SF7 v BBFC Men’s Match Report

Three matches and three losses might be seen as a crisis but the results simply do not reflect the performances. All three games have been lost by the odd goal, as was the case on Sunday with the Bisons conceding the winner against SF7 in the closing stages when down to ten men. Tom was off the pitch with a dead leg and for the second time this season the Bisons only had 11 on the day. In a keenly contested match the Bisons could have taken the lead early on when Duncan rounded the keeper only to see his shot cannon off the near post. A roasting for the player-linesman from his team mates for not giving offside and so a lucky escape for SF7. The Bisons looked comfortable in their 4-4-2 formation with Kiran ably supporting Duncan upfront and so it was a setback when the opposition took the lead after a 50:50 challenge on the edge of the box fell kindly to their striker who slotted home. Undeterred the Bisons pressed for the equaliser and a number of decent opportunities were created. Joe had a shot whistle past the far post, Jamie after a mazy run couldn’t quite get his shot in and Kyifer through on goal had his shot blocked by a last minute lunge by a covering midfielder. In between the Bisons nearly conceded a second but for two excellent saves from Harry, one a finger tip push over the bar just as the ball was looping in. At 0-1 the half time team talk was for more of the same with a formation change to 4-4-1-1. The second half followed the same pattern as the first with both sides competing for everything but the better football was being played by the Bisons and when Harvey found some space 25 yards out he tried his luck and struck a beauty that swerved and dipped over the ‘keeper for a thoroughly deserved equaliser. Chances were less forthcoming for both sides but the Bisons nearly took the lead after a superb run from Joe, playing on the left, who got to the byline and his pass to the near post saw Duncan arriving at speed but under a challenge he couldn’t quite keep the ball down and it flew just over the bar. With ten minutes to go SF7 had their chance and were it not for a heroic last ditch block by Tom who threw his body in front of the goal bound shot it would have been 2-1. Tom was certainly in the thick of everything throughout the match and a knock to his calf a few minutes later meant he couldn’t continue. Despite a valiant effort the ten man couldn’t hold out and SF7 took all three points with a scrappy last minute goal, but that’s football. No shame in losing this one and a special mention for Owen and Jamie playing right and left back respectively who both produced solid displays and supported the attack throughout whilst doing a sterling defensive job alongside the dependable Ravi and Kev in the centre.