Following our hard fought narrow victory at home against early season front runners BAC both clubs were licking their lips in eager anticipation of this return match. Conditions were perfect on a crisp, cold, calm morning with the game being played on a large flat pitch.
Pumas lined up with Conor, Caleb, Callum, Sam, Lewis, Ben, Jack, Tom, Robert, Dion and Elliot. Eddie was on the bench together with Tyler who was unlikely to be able to be called on because of a painful knee problem.
Pumas kicked off and were immediately on the attack, winning a couple of challenges. The ball was cleared out of BAC's penalty area to Elliot on the edge of the area. He spotted the BAC keeper off his line and hit the ball first time into the top of the net for what must rank as the quickest goal of the season after only 25 seconds! Very quick thinking and a great opportunist goal. 0 - 1.
This early goal allowed the Pumas to settle into a nice rhythm and they enjoyed a high percentage of possession for the next ten minutes looking especially strong down the left. BAC's defence and especially their keeper were working hard to keep the Pumas forwards at bay and Conor only got his first touch of the ball after 11 mins. Ben and Lewis were feeding some lovely through balls for Dion to run on to and he used his pace to good effect to create several one on one situations with their keeper who was up to the job every time, coming off his line quickly and bravely to smother the attempts. Jack and Elliot were backing up well ready to pounce on any fumbles which never came.
Robert was looking increasingly confident down the right wing and was beating defenders consistently with his dribbling skills. He made a lovely cross which was skilfully cut out by the keeper when it looked like Jack would have an open goal at his mercy. All of this possession and attacking meant that the game was being played in BAC's half of the pitch with the result that Pumas could be vulnerable to a long ball down the middle. Sam and Caleb were alert to this kind of danger and dealt with these situations with coolness and skill. Tom was also called on and made some timely powerful clearances.
Pumas won several corners on the right over the course of a few minutes and each time Jack delivered the ball right into the heart of the 6 yard box but on each occasion no Pumas forward could get a boot or head on the ball and each time BAC were able to scramble the ball clear. From one such clearance after 22 mins the ball was booted upfield for Conor to be faced with a one on one which he dealt with very competently having had little action. Another Pumas corner led to a goalmouth scramble which looked certain to result in a goal till the ball was hooked over the bar from short range. Just before half time a snap shot by BAC from 30 yards out on the left tested Conor's alertness and he saved well.
Half Time 0 - 1
With Eddie starting for Robert the second half started as the first had ended with a breakaway by BAC again testing Conor. A scrappy period followed with Pumas struggling to keep possession or create any significant chances. After 36 mins a half clearance by Pumas defence came to a BAC player fully 35 yards from goal. He punted it straight back with great power and the ball flew over the crowded penalty area and Conor's outstretched arms for a shock goal completely against the run of play. 1 - 1
This set-back seemed to put more determination into the Pumas play as they continued to dominate their opponents. Ben was a powerhouse in mid-field breaking up attacks and creating attacking raids. Dion's speed and control were causing havoc and he and Elliot combined well after 43 mins to set up a chance which Elliot took by coolly sliding the ball past the BAC keeper with the outside of his boot. 1 - 2
Further chances fell to both sides as BAC tried to step up their efforts for an equaliser. Scrappy play at the edge of the Pumas area saw the final shot going just over the bar and then both Lewis and Ben had long range shots. A dangerous BAC break down the left was broken up by a brilliantly timed tackle from Sam who had been alert to the danger and had come all across the pitch to deal with the threat. Good defensive work by Callum released Eddie on a run down the right with Elliot in support looked promising until good BAC defending broke the move. BAC's dangerous looking No 11 made a great run down the left and as Conor came out to cut his angle down he slid the ball across the face of the goal but none of his forwards were backing up for what would have been a simple tap-in. The remainder of the game was played in BAC's half with Dion creating another couple of one on ones with their keeper who again excelled.
Final score BAC/EE 1 Ladybridge Pumas 2
This was an outstanding result for Pumas considering the absence of Tyler and Matt against a well organised BAC team who had high expectations before the game. The scoreline flattered BAC whose keeper had an outstanding game foiling Dion on at least five occasions when he looked certain to score. Pumas also failed to capitalise on the excellence of Jack's corner taking when two or more goals could easily have resulted from his dangerous deliveries.
Bill
Pumas lined up with Conor, Caleb, Callum, Sam, Lewis, Ben, Jack, Tom, Robert, Dion and Elliot. Eddie was on the bench together with Tyler who was unlikely to be able to be called on because of a painful knee problem.
Pumas kicked off and were immediately on the attack, winning a couple of challenges. The ball was cleared out of BAC's penalty area to Elliot on the edge of the area. He spotted the BAC keeper off his line and hit the ball first time into the top of the net for what must rank as the quickest goal of the season after only 25 seconds! Very quick thinking and a great opportunist goal. 0 - 1.
This early goal allowed the Pumas to settle into a nice rhythm and they enjoyed a high percentage of possession for the next ten minutes looking especially strong down the left. BAC's defence and especially their keeper were working hard to keep the Pumas forwards at bay and Conor only got his first touch of the ball after 11 mins. Ben and Lewis were feeding some lovely through balls for Dion to run on to and he used his pace to good effect to create several one on one situations with their keeper who was up to the job every time, coming off his line quickly and bravely to smother the attempts. Jack and Elliot were backing up well ready to pounce on any fumbles which never came.
Robert was looking increasingly confident down the right wing and was beating defenders consistently with his dribbling skills. He made a lovely cross which was skilfully cut out by the keeper when it looked like Jack would have an open goal at his mercy. All of this possession and attacking meant that the game was being played in BAC's half of the pitch with the result that Pumas could be vulnerable to a long ball down the middle. Sam and Caleb were alert to this kind of danger and dealt with these situations with coolness and skill. Tom was also called on and made some timely powerful clearances.
Pumas won several corners on the right over the course of a few minutes and each time Jack delivered the ball right into the heart of the 6 yard box but on each occasion no Pumas forward could get a boot or head on the ball and each time BAC were able to scramble the ball clear. From one such clearance after 22 mins the ball was booted upfield for Conor to be faced with a one on one which he dealt with very competently having had little action. Another Pumas corner led to a goalmouth scramble which looked certain to result in a goal till the ball was hooked over the bar from short range. Just before half time a snap shot by BAC from 30 yards out on the left tested Conor's alertness and he saved well.
Half Time 0 - 1
With Eddie starting for Robert the second half started as the first had ended with a breakaway by BAC again testing Conor. A scrappy period followed with Pumas struggling to keep possession or create any significant chances. After 36 mins a half clearance by Pumas defence came to a BAC player fully 35 yards from goal. He punted it straight back with great power and the ball flew over the crowded penalty area and Conor's outstretched arms for a shock goal completely against the run of play. 1 - 1
This set-back seemed to put more determination into the Pumas play as they continued to dominate their opponents. Ben was a powerhouse in mid-field breaking up attacks and creating attacking raids. Dion's speed and control were causing havoc and he and Elliot combined well after 43 mins to set up a chance which Elliot took by coolly sliding the ball past the BAC keeper with the outside of his boot. 1 - 2
Further chances fell to both sides as BAC tried to step up their efforts for an equaliser. Scrappy play at the edge of the Pumas area saw the final shot going just over the bar and then both Lewis and Ben had long range shots. A dangerous BAC break down the left was broken up by a brilliantly timed tackle from Sam who had been alert to the danger and had come all across the pitch to deal with the threat. Good defensive work by Callum released Eddie on a run down the right with Elliot in support looked promising until good BAC defending broke the move. BAC's dangerous looking No 11 made a great run down the left and as Conor came out to cut his angle down he slid the ball across the face of the goal but none of his forwards were backing up for what would have been a simple tap-in. The remainder of the game was played in BAC's half with Dion creating another couple of one on ones with their keeper who again excelled.
Final score BAC/EE 1 Ladybridge Pumas 2
This was an outstanding result for Pumas considering the absence of Tyler and Matt against a well organised BAC team who had high expectations before the game. The scoreline flattered BAC whose keeper had an outstanding game foiling Dion on at least five occasions when he looked certain to score. Pumas also failed to capitalise on the excellence of Jack's corner taking when two or more goals could easily have resulted from his dangerous deliveries.
Bill
