Royals Win With First Half Goal Rush
Loxwood will look back on this match with both pride and disappointment. The pre-match team talk was simple: intensity, energy and passion from the off; clear the defensive lines when under pressure; play to our strengths on the wings and support each other throughout the match. Sadly, the drive and desire was lacking in the early part of the match, the Magpies failing to pressure Southwater and affording them time on the ball. By contrast, Southwater did all the things Loxwood should have done, and did them well. As a result, the Royals spent much of the opening 20 minutes camped in the Magpie's half, with wave after wave of attacking play. Once again, errors cost Loxwood goals with miss-kicks and poor clearances contributing to a 3 - 0 nil deficit after just 15 minutes. Credit to the young Magpies, they never gave up and started to increase the intensity and increase pressure on Southwater. Mikey Arlett went close, but could only find the side-netting with his shot, and Harry Hunter began to find some space down the left. Southwater played well on the counter-attack all morning, scoring a well-deserved fourth on 25 minutes. It looked like being another long morning and heavy defeat. Harry Comber came into midfield and provided strength and challenges and Loxwood began to impose themselves back on the game. Harry Hunter went close, the Southwater keeper spilling his smart shot and no one close-by to follow-up. With seconds on the clock a long ball over the top fed Toby Chandler who raced through on goal, but his effort blazed just over the bar.
Half time provided the opportunity to regroup and focus again on what hadn't been implemented and why Southwater had been so successful. A very different Loxwood emerged for the second half, applying more pressure and much greater intensity. As a result, Southwater began to make mistakes and found it more difficult to find dangerous passes and Loxwood began to enjoy more possession in the Southwater half. Comber went close, but couldn't get enough power behind his shot and then Hunter narrowly missed. Great build-up play out of the back, Mike Arlett out wide, fed Louis Horsley who sent a wonderful swinging cross to the far post, but Hunter just didn't get enough of his head on the cross to steer past the Southwater keeper. It was a let-off and a clear demonstration of Loxwood's revival. 15 minutes into the second half and Loxwood grabbed a goal back. A good strike by Horsley was spilled by the Royals keeper and Chandler was quickest to react to slot home. Both teams battled well and were defensively strong for the remainder of the match, cancelling each other out. A tight final 20 minutes saw few clear-cut chances and the game ended 4 v 1.
Loxwood can take great pride in a much improved second half performance, which is testament to their resilience and tenacity. In particular, Magnus Crook epitomised the increased desire and produced a solid performance at the centre of defence. Keegan Pafford also had a good game in goal, with some fine stops throughout the match.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Will Dixon, Magnus Crook, Theo Rawlins, Mikey Arlett, Tom Lillywhite, Louis Horsley, Harry Hunter, Toby Chandler, George Lillywhite, Ethan Nall, Harry Comber
Goal: Toby Chandler
MOM: Magnus Crook
Half time provided the opportunity to regroup and focus again on what hadn't been implemented and why Southwater had been so successful. A very different Loxwood emerged for the second half, applying more pressure and much greater intensity. As a result, Southwater began to make mistakes and found it more difficult to find dangerous passes and Loxwood began to enjoy more possession in the Southwater half. Comber went close, but couldn't get enough power behind his shot and then Hunter narrowly missed. Great build-up play out of the back, Mike Arlett out wide, fed Louis Horsley who sent a wonderful swinging cross to the far post, but Hunter just didn't get enough of his head on the cross to steer past the Southwater keeper. It was a let-off and a clear demonstration of Loxwood's revival. 15 minutes into the second half and Loxwood grabbed a goal back. A good strike by Horsley was spilled by the Royals keeper and Chandler was quickest to react to slot home. Both teams battled well and were defensively strong for the remainder of the match, cancelling each other out. A tight final 20 minutes saw few clear-cut chances and the game ended 4 v 1.
Loxwood can take great pride in a much improved second half performance, which is testament to their resilience and tenacity. In particular, Magnus Crook epitomised the increased desire and produced a solid performance at the centre of defence. Keegan Pafford also had a good game in goal, with some fine stops throughout the match.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Will Dixon, Magnus Crook, Theo Rawlins, Mikey Arlett, Tom Lillywhite, Louis Horsley, Harry Hunter, Toby Chandler, George Lillywhite, Ethan Nall, Harry Comber
Goal: Toby Chandler
MOM: Magnus Crook
