FCB Regional Complete a Miserable Sunday for the Brits
12/02/2012 – La Elipa
Deportivo LFC 6-1 FCB Regional
More disappointment for the Regional team and another story of what might have been. Once again, FCB will feel aggrieved by refereeing decisions that turned out to have a huge impact on the game, however, Deportivo will not care about the manner in which they retained, comfortably in the end, all 3 points.
Match report by Michael Langan
“FCB Regional made the short trip across La Elipa to face a well placed Deportivo LFC side on a bitter morning. In an unusually early kick off, FCB were hindered immediately with three call off’s which reduced numbers to a mere 12. Matters deteriorated further when Fernando pulled up during the warm up, and FCB had only 11 for what was already an unenviable prospect. As such, FCB lined up Hutch, Yoichi, Will, Seba, Danny, Dave Pugh, Michael, Lee, Pat, Bobby Wang with Madris playing the lone striking role.
FCB began the game in earnest, passing the ball nicely amongst themselves, and engineering some openings. Five minutes into the match, and controversy struck, when LFC should have been reduced to ten men after a deliberate handball from their goalkeeper to thwart the onrushing pat and Madris. The referee, however, opted to show only a yellow card. FCB’s woes were compounded moments later, when they were undone by a counter attack to concede an ill deserved opening goal. FCB regrouped however, and continued to press. FCB would have levelled, had the referee not inexplicably brought play back to issue Pat with a yellow car for dissent with Madris one on one on goal. Again, this moment of ill fortune was closely followed by a second LFC goal, and FCB were left with that familiar sinking feeling which has permeated recently throughout the entire club. With Lee’s calf beginning to make life difficult for him, and Yoichi also in visible pain, FCB were truly up against it by this stage. As half time drew close, poor defending from a set piece resulted in a third LFC goal.
Rallied by Phil Mugford and Son’s (it was not his fault, but Nick Boyle’s), FCB attempted to retain a semblance of pride from their second half performance. Although 3 nil down, 95 percent of FCB’s first half play had been commendable, it was simply a case of slack play consistently being punished. As in the first, FCB continued to do the right things, winning the midfield battle, with the Madris acquitting himself excellently in the thankless lone striking role. However, an aberrational two minute spell saw FCB concede two further goals, and effectively the contest was ended. With 20 minutes to go, and nothing from the bench, legs were severely beginning to tire, and LFC added a sixth goal as FCB threatened to disintegrate in the face of fatigue and general injury. However, with 5 minutes remaining, FCB’s quality and perseverance was rewarded. Michael started and finished a flowing movement (which included contributions from four of the five midfielders, Madris and Seba) by firing home from just outside the penalty area after a fine lay off from Madris. In truth, FCB finished the stronger, and Dave Pugh twice went close to capping off a fine performance with a deserved goal. In the end, though, full time arrived with the five goal deficit in tact. FCB, again, were left to rue poor decision making, slack play, and a general lack of luck. The game could, and should have been different, had the rules been applied correctly in the opening stages of the game. That said, there can be little complaints as, good as our overall play was, we came up against a better side on the day. The club remains in something of a slump currently and, as Phil noted, only hard work and collectivity can alleviate the current malaise. With that said, as many down to training as possible, and it would be nice to occasionally see some of the Bunwer lads coming down to show support, if possible, on Sundays.”
Match report by Michael Langan
