Old Alleynians II - League (H)

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After some seriously one-sided negotiations late on Friday following Kingston's decision that our pitch was unplayable, the Alleynians finally agreed to play us at Hampton High, all of seven miles away and 90 minutes later, I suspect they were a player or two short and weren't overly keen to. When we arrived to find their first team playing on the very same pitch that just reinforced that theory.

The oppo, sitting atop the league, were always going to be tough to break down, but they didn't look like a team that sat comfortably at the top of the pile. Some of our passing was much sharper and we started to create one or two chances, whilst always looking a little suspect in midfield at times.

However the LOBs were to strike first, a corner fired in at the near post wasn't cleared so Geroge smashed it in from a yard or two out, 1-0 after about 20 minutes. Unfortunately that lead was to last all of five minutes, the Alleynians equalising with a half decent move which we should have cleared. Still, we headed into the break all square and with no lack of confidence, just a few concerns over Jamie's fitness as he spent more time horizontal than vertical, nothing a few shuttle runs can't fix Jamie (inserts smiley face).

With the LOBs building up a head of steam, Josh had a good effort tipped over the bar and from the resulting corner Henry fired one in at the near post which they scrambled away for another corner. This time the far post and the Alleynian defender on the line could only head it into his own net, great delivery, 2-1.

Once again though, albeit with more than a hint of offside the oppo equalised within ten minutes, could we hold on for a well deserved point with about 15 to go?

Not content with the draw we continued to push for a winner, George had a glorious opportunity but headed just over, and Josh I think it was, was thwarted by a great save by their nutter of a goalkeeper. Then with the clock fast approaching added on time they struck a mortal blow, bundling the ball over the line, annoyingly once again we had a chance to clear it in midfield but took the wrong option, 2-3, peep, game over.

It susbsequently turned out that they had to rely on a few of their firsts to get them over the line, even though they'd already played 90 minutes. Close but no cigar as they say, but we did deserve a point after a cracking performance by all concerned, and if we play like that until the end of the season I'd say we were odds on to escape relegation #UTLOBs