| Match Report
After a great result and performance last week in the Cup the Bilbao squad arrived all looking fairly healthy, apart from Jonesy obviously and John in that bloody hat. We had a full squad and a good looking set of supporters including Mr Heather & Legge... all was looking good.
The team selection was consistent with the last few games, the Eddie & Neil rock like partnership at the back and the large rock sized midfield of Wilf and Steve (rock references especially for Kyd ) . While Phil continued up front after a good game last week. The only change was coxy returning to right back after a top notch performance in training.
Now the rest of this match report will be pretty short as for all the nice build up play and tough tackles, well the tackles came from the bilbao players as the boys of pointz kept on falling over. this was a pretty poor match devoid of many goal scoring chances. Although the whole team were rock solid in the defensive department for the first half, we really struggled to make any impact. The defenders ruled and the long balls to our two quick strikers weren't working with both Phil & Denny not being able to hold the ball up and when they did the midfield were either to far away or not confident enough to help them. This was the first half theme and there players would probably be reporting the same thing. The only chances I can remember from the first half were a bulldozing run a shot from 25 yards from Steve, it was never going in but by this games standards it was a moment of excitement, Wilf also rose well from a corner but couldn't direct the header.
After a stern talking to from the gaffer at half time. It was hoped that we'd respond with a sterling second half performance, Jonesy who have played good first half was replaced due to an injury by Paul, while Wilf spent the half time break wrapping and cellotaping his thigh ?!?!?!. The improvement unfortunately did happen, and about 5-10 mins in Pointz took the lead, a driven punt from their centre half was deflected and bounced up, Skippy missed his clearance and to give credit where it's due their striker took advantage with a nice first time finish, a poor goal to give away with Skippy making his first ever mistake in 3 or 4 seasons... I think we can forgive him chin up Neil.
It was about this point when Bilbao frustrations started to boil over partly due to losing an important game but mainly because of the incompetent referee. Who booked 2 bilbao players and started giving ridiculous decisions mainly against us !!! we even had 3 drop balls ?!?!? he couldn't explain half of his decisions, and even told Neil go away... he must of been on another planet as nobody has ever shouted at skippy. The game descended into a farce with his whistle blowing every other minute and causing both sets of players to lose their rags with each other.
However in typical Bilbao fashion this just made us dig in with Tim and Benny H especially playing well, we went 3 up top and into a 3-4-3 formation with Coxy moving to right wing. Phil was working hard chasing the ball down and Midfield tried their best to close space and supply some ball, we started to gain the better of the match but just couldn't create any clear chances. Denny Hit a poor free-kick Ben made a few surges but that was about it. The next Muppet like reffing decision was made, this was to send Phil off for winning the ball cleanly... all together now The referee's a W****R. So we lost John only made one save all game but still we lost.
So Bilbao suffered their second defeat of the season, all be it against probably the best team we've played this year. I think this match will act as a wake up call. As Ben stated maybe we think were better than we really are !!!. We need to start playing like we do at training with some crisp passing movements as well as our through ball / pressing game and take the pressure of Denny by the rest of the team getting in the goals... are you listening midfield !!! This league is to tough to just batter our way through, as were now finding out... time to roll up our sleeves and dig in because we can't afford anymore mistakes... Big game against Woodthorpe next week... Come On Bilbao !!!
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