not and Loxwood struggled to get the ball out of their half. The pressure was building and eventually a goal came, but again, it was massively disappointing. A long-range effort took yet another wicked deflection and the ball nestled into the back of the net. Buoyed by their efforts, Ewhurst kept the pressure up and were soon 4 - 2 up. A good move down their left side, Ewhurst's winger cut in and poked his shot under the diving Pafford to make it 3 and minutes later a cracking shot was buried into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to get their 4th. Comber was reinstalled into his defensive midfield role and Williams back on the wing and Loxwood began to reassert themselves on the game. Chandler and Ramsay both went close, before a wonderful through-ball from Chandler fed Ramsay who coolly ran on and tucked his effort beyond the advancing Ewhurst keeper. Pafford made an outstanding point-blank save to keep the scores in touching distance and did well to clear a Zeffert back-pass before it crossed the line for another own goal. With the clock running down, the boys battled hard and gave everything to try and get the equaliser. Williams did well on the wing, but his cross eluded all of Loxwood's attackers and Ramsay went close with a snap-shot that just went wide of the upright. The final opportunity fell to Chandler who did well to latch on to a loose ball, but his effort was really well saved to secure the points for Ewhurst.
For the neutral, it was a cracking game of football played in great spirits. Chances at both ends and both teams determined to get something from the match. Once again, there was increasing evidence that our fitness sessions are working; the boys are getting stronger in challenges and retaining energy through the match to finish strongly. We may be disappointed by the result, but we cannot be disappointed by some of the football we played, the effort shown, increasing desire and willingness to never give up. We will need to take those positives into our next match and I'm sure the wins will follow.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Toby Nicholls, Theo Rawlins, Tom Pearce, Ollie Williams, Tom Lillywhite, Harry Comber, Toby Chandler, Hamish Ramsay, George Lillywhite
Goals: Ramsay (2), Chandler
MOM: Toby Chandler
Not for the first time this season Loxwood started the brighter and stronger. The forward line of Ollie Williams, Toby Chandler, Hamish Ramsay and Tom Pearce got in behind the Ewhurst defence but were unable to make the most of the chances and openings. Notably Ramsay and Chandler went close with efforts. At the other end, playing our first competitive match as an 11-a-side, we looked solid at the back, with Toby Nicholls and Ollie Zeffert forming an effective central defensive partnership and both Josh Arnold and Theo Rawlins looking strong in the full-back positions.
15 minutes in, and totally against the run of play, we conceded. Nicholls did well to get something on Ewhurst's shot, but inadvertently sent the ball past the stranded Keegan Pafford in goal. There followed a few rocky minutes, during which the boys did well to steady the ship and turn the game back in our favour. 10 minutes after conceding, we were back on level terms. A free-kick on the edge of the box was cleverly and quickly taken by Ramsay and placed into the roof of the net, over the outstretched arms of Ewhurst's keeper. Loxwood continued to enjoy possession and limited Ewhurst to one or two half-chances, one which was well saved, low and to the left of Pafford for a corner. Credit must go to Harry Comber for being a menace in the centre of the park, breaking up play, blocking passes and shielding the back-four through the middle. Ramsay went close to making it two. A neat through-ball from Tom Lillywhite and Ramsay created space to get a shot off, but he could only curl his effort wide of the post. The breakthrough came on 30 minutes. Chandler charged down a clearance, Ramsay fed Williams out wide and the ball into the box was smashed home by Chandler. To their credit, Ewhurst came back, forcing Pafford into one more save before half time, but Loxwood held firm to retain their lead.
Ewhurst came out in the second half determined and began the stronger of the two teams. More than once, they found joy down the wings where in the first period they had not and Loxwood struggled to get the ball out of their half. The pressure was building and eventually a goal came, but again, it was massively disappointing. A long-range effort took yet another wicked deflection and the ball nestled into the back of the net. Buoyed by their efforts, Ewhurst kept the pressure up and were soon 4 - 2 up. A good move down their left side, Ewhurst's winger cut in and poked his shot under the diving Pafford to make it 3 and minutes later a cracking shot was buried into the bottom corner from the edge of the box to get their 4th. Comber was reinstalled into his defensive midfield role and Williams back on the wing and Loxwood began to reassert themselves on the game. Chandler and Ramsay both went close, before a wonderful through-ball from Chandler fed Ramsay who coolly ran on and tucked his effort beyond the advancing Ewhurst keeper. Pafford made an outstanding point-blank save to keep the scores in touching distance and did well to clear a Zeffert back-pass before it crossed the line for another own goal. With the clock running down, the boys battled hard and gave everything to try and get the equaliser. Williams did well on the wing, but his cross eluded all of Loxwood's attackers and Ramsay went close with a snap-shot that just went wide of the upright. The final opportunity fell to Chandler who did well to latch on to a loose ball, but his effort was really well saved to secure the points for Ewhurst.
For the neutral, it was a cracking game of football played in great spirits. Chances at both ends and both teams determined to get something from the match. Once again, there was increasing evidence that our fitness sessions are working; the boys are getting stronger in challenges and retaining energy through the match to finish strongly. We may be disappointed by the result, but we cannot be disappointed by some of the football we played, the effort shown, increasing desire and willingness to never give up. We will need to take those positives into our next match and I'm sure the wins will follow.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Ollie Zeffert, Toby Nicholls, Theo Rawlins, Tom Pearce, Ollie Williams, Tom Lillywhite, Harry Comber, Toby Chandler, Hamish Ramsay, George Lillywhite
Goals: Ramsay (2), Chandler
MOM: Toby Chandler
