Reds start the year mired in mud and controversy

PFFC 0 Deportivo 2

Kadeem, 2 March 2014

 

First and foremost, a huge thank you to everyone who turned up today, especially the first-time players. If it hadn’t been for them, the game wouldn’t have gone ahead. It was great to see a full squad turn out on a Sunday morning after so many recent cancellations.

It seemed Philosophy had a very busy January transfer window, with three players making their debut for the club. With a host of regulars out due to injury and work, it was always going to be a difficult game.

The Reds started off very brightly, with debutants Dan and Rich very quickly putting their foot on the game and dominating the middle of the park. On a very muddy South Park pitch, the home side had no problem passing the ball about in the Deportivo half. However, they couldn’t find that killer pass and passes often ran through to the keeper or out for a goal kick. Dan continued to boss the game in the middle of park, spraying diagonal balls from the centre circle and taking on players like they weren’t even there. Unfortunately, there wasn’t an end product which could be down to this being Philsophy's first game in just over 3 months.

Neither keeper had much to do as the game was played mostly in the middle of the park. Any ball over the top was dealt with by Kadeem and his defence, and at half-time it looked like the first goal would be crucial. Unfortunately, that first goal wasn’t for the Reds. Early on in the second half, a ball over the top seemed to have been dealt with by Joeslyn. His header to Will was a bit awkward and when Will tried to head it back, it fell short and the Deportivo number 9 did well to nip in ahead of Michele and finish past the keeper. It was a real sucker punch for Philosophy as the goal came against the run of play. The Thinkers responded well and produced some half-chances for Blanks, James and others, but got no reward.

The second goal was very controversial. Again, a long ball over the top looked like it wouldn’t trouble Kadeem. As he rushed out to meet it, he just about beat the opposing number 9 by palming out on the edge of the box. The ref, however, seemed to think he handled it outside the box. Kadeem was only booked, despite being the last man, but the resulting free-kick was taken quickly – before the ref had even blown his whistle – and dispatched up and over the wall and into the net. In spite of the ref not having blown for the free kick to be taken, he allowed the goal to stand.

It seemed to be one of those days for Philsophy and, despite fighting to the end, the long-overdue first game of 2014 ended in a loss.

 

PFFC (3-4-2-1): Kadeem; Will, Michele, Tashan Alleyne (Joselyn); Tim O’Keeffe, Dan, Rich, Michael; Matt, Clarkey; James

Sub: Joselyn