1s vs Old Owens 1s (h), 0-0, 01.02.20

Winchmore 1s vs Owens 1s

SAL Senior Div 1

1 February 2020

Goal Drought

Following last week’s goal fest we were looking for more of the same this week and hoping it would be in our favour. We’d faced Owens once before this season in the cup and came away 3-2 victors in windy conditions so the neutral must have had a cheeky tenner on 3+ goals in the game.

They were to be disappointed though as the game ended goalless thanks to second half heroics from the Owens’ ‘keeper.

The difference in quality of the opposition from the previous was obvious from the start. Owens kicked off and charged forwards creating a half chance within the first minute. Their high energy start continued for the opening exchanges but we stood firm and matched their intensity and started to get a foot hold in our own game.

Owens looked dangerous on the break but couldn’t carve out any real clear cut chances and Will was largely untroubled in the first half. An excellent display between the sticks from set pieces meant he was able to punch clear of gather without looking like he’d broken a sweat.

It looked like the game was going to be won off the narrowest of margins and a half time the game was still at 0-0.

Our hard work and commitment not to give anything for free meant we had started to get our noses in front. The second half saw a series of fine saves to deny us the winner. Our set pieces just couldn’t find the final touch they deserved with very little clear cut chances from open play neither side was able to break the deadlock.

It wouldn’t have been unfair if we’d have squeezed a goal and taken all three points but that’s not the way it went. Owens stood firm and dug in when it mattered. We matched them all over the pitch and both sides can be equally disappointed not to have won, but pleased not to have lost to a moment of bad luck.

We face EBOG next week in a must win game to start putting daylight between us and the other teams at the foot of the table.

Alex Bex was industrious in the midfield and rightly awarded MOM.

Chappers raced away with DOD by being inexplicably injured by the wind.

Onwards and Upwards