|
Riding top of the league, Martin decided he didn't need to be there and delegated responsibility for team management to Glenn--how wise was this decision? Glenn ignored Martin's orders and started with the following team : Chris (GK), Craig (RB), Glenn (CB capt), Jason (CB), Geoff (LB), Danni (LM), Matt (CM), Keith (CM), Andy (RM), Steve (CF), Neil (CF), Rich (sub), Mark (sub), Paul (sub).
Following torrential rain Friday night, the pitch was nicely damp and soft for the game on this fine sunny afternoon. The first half saw Golden generally relaxed, perhaps resting on their laurels from their good start to the season so far. Only a few chances presented themselves up front, with Andy and Matt delivering average crosses into the box, and both Neil and Steve failing to get on the end of them. This continued for most of the first half, though Neil did manage to get a left foot half volley shot on target, but straight at the waiting keeper.
Ridings, keeping pace with Golden and creating a few chances themselves at the other end, started to exploit the gaps in the Golden midfield. As they attacked down the right hand side of the pitch, one player dodged and dived between the Golden defence until reaching the bye-line, then passed a ball across the Golden goal. Despite the Golden calls for offside, the referee awarded the goal as a Riding's attacker passed the ball into the back of the net--Golden were 1-0 down at home.
Just before half time, Ridings attacked down the left hand side. Craig managed to get a good sliding tackle in, but when told to clear the ball, merely managed to blast it against Keith where it rebounded to the foot of a waiting Ridings player just outside the box. A first touch shot driven toward the bottom left of goal hit the net, as Chris was blinded by a number of Ridings players in the goal area. Golden were now 2-0 down with half time rapidly approaching.
Immediately following the kick off, the ball was passed back to the right back Craig, who unchallenged drove toward the Riding goal--Neil ran left drawing the defence clear of the waiting Keith in the middle of goal. A chip from Craig found Keith control and shoot with his left foot--2-1 and half-time.
Golden's play in the second half was more reminiscent of previous games. A corner taken by Glenn was deflected in near the front post by one of the Ridings players--2.2. Keith almost equalised a few minutes earlier when he was free in front of goal with just the keeper to beat--but his shot hit the crossbar. A cross from Andy on the right saw Neil stretch out his left foot, but the resultant ball hit the post and went out for a goal kick. Rich came on for Neil, and Mark came on for Danni, but Golden failed to pull ahead in this vital early season draw. 1 point lost.
|
|
