Wed Oct 22, 2014 (evening)
Blyth (9-2-1, 3rd BSBN) at Droylsden (5-3-4, 10th BSBN)
The streak is over, we're slight underdogs on the road. With tired players and a different lineup we'll start out 4-4-2 Diamond Counter.
GK: Dovey
D: Ivanusa, Williamson, Sawyer, Boateng
M: Ahmed, Musungu, Thompson, Paratore
F: Rickard, Desgages
Subs: (Donald, Smyth, Smith, Davies, McDonald)
4' - Musungu goes off for treatment after a rough challenge
6' - Long free kick, Vickers eludes Ivanusa and shoots from distance
(0-1)
11' - Another long shot by Droylsden, hits the woodwork
13' - Corner played to Vickers at the point, he shoots ... damn
(0-2)
18' - Ahmed corner to Williamson at the near post ... heads it over
21' - Vickers to Murray on the byline ... back to Vickers in the area from an angle
(0-3)
23' - Breeze blows past Boateng ...
(0-4) .. WTF? Switch to 4-4-2 Attacking since this obviously ain't working
32' - Ivanusa is knocked but stays on for now
37' - Desgages gets mugged on a short run, no call to be had
45' - Paratore feeds Musungu in the box ... denied ... Rickard slams home the rebound
(1-4)
Halftime: Unacceptable ... and that's an understatement. A shellshocked locker room. Only 3 players rated above 5.8, Williamson has IMPROVED to 5.0 (had been as low as 4.6) ... Sub Donald (for Musungu, hurt & ineffective), shift Ivanusa to ML
61'- Paratore with a try, saved. Juggled briefly, but held.
62' - Donald with a cross that actually ends up on net, bobbled but caught
68' - Boateng with a rough challenge (no foul called) that sends Breeze out for the day
71' - Ahmed feeds Desgages, he shoots weakly wide right
72' - Sub Smith (for Desgages, ineffective & tiring)
85' - Boateng is injured, has to leave ... Sub Davies ... shift Sawyer to DR, Ahmed to DC, Davies to MR
87' - Dovey barely manages to deflect a hard shot coming on a breakaway counter
89' - 3 minutes added
90'+2 - Williamson is denied on a corner
Full time:
Droylsden 4 - Blyth 1
Utter clusterfuck. Shots were actually even 8-8, we had more possession, better pass completion, we just couldn't stop anything from going in. Our entire back line was rated 5.8. Rickard snaps a drought of more than 420 minutes for the only real positive.
Oct 22, 2014 (postmatch)
Boateng's injury is a dead leg, out 3-4 days. Ivanusa suffered a gashed leg, he's out about two weeks. The press is merciful afterwards.