Lightning strikes twice for stunned Irons

AFC Beddington 9 Ironside 2
Sunday 11th October 2009

Ironside went into this League Cup match happy to rest key players as even a defeat would see them into the next round of the cup - albeit the plate competition. Depite the AFC Beddington manager's claims that his squad was dessimated by injuries and that it was his reserves who were to play, they were effectively the same side that had won the previous encounter 9-2 when he brought in his ringers to avoid relegation.

With Scott and Andy, probably remembering the last meeting, asking to be left out to rest injuries, and Sam, Murray and Jon on the bench, Ross Leech was pushed up into a second striker role alongside Anish, much to everyone's amusement in the dressing room beforehand. Paul and Trus were swapped over in defence and midfield respectively, and Gareth and Tim were given full debuts at left back and right midfield.

Needless to say the AFC Beddington claim that they were down to the bare bones and all carrying knocks was soon proven to be a lie, and they set about the Irons from the off. Within a few minutes they had taken the lead with a drilled free kick beating Matty in goal. A second followed soon after, and with the Ironside midfield being completely overrun, and the defence in turmoil we all knew that this might prove a torrid morning! The Beddington players were quicker to the ball all over the pitch, were not averse to putting in some fierce - and one or two naughty - tackles, and played the ball around all too comfortably. By contrast Ironside were being caught in posession, guilty of giving the ball away far too cheaply, and were not able to muster much at all going forward.

A third followed when Kev failed to deal with a run into the box and the winger smashed one into the top corner past a startled Matty. Paul and Trus were swapped back in to their normal positions. Raven then managed to get our first shot on target when the keeper tipped over his speculative effort., but it had little impact by half time the score had reached 5-0, which did not exactly flatter the hosts. Suffice it to say that Sam had decided whilst watching the first half that his injury was actually too bad to risk, and Trus had picked up a knock which he was more than happy to rest as well! Nick took himself off, moving Ross to right back and bringing Jon on for Trus, and Murray to play on the left wing in the second half.

An improved second half performance saw Murray score twice and go close on a couple of other occasions. Such was the menace he caused that the Beddington players were only too happy to bring him down and take bookings when he threatened. The defence, in which Jonathan battled manfully following his introduction, was still breached 4 more times, often guilty of one dropping too deep and playing the strikers onside.

The few positives to be taken from the game were the second half showings of Murray and Jon in particular, but there were also battling performances from Paul in midfield and Kev at the back, and another excellent performance from the ever willing worker Anish up front. Whilst noone gave up, we need to forget about this weeks failings quickly before next week's league encounter against the same team. Who knows, we have turned such defeats around before, and perhaps the Priest Hill elements may help?! Having one or two players back available may also make a difference of course.

With Parkhead somehow contriving (well done!) to lose 2-1 to Roundshaw & District Reserves, and one or two other teams from Div 3 also falling into the plate competition, we will have to put in far better showings in the next round or two if we want to put together a cup run!