Academy - 2 Old Loughtonians (6) – 3

Good game this. Disappointed to fall short and not get a point but in the bigger picture this was a good match for the Academy and a very worthwhile way to spend Saturday afternoon.

Following a weird old selection week the Academy team ended up with a few seasonal debuts and some regulars sent to continue their Brentwood education in other teams.

We knew we would be in for a tough task. In past seasons it was always Thomas Anderson who would supply the facts and figures about the opposition and rather unhelpful declare when we would be playing bottom of the table sides that usually meant after 70 minutes play said team were no longer bottom of the table but this side has quite a few ‘table watchers’ with the Pitchero app installed on smart phones (seriously if you haven’t you should). Most were aware that the game saw us play an unbeaten side that had conceded only 4 goals. On the plus side we are divisions highest scorers with 38 (now 40 – nailed the maths there and it only took me a few minutes).

So a tough game. Slight change in formation to reinforce the defence/midfield. My message at the start was that we needed good communication; everyone had a voice and needed to use it. As always someone was able to edit down my verbal diarrhoea and this week Harry Lewis stepped up to the plate surmising my rambling effort with a neat –“see it, say it sort it,” summary. Very good – I might offer the editors job on match reports, god alone knows they need it. But off we went. The game took shape with Loughts very much on the front foot. I suspect that their goals against record says more about their style of play and keeping the ball in the oppositions half then it does about their defenders – as fine as they are/were. Very front foot play and giving us the athletic challenge we haven’t had a great deal of so far in the season. I very much enjoyed that challenge. We held firm. Perhaps we made life difficult for ourselves at times. Not quick enough to restart play before Loughts could get set but generally we were coping. Dan Todd in goal had to be constantly vigilant without necessarily being tested.

We had our moments. Harry Lewis always looking dangerous and an out ball found on numerous occasions by Ian Forbes. The front players working hard as they were asked to do. We weren’t going to get anything out of this game without putting in the hard yards. I can’t say that Loughts didn’t deserve to take the lead based on possession and territory it nevertheless, in a weird way, still came out of nowhere (from my perspective). It could and in other teams I’ve played for and against would have opened the floodgates but this team has character and is made of sterner stuff. We came back and had our own period of domination. A short corner came and went and a few other half chances to create a chance were passed up but then Lucas Sanchez popped up. Two players last week scored their first adult goals and Lucas added to that list this week with a smartly taken effort that is making the captain think again about his position on the pitch. The Academy nearly made it 2, Stephen Brown hitting the post with a neat first time shot late in the first half.

Half time. Keep working. If we are to get anything from this it will need to be a 70 minute effort. Try and keep mistakes to a minimum and do the right thing.

The second half started off following the same pattern as the first although we were no missing Ian Forbes in midfield which resulted in slightly more pressure and much more on the edge of our D. Loughts had two goals disallowed. One following a melee in the D after a ball was lifted in, and a second after the ball failed to leave the D on a short corner. I felt their pain. However it wasn’t the greatest surprise when they got one that did count. However we responded well again. Fraser Forbes using his vision and awareness to find pockets of space became the go to out ball enabling us to get up the pitch. We eventually won a short corner. Up stepped the captain and a decent hit into the corner saw us back on level terms. The tail end of the game felt more even and I was really pleased with how we kept our shape. The match didn’t break down as so many tend to do in last period. I was gutted when in the last minute or so Loughts manage to scramble home what proved to be a winner.

The final whistle and we took comfort in what was the most exuberant celebration I have seen after an 8SE game. It was quite something to be honest. I’ve no issue with it personally. If we’d have nicked winner I’d probably still be running naked around the pitch thrilling my top around my head shouting ‘get in,’ as opposed to typing this match report and eating a bacon and egg sandwich. Still if they had that release we must have pushed them really hard. In hindsight probably just as well we lost.

I thought everyone who played could be rightly proud of their efforts. Toby Minor would have learned a lot. Saw a lot of the ball and was pressed but coped and will be stronger for it. Harry Blundell was strong and composed on the ball. Defended well. Louis Howard and Fish coming in as adults added positivity to the dynamic of the team.

I do wonder whether injuries ultimately cost us a point. Ian Forbes left the game with a hamstring and then split time with knee injury victim Paul Colman. Harry Lewis’ day ended early (also knee) whilst my mobility became drastically restricted late on with a back problem. On the Loughts side I did note their captain hobble off with what looked like a hamstring problem. All in all an intense match. Our ultras told me it was a good game to watch. We’re always thinking of our fans.

Dan Todd took on board the pre match instructions and it was great to hear him calling behind me. For me our man of the match was Lucas. Got his goal and nearly had another. Played with determination and skill. Probably wanting to stake a case for a role higher up the pitch and away from the defensive area that he has so far played this season.

Team: Dan Todd, Toby Minor, Paul Colman, Harry Blundell, Gary MacDonnell, Fraser Forbes, Chris Minor, Ian Forbes, Louis Howard, Stephen Brown, Harry Lewis, Lucas Sanchez and Paul Hewitt.