Missed Chances Killer Miss Against Top Side
Team News: Oscar was back in the side after his long absence, taking his place in goal unselfishingly covering for the team and bringing a mate along (Mike) to help out the low numbers. A. Muppet, Big Bird, Rizzo and Doug all unavailable.
Previous Results: This being the fourth occasion the two sides have met, the last encounter a closely fought defeat and the previous season's match being a draw, something of which Two Left Feet have only failed to win once in their last 15 matches since, some going.
First Half
Both Sides started on the offensive as speculative shots including Beaker were wide of the mark.
Goal 1-0 // 5 Gonzo - Assist 17 Swedish Chef
The goalkick to Gonzo neatly cushioned down with his chest laying the ball off to Kermit, making a bad pass back Kermit is first to the loose ball passing down the wing and inside to Swedish Chef, a quick turn and passing through the defense Gonzo takes two shots to slot home his goal.
Mike had a crack at distance, looking to go two goals ahead the shot swept past the crossbar. Two Left Feet's defender waded forwarded flicking balls past Chef and Beaker evading their tackle before having his shot blocked for a corner. Poor touches of the ball proved costly as weak attempts top clear the ball from Oscar and Beaker was met with Mike winning the ball from a poor pass but failing to keep the ball away, his attempt at the tackle hits the opponent's hand but no foul is given. Cutting inside the long range shot is taken the ball bounces in front, dipping under Swedish Chef's foot deceiving him and his weak effort to block the shot, careering past Oscar.
A few fouls against CBFC went unnoticed when in possession of the ball, causing attacks to break down as well as foul kick in not taken behind the line, nothing ended up in a dangerous position which was some sort of relief. Swedish Chef spurned a glorious chance after doing the hard part of turning the ball around the oncoming defender, his shot was at the keeper with a massive target to aim at, poor. He followed this up with a blocked shot and moments later from Mike's tackle and Gonzo's quick forward pass, Chef cut inside the defender only to hit the shot past the near post. Kermit was enjoying some moments with the ball as could be seen when he flicked the ball around the defender for Chef without looking, the covering defender kept up with Chef to prevent the return pass.
From pressure, pressure, pressure came the typical goal conceded. Gonzo's chipped pass straight to the keeper gave him no choice but to throw it long down field, the Two Left Feet player volleyed it sweetly straight in past Oscar to arguably go in the lead undeserved. Gonzo puts through Chef but he runs out of room after nutmegging the defender as it rolls to the keeper.
It was a first night in a long time when passes were being made regularly, this showed in the confidence of the players, Mike fitted right in the side as he made quick incisive passes to his teammates, Gonzo being the beneficiary, having one shot blocked and chipping a ball into Kermit, whom almost turned the ball into the net. Two Left Feet had other ideas, and could count themselves unlucky after having their man free at the back post not hit the target when his chance came. Within thirty seconds Beaker had his chance at scoring, Mike and Kermit one twoing the ball around the opponent's penalty area keeping the defenders busy, allowing a free Beaker to try and test the keeper, of which he caught the ball a fraction off how he would of liked. Another thirty seconds and the ball was down in the corner area as the previous goalscorer evaded Kermit with ease yet tried a cheeky backheel towards goal when two of his teammates were in the box.
On the end of the half Gonzo caught his intended pass wrong when Chef made a run in behind the defense.
Second Half
Unfortunately the job of levelling the match got much harder before events could pan out. Gonzo's outside of the boot pass proving too awkward for Swedish Chef to control, as the defender mops up the ball and bypasses Beaker's tackle the danger man who already was proving up for the challenge controlling the ball through numerous tackles earlier was free behind the defense inside the area to shoot through Oscar's legs, doubling the lead.
A bit of end to end action with Mike cutting inside, lofting the ball over the crossbar, Two Left Feet took apart some sloppy defending forcing Oscar to make his first save of the match. Kermit went down the other end of the pitch winning a kick in starting up a quick move to Beaker, the ball sent out wide to Mike, the pinpoint cross couldn't have given Kermit an easier chance to score a header as he missed the target by a fraction, unable to wrap his head around the ball that tiny bit extra. As the play continues to ebb and flow a fierce shot from the halfway line is kept strongly out by Oscar before quickly rolling the ball out to his player as soon as possible.
The presence of Mike and a number of concise passing moves meant for a more enjoyable game for some of the CBFC players as they got far more involvement in the game, something that has been a necessity. Talking of rarities a first for Swedish Chef might well of happened as Beaker's corner is almost headed in the back of the net had it not been for the keeper's touch on the cross. Kermit holding the ball up under pressure picked out Swedish Chef's adjacent run to give him an unbelievable chance for a goal, yet he only manages to find the keeper for the second time, Beaker's follow up is blocked in the crowded area.
The shots were continuing to grow at an alarming rate as unbalanced tackles enabled another free shot at goal dealt with by Oscar.
Goal 2-3 // 14 Kermit - Assist 6 Oscar
After Gonzo's slipped reverse pass to Kermit finds its way back to Oscar, the hopeful lofted pass to Kermit gives him the chance to get in on goal to slip the ball in the net. His 99th Cillit Bang FC goal.
Two Left Feet were not going to drop any points in this match to tarnish their season record, and came back with some off target shots as Gonzo, Kermit and Beaker pushed higher up, leaving gaps in behind for them to exploit. It was a dangerous tactic as the match was there to fight for, some desperate defending from Chef after Mike was left with a 3 on 1. The problem was appearing through long goalkicks, as the short ones disappeared from a different team shape Oscar each time was staring down shots with power, it would of been a shame to of lost a goal playing like this after sticking in the match for so long. Kermit winning a goal saving tackle in his own box.
Had the shooting in this match from certain players on both sides been of a better class than straight at the keeper the scoreline could of been anything.
From counter attack to despair as the defender is allowed to stroll casually through the defense and take a shot, Mike makes a bizarre choice of hitting the ball from the Oscar save towards his own goal perhaps to clear it for the corner, ending the chance of any type of draw or win with a few minutes to go.
Penalty to Cillit Bang FC
Swedish Chef having had his ball in behind for Gonzo cut out players some short dangerous passes with Mike to get out of trouble, turning and slipping the ball past a player Kermit joins in passing out wide to Beaker. With Chef, Gonzo and Kermit making forward runs Chef receives the fast pass with a touch past the defender, as his shot is poked at goal saved and in the process standing on the keeper's leg which turns out nothing bad, the defender Chef went past crazily turns around sliding in to stop the shot earning CBFC a nervy penalty.
Penalty Miss - Cillit Bang FC
For his 100th goal Kermit steps up to take the penalty but is denied after the keeper guesses correctly.
Gonzo fires the ball into the box from a kick in, where Chef tries to turn it goalwards with his heel. Slopping defending almost gifts a goal to Two Left Feet, Oscar yet again in the right place. Back on the attack with all players Chef sends the ball out wide to Beaker, his curling pass inside finds its way to Kermit laying off Mike to test the keeper and so he did as the shot is kept out spectacularly underneath the crossbar. From that a long pass almost leaves the lone striker free on goal as the first touch rolls through to Oscar. Immediately setting off Mike he spots and dinks the ball through into Swedish Chef who is free in the centre of the box, his attempt at flicking the ball on is read by the half injured, penalty saving keeper.
Another loss in a close encounter which had the potential to be so different had chances been taken.
Full-Time Result: Cillit Bang FC 2-4 Two Left Feet
Goal 5 Gonzo // Assist 17 Swedish Chef