Thinkers taught a footballing lesson

Visa 6 PFFC 0

Damian, 10 November 2008

 

With confidence high after 2 successive wins and good performances, PFFC took to the pitch for their first match at what is traditionally their favourite venue - Paddington Rec in Maida Vale. However, soon after kick off, the team realised how difficult the task was going to be if they were to keep the winning run going.

Starting with Matt in goal; Owen, Ronjon, Vipul and Andy at the back; Damian, Conrad, Lukasz and Tom in midfield; and Kieran and Phil starting up front, PFFC started with 10 of the team who'd won the previous match. unfortunately, after a few drop outs on the day, an under the weather Ally warmed the bench.

Immediately on the back foot, PFFC were struggling to get to grips initially with some of Visa's passing and movement - their midfield making forward runs frequently to support their front 2 who were holding up the ball well and latching onto through balls with their pace. However, once in the final third or the PFFC area, their attacks were being broken up by the defence and the hard working Tom and Lukasz.

Soon after, the game was becoming more of a contest - Conrad was winning balls in the centre of midfield, and along with Damian was releasing the wide midfielders to attack the Visa defence. Kieran and Phil were battling hard to win headers and hold up the ball and for a while, the match was fairly even.

However, with about 10 minutes to go to half time, Visa took the lead. Their 2 strikers had been causing problems from the start, and when one of them latched onto a through ball from the midfield, he neatly put it into the back of the net. A second goal was not far behind and PFFC went into the half time break with much to think about if they were going to get back into the match.

Sadly, the second half proved even more difficult. With Conrad being replaced by Ally, PFFC pushed up the pitch to try and get back into the match. A few half chances were created from corners and Phil pulled a shot just wide from a free kick near the Visa 18 yard area.

But then Visa started to show their class and fitness. Their passing becoming more confident and their work rate upped from the first half. Matt was called into action on numerous occasions, and with no more subs to use, the PFFC legs were tiring. A steady stream of 4 goals followed until the end of the match, 3 of which were scored by the very good Visa strike partnership. Sadly, the game then descended towards a bad tempered finale.

The Visa team unnecessarily gloating out loud, leading to some late PFFC challenges meant that there were quite a few stoppages. The spirit and desire of the previous matches was disappearing as heads dropped. To top it all off, the changing rooms were closed after the match leaving us to change outside.

A poor and dismal night all round in which defeat against such a good team was not something to be ashamed of, but a night which showed the amount of improvement needed to challenge the best teams in the league, and a result which sums up what can happen when heads begin to drop.