| Match Report
So the Day was finally here, the biggest game of the season and Bilbao's second Cup Semi in two years arrived after last years 3-2 defeat Bilbao's army hoped for better this year. The day started out with snow and was very cold but The stadium looked great and very wide with the floodlights lit and a decent pitch, the changing rooms were not up to last weeks awesome level... but tea was provided, which was later launched over Ben as a by product of certain tempremental midfielders strop, could this be a clue to the result ???
The team lined up looking strong the only absentee was Jenks who'd managed to get lost on the way home from work and missed out on his chance to start, I believe Paul or Phil filled in for him on the wing. The Byfleet team had greatly changed from last year when we twice thrashed them 5-1, with only former Bilbao reject Stuart on the bench and couple of familiar faces recognisable, obviously we approached this game professionally determined to do a job.
The game started off at a hell of a pace with the ball popping around all other the place personally I thought my lungs were going to explode after 5 minutes. The game was tight with both teams trying to establish some momentum, I guess Byfleet were slightly more composed at this point and trying to use the full width of the pitch although they didn't really have any penetration. what was apparent was that byfleet set their stall out fairly defensively with a deep back five and 3 in midfield hoping to counter-attack with the full backs getting forward. As the Boys from Bilbao started to get a grip exactly this happened as a player broke down our right & hit a hard and hopeful low cross which Johners failed to cope with, and then all sorts happened Wilf got decked (a common theme) a couple of ricochets and the ball ended up in the back on the net off the helpless Kyd. so we were 1-0 down from one of the scrappiest goals we've conceded this season.
From here on in the game was fairly even in midfield, but our back four was coping fine with their attacks and Bilbao winning a string of corners and throws. One of these corners presented us with our best chance of the game as a flick on was won at the front post Steve latched onto it and crashed a decent and hard shot goal bound, however their keeper reacted quickly and got down well to block it. This was about our last clear chance however we continued to threaten from set pieces and Denny was looking lively running at their worried defence. So at Half-time Bilbao felt hard done by to be 1-0 down as although Byfleet had regular counter-attacks they really didn't threaten our goal.
After a positive chat at half-time and the introduction on Jenks on for Paul, with Ben dropping to the left wing and Andy playing central. We kicked off lively and on the attack, until again caught on the counter by Byfleet who attacked and scored another, I can't claim to really have seen this as I was appealing (moaning) about the blatant dragging to the ground off Wilf which allowed them to get through for the goal, so now being 2-0 down we were struggling with about 35 minutes to go. So we chucked the proverbial kitchen sink at them and switched to a 3-4-3 formation with Calver and later Ross coming on to add some presence and composure respectively. for the rest of the match we dominated with them only able to hit their striker, who had a good game holding up & turning on the ball. unfortunately we just couldn't fashion any clean cut chances on the couple of times the ball broke in the box, & we did beat the keeper one chance was cleared before it reached the goal(from Phil's effort I believe), and on the other occasion Steve finished at second time of asking, only to be offside... Damm !!! Ross hit a free-kick close but over and Denny made a good run, but for all our pressure we just couldn't break down their back five.
As a last throw of the dice John even made it up for a corner, to a huge roar from the crowd, this then changed to a gasp when the corner was gathered by their keeper and it didn't look like Johns little legs would carry him back quick enough. Luckily Steve blocked off the keeper to buy him a few more seconds before John decided he now wanted to play centre-back, finally he got back inside his own box to see the ball going over his head, luckily it was Stuart shooting, so it went well wide... phew !!! The match soon ended, and we were out & gutted the changing room was a fairly quiet place afterwards apart from the flying tea. we'd lost 2-0 after only conceeding about 3 shots !!!
On reflection it was a close and tense game. We didn't feel we deserved to lose and not by 2 goals but hey that's football, you win some you lose some. To their credit Byfleet defended very well, with the goalkeeper playing superbly alongside the striker Elliot (or C**t in Kyd's words) and good luck to them in the final although I feel AFC Fenns will be to much for them. On our side, were starting to look like Liverpool I'll explain another time can't be bothered to go into a tirade about our failings but Wilf Played very well and Denny worked his socks off, which is becoming a nice trend. At the end of the day it just didn't click today, so we'll make sure we don't slip up next year and concentrate on the league and beating Kings Park on Sunday in the F.A Cup.
One last point thanks from the whole side for everybody who turned up to watch & support, it was much appreciated and also a record of around 75 people. Sorry we couldn't get a result for you but once again Many Thanks !!!
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