2s vs Polytechnic – 30.01.16 – Merton Football Club

3 February 2016

2s Report 30^th Jan

Polytechnic Res (0) 4, Merton Res (1) 1

Poly is one of the jewels of the SAL and It is always good to go there. Particularly on this day with the sun shining and playing on their top pitch which looked pretty good. And Poly usually play good passing football with a good attitude.

Poly, top of the table, unsurprisingly dominated Merton (bottom of the table) but the only surprising thing was that kicking into the wind ad up the hill we went into half time a goal to the good. We defended resolutely but Poly squandered some good chances and their final ball let them down. We scored against the run of play when we were awarded a penalty for a block from a well struck Jason Thomas shot. Chris Rayner took it and scored comfortably. So with the wind and down hill for the second half meant that we might get something from the game but that was not to be and our luck was out. Poor defending cost us dearly. They equalised from the spot which we disputed but it had come from poor defending and a wrestling match. Who fouled who and inside or outside but I was not surprised at the award. This had a devastating impact on us. We conceded a sloppy second goal when we switched off. At 2-1 down we had a little rally and Jase got a good shot away but it was straight at the keeper. The third goal was a header from a cross which held up in the wind and the fourth looked well off side. With DQ having been injured early on and our sub used we ran out of steam and heart and it was not unfair that Poly got all the points. Merton’s man of the match was Ryan Gresty and there was a good performance from Seb and Joe. Thanks to the lads from the 3s who stepped up helped us out. Mustard had a particularly good performance and now looks like a full back. Eggy had to do a predator as a punishment for being late but he downed it with ease. So a disappointing score in the end but not a bad day.

Team: Sherbs (GK), Eggy, Paercey, Joe Griff, Mustard, Ryan G, Chris Rayner, Wilgo, DQ (Sub Seb), Jase, Denys