Blues beaten at home by Stotfold
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
11:03 AM
BSCFC Blues 3 Stotfold Juniors 5 Under-14s Division Two THE Blues return to league football proved to be a losing one as Stotfold stole all three points and took away an unbeaten home run dating back nearly three years. Maybe it was unfortunate that the
BSCFC Blues 3 Stotfold Juniors 5
Under-14s Division Two
THE Blues' return to league football proved to be a losing one as Stotfold stole all three points and took away an unbeaten home run dating back nearly three years.
Maybe it was unfortunate that the Blues' first game back was on a pitch which required high levels of fitness to cope with the muddy and somewhat sticky surface.
Maybe Stotfold had a slight advantage from having played more recently than December 13, and it definitely did not help that injuries forced two Blues players to come off having played only 15 minutes each.
In spite of the defeat the Blues can be pleased that they competed really strongly for the whole game and whilst it is fair to say that they did not get the rub of the green with a few decisions going against them it should be noted that Stotfold played very well.
In a closely fought first quarter chances were few and far between.
Blues' new central defensive pairing of Jordan Powles and Albie McCabe stood up really well to the Stotfold attack and the only real event of note was the unfortunate withdrawal of Clarry Williams through injury.
After 22 minutes Jordan Sanderson picked up the ball on the half way line and turning swiftly he picked up his pace and surged past two Stotfold defenders on the right before cutting inside and finishing clinically to put Blues 1-0 up.
Unfortunately, Scott Almond was forced off with another injury and this forced Blues to reorganise with the ever willing Sam Gale drop to left-back.
Nonetheless Blues were pressing hard and forced a corner but a swift counterattack from Stotfold resulted in a penalty which 'keeper Tommy Baiss could only parry into the corner of his goal.
Five minutes later it was 2-1 to Stotfold when another penalty was converted after an unfortunate ricochet off a Blues defender.
The second half began with Greg Harrison forced off with a bad back, although at least this allowed Scott Almond back on to resume his left-back position.
Straight from receiving the ball from the kick-off Harry Synowski weaved past two Stotfold players, made space for himself and threaded a precise pass through the gap between Stotfold's central defenders which Jordan Sanderson finished with aplomb.
In spite of their determination Blues could not seem to maintain parity and conceded two more goals within 12 minutes of the start of the second half.
The Blues were clearly tiring but to their credit they refused to give up and continued to press for a goal to bring them back into the game.
During this period Scott Almond, Albie McCabe, Billy Cox, Jordan Powles and Jordan Sanderson really gave it their all.
With 15 minutes left, a magnificent tackle from McCabe saw the ball fall to Sanderson who outpaced the Stotfold defence and gave the 'keeper no chance with a powerful shot into the net.
But no sooner had Blues reduced the deficit than they conceded from a poorly defended corner as Stotfold restored their two-goal lead.
Sanderson, Mark Redcliffe, Connor Gypps and Matt Wheeler all started to probe the Stotfold defence and Synowski went very close from a free kick just outside the D, narrowly hitting it over the bar.
Five minutes from the end, Sanderson teed up the ball for Cox from a free kick but the Stotfold 'keeper made a magnificent save to see out the game.
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