matchreport - 20-Sep-08 - brewerkz v. latini
Team Brewerkz
Author Richard Thomas
line up
Team:
JB, Dave Cooper (Ayu), Fulvio Manini, Ike Junior, Lawrence Loy (sub Alex Westacott), Chris Perreira (Jamie Swan), Richard Thomas, Ettienne van den Boegaert, Thomas Miranda, Matthieu Harding (Aaron Oliver), Micky Amu.
 
LATINI 2, BREWERKZ 2

Goals:  Oliver, Amu
Cards: None
Half-time:  1-0
Venue:  Singapore Sports School

Report: 
Brewerkz' pre-match preparation was of the worst sort with the theft from the side of the pitch of bags containing valuables for two of our players obviously taking attention away from the game. Police reports have been made, but other teams need to be warned that this was opportunist theft that took place when players were distracted in a pre-match get-together.
 
The match itself was one we could easily have lost, and just as easily have won. Latini were fired up for the game and won most 50:50 battles in the first half. They also had the lead when we gifted easy possession to Latini at just the time our centre back had gone off the pitch to change his boots. Calamatous defending and lack of communication leaving Olivier Magoud one-on-one with debutant goalkeeper JB. Before the match, we spoke of the need: 1. To keep possession. Tick. 2. Not to give Olive space. Tick. 3. To communicate. Tick. 4. Not to gift goals cheaply. Tick. 5. The importance of the first goal. Tick.
 
It might soon have been 2-0 had JB not made a terrific save diving to his right to keep out a shot from 30 yards.
 
All the good things we did against Hotspurs last week, we didn't do here. Latini simply had more desire for the game and (literally on one occasion) fought for every ball. The pre-match distractions and the 3pm start on a blistering hot day didn't help, nor did several players deciding on a need to change footwear during the half. Even so, we had most of the possession but simply did not play as we can going forward. In the half, we created only one decent chance when Richard Thomas' volley from Thomas Miranda's cross was saved by the goalkeeper. Defensively - the goal apart - we were rarely troubled by Latini's much-vaunted attack.
 
We improved after half-time. Our forwards went into the penalty area and we caused more problems. Aaron Oliver accepted the gift of a dreadful back-pass to score and we were level. It was then complacency again kicked in as we assumed we'd go on and win. Instead, Latini imposed themselves on the game, and JB made two important stops to keep the score level. He was helpless though when a defensive pass was intercepted, and a quick pass and good finish put us 1-2 down, and struggling.
 
Fortunately, we quickly equalised when our second debutant of the day - Ayala - and Micky Amu chased a through pass from Thomas. Amu was quickest and eased home his 6th goal of the season. From there we could - and should - have won it when Ike Junior's long pass released Oliver on goal. He elected to shoot instead of passing and the chance was missed. 
 
Defeat would have been cruel on Latini, but if we are to be a challenging team, we need to win games like this, and certainly need to stop gifting goals to the opposition. 
 

Brewerkz Man-of-the-match: Fulvio Manini

Fools Gold: watch out for sneak thieves. Two bags taken from a cluster of 10-15. Be warned. 

Training: Tuesday, 9.30 PM start, Turf City Premier Pitch

Next Fixture: Sat 27th Sept. vs Hollandse at Turf City, Pitch 2 @ 5pm

Thanks to: Latini for a physical game played in mostly good spirits; the match officials; The supporters who trekked up North on a blistering hot day.
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