23.03.10 - EVEN HONOURS AGAINST LOCAL RIVALS CHELMSFORD:
Last weekend the Ladies 1s hosted local league rivals, Chelmsford. Following their last encounter they were hoping to take advantage of their home pitch and home support. Unlike previous matches between the two sides, the game started at a pretty low intensity with neither side looking dominant. Although both sides had chances to take the lead the game remained even until shortly before half time, when Chelmsford took advantage of a penalty corner. After half time, the Ladies picked up the intensity and looked at times by far the better side. There was some fantastic defensive play by the back four and despite dominating throughout the midfield and attacking lines the girls couldn't find the back of the net. They fought hard to equalise and were unfortunate not to take a point from the game when late in the second half they had a goal disallowed for 'third party'. Despite continuing to dominate for the remainder of the half the girls came away from the game without a point. Having lost to Chelmsford both away and at home this season this weekend's result was hard to swallow. Hopefully the girls will pick themselves up for the final game of the season this weekend when they take on top of the league Ipswich, at home at 2 pm on Saturday.
On Sunday the Men 1sts faced local rivals Chelmsford at Luxborough Lane. Despite being a second place versus bottom of the league game both teams had much to play for. A win for Chelmsford would give them an outside chance of avoiding automatic relegation and a win by more than 4 goals for Loughts would give them superior goal difference over Canterbury meaning that only a win for Canterbury against in form Holcombe next week would secure them top spot in the league. Chelmsford’s hopes of avoiding relegation took a big blow when Alex Jennings scored inside the first minute after some great work from Darren Cheesman. For the next fifteen minutes Old Loughtonians gave Chelmsford no respite creating countless chances to double their lead. However Chelmsford rode the storm and some good forward play from Luke and Josh Mepham placed some pressure on the Old Loughtonians defense that held strong. After all of the clear cut chances that they had created early in the game it was a stroke of good fortune that doubled their lead when on 32 minutes Chris Seward spooned the ball over the advancing Chelmsford goalkeeper. The goalies misery was compounded one minute later when he played the ball directly into the path of Stuart Hardy who scored Old Loughts third from less than a yard out. On 35 minutes some vintage brilliance from Julian Halls won the home side a penalty stroke. With usual penalty taker Alex Jennings off the pitch Oliver Didham stepped up and fired the ball high over the bar. This left Old Loughts with a three goal advantage at the break.
After the break the men came out all guns blazing in an effort to bolster their goal difference. Despite creating a number of chances it was not until 43 minutes that Darren Cheesman broke the second half deadlock to make the score 4-0. Five minutes later a good finish from James Stedman made it 5 before adding his second and Old Loughts sixth 2 minutes later. A late penalty corner gave Chelmsford a consolation goal but the Men finished happy with their days work adding three more points and plus five goal difference to keep up the pressure on Canterbury. Next week the Men travel to Oxted for the last game of the season where a win and a slip up from Canterbury will see them snatch the Premier League play off spot.
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