FC Británico v AFEN – Fraher

Recap

After a weekend off, FCB returned to competitive action with a home game against AFEN Fraher. With the squad list sent out on Thursday evening, Rami was rocked by a late night message on Friday from Harry saying that he couldn’t play. This was followed by a no-show by the ‘normally efficient’ goalkeeper Max, debutant Tom stepping up to take on the responsibility. With Pete understandably running late, the FCB line up was

Tom
Dorus Gonzalo Rama
Ed Calum Antonio Luismi Elvis
Lewis Eric

FCB started fast and were ahead within 3 minutes of the start. Eric and Elvis with some great work down the right, Elvis slides a ball across the area and who else but Lew ‘The Milky Bar Kid’ is there to finish and put FCB in the lead. FCB continued to press with Lewis, Ed and Eric going close in a stream of attacks that saw the opposition keeper booked for a handball just outside the box but Lewis hit his freekick straight into the wall. Fraher had obviously realised that Tom was not a goalkeeper by trade and started to pepper the goal with ling range efforts. A counter-attack by Fraher led to Antonio tactically fouling the opposition midfielder some 10 yards outside the box. The opposition defender stepped up and hit a worldy free-kick straight into the top corner past Tom. The goal affected FCB for a few minutes and the opposition’s confidence starting to grow, stroking the ball around but with no real goal threat. On 44 minutes Ed streaked down the left wing and into the box before being upended by the opposition keeper. The ref points to the spot and to the utter disbelief of FCB players and staff, no card is produced. Ed still fuming, Lewis runs up and sends the keeper the wrong way to give FCB the lead and the ref blows for half-time.

2-1 Half time

The Fraher coaching staff had obviously had words with their players and they came out with a new sense of urgency and a few tactical tweaks. They were having plenty of possession but all their chances were long balls that the FCB defence was dealing with comfortable.  FCB tweaked their midfield and within minutes the changes paid off with some great play in midfield before releasing El Capitano who shot into the top corner with a vintage Calum Cant finish. FCB were lifted but within 3 minutes of the restart, Fraher had pulled one back. Gonzalo played the ball out and suddenly found himself in nosebleed midfield territory. Dithering on the ball for a moment, he was robbed by the opposition midfielder who slid a ball through the hole in the FCB defence and their striker helped himself to a goal. FCB went back on the offensive again, the opposition trying to close them down but they were starting to tire and 9 minutes later Lewis’ cross was handballed in the area and the ref pointed to the spot for the second time in the match. Lewis stepped up again and this time went left sending the keeper the wrong way again for the second time in the match. The opposition were now defending for their lives as FCB continued to have a host of chances. The hardworking Eric using his physical strength to hustle the opposition defenders and not give them a minute’s peace, helped in tandem by Lewis and a new more forward thinking Calum who had moved to the tip of a 3 in midfield. Calum was at is vintage best and slid a slide rule ball through to Eric, who rounded the keeper and finished from a tight angle to get a well deserved goal. FCB still continued attacking and misses by Luismi and Calum increased Rami’s blood pressure even more before the ref blew the final whistle.

5-2 Full time