Narrow Pitch and Narrow Margins cost FCB

Results

ClubHalf-timeFull-timeResultOutcome
FC Británico011Loss
Espacio Monsul022Win

A delightful Saturday morning at la Elipa saw FCB play host to the side that pipped them to the title last season. Like their opponents, Bar la Piscina came into the game with a 100% record from the first two games of the fledgeling season and even this early the matchup with FCB had the feeling of a crucial encounter in deciding the destination of the apertura trophy.

A strong squad was named by manager Majid with promising young Jorge keeper making just his second appearance for the club between the sticks after being ‘tapped up’ by the gaffer last season. The defence was unchanged from the previous match with Rama and Omar paired at centre back with Ricky and Ed occupying the flanks. Midfield was made up of Sean, Calum and Mathi with the returning ‘Kane Train’ playing in his favoured right-wing position after a gruelling 3 weeks rehabilitating various injuries on a Malaysian beach. Up front were Venezuelan poet Luigi and Spanish mountain Nacho. The bench was comprised of Joe, Pete, Macca, Marcel, Harry and Sam.

The game kicked off with a degree of intensity not seen in the two previous games as the sides looked to get the measure of each other with no quarter given in the midfield. A string of early corners for La Piscina lead to a half chance which was smartly parried by rookie stopper Jorge while at the other end Calum shot wide from just inside the box after some nice work in the final third. The next action of note was a good FCB chance sparked by a rare error from the ex-professionals in the Piscina defensive line. An innocuous backpass combined with a possible lack of sleep for the opposition goalkeeper and lead to Luigi smashing the bar from the resulting indirect free-kick. In terms of action at the other end, Jorge was in the wars as he was clattered by an onrushing opposition midfielder and looked to be in some pain as he claimed the ball ahead of the out of control Piscina veteran.

The intensity in the second half was upped further and although the game was punctuated by more than its fair share of throw-ins and free-kicks on tight confines of the Elipa pitch the level of football on display from both teams was at times of a standard rarely seen in the Bunwer league. The first goal was accurate in its execution and capitalised on a moment of hesitation on the part of the FCB defence. With the defence slightly out of position, a gap was left for the opposing striker to run onto and lob the on-rushing keeper for 1-0 to the away side.

The reaction from the boys in red spoke volumes of their desire and resilience. In the fifteen minutes immediately after conceding the first goal, FCB upped the intensity and there were missed chances for Ed and substitute Joe. Eventually, a free kick on the left was chipped in by Uruguayan set-piece specialist Mathi to the head of Nacho whose header made no mistake and got the lads back on level terms. The momentum, however, was to swing back the other way in the last quarter of the game. The later period of games, usually dominated by the younger fitter FCB men after running their opposition into the ground on the vast swathes of their Vallecas pitch was this time dominated by the canny old campaigners of the Getafe based team. Some good defending from the home side was eventually undone by an uncharacteristic defensive error which was pounced on by the opposition striker whose shot was parried by Jorge but agonisingly had enough on it to dribble into the net for 2-1 which despite the best efforts of the home team in the last few minutes and a difficult headed chance for the excellent Calum Cant was to be the final score.

The boys will be looking to bounce back against Banco de España next week. Tune in to Facebook and Twitter to see how the lads get on!

Man of the Match: Sean McBride/Calum Cant
Goal of the Match: Nacho
Quote of the Day: Rami Majid "A scorpion doesn't change"

FC Británico

1Jorge Pires Goalkeeper
2Ricky Pearson Defender
3Edmund Keith Defender
4Ramiro Pérez Toledo Defender
5Omar Majid Rodriguez Defender
6Sean McBride Midfielder
7David Kane Midfielder
8Mathias Pensatori Midfielder 61'
9Ignacio Zulueta Forward
10Calum Cant Midfielder
11Luigi Bosetti 12 Midfielder
12Joe Simmons 11 Midfielder
13Andrew McLeod Defender
14Marcel Schmitz Midfielder
15Peter Curran Defender
16Sam Reid Midfielder
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Espacio Monsul

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