Point-to-Point Blunted in the Cup

Knowles 2 - 1 Point-to-Point (2-0)

Line-Up: Tom B; Sam, Ryan, Dave, Mike Warren; Matt Weston-Super-Mare, Chris P, Nick M, Joe; Tom M, Nick B

MOM: Chris Phillips

Joe Millar, 18th September 2011, Worthing

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Another below par performance from the Preston Parkers on Sunday saw them exit a second cup competition in as many weeks. After a convincing 1-0 victory over the very same opposition in their first league game of the season, confidence was high coming into the contest. Player-Manager Matt Weston had a strong group to choose from and decided to change up the usual 4-5-1 formation, prefering a more orthodox 4-4-2 approach. After a superb warm-up from the unlucky to miss out on a starting spot Rich Clayton, the boys went out to do battle.

The dull grey clouds that loomed ominously over Northbrook Park at the beginning of the game unfortunately had a lasting effect on the style and standard of football on display. Neither side were able to control early posession and take advantage, which forced the contest into a bit of a scrap, with Point comfortably holding their own. As the first half went on, it was Point to Point who looked to be getting the better of things, with the midfield trying to get the starved pairing of Nick Blake and Tom Mac into the game, but just when the players seemed to be settling down and finding their passes they conceded a relatively soft headed goal from a hopeful cross. Within ten minutes the story was repeated, with another header finding its way past the otherwise comfortable Tom Bradford in goal. The away teams heads were visibly down going into the break.

The Half-Time oranges came in the form of four half empty yellow squeezy bottles of West Sussex finest tap water. But unlike the aformentioned water bottles, the attitude and philosophy of the boys was suprisingly more half full. It was clear that they were the better side, regardless of the current scoreline and so the decision was made to revert back to the more familiar 4-5-1 and start again.

What a difference fifteen minutes can make. The away team came out fired up and immediately put pressure on the relaxed Knowles players and forced them back into their own half. A good passage of play from the boys in Red, White and Blue ended with a subtle through ball from Man of the Match Chris Phillips into the path of the marauding Tom McCarron, who sadly bottled it infront of the onrushing Knowles goalkeeper (only joking, he just wasn’t fast enough or alert enough to get his shot in!).

The momentum had clearly shifted. Joe Millar, fresh from a mid-season break to Valencia, tried to force the issue with a blisterning shot from fully 30 yards (may have been less). The sun-kissed midfielder waltzed delicately into a shooting position before letting off a rifle blast which whipped over the floundering keeper only to crash off the Knowles crossbar. (Is this biased?!) Eventually Point were able to make a mark on the scoresheet when that same combination of Phillips and McCarron combined to score. Phillips with the cross, Tom with the bullet header. Thoroughly deserved.

The defensive performance was solid and comfortable throughout the second half, Ryan and Sam communicated well in the centre and dominated the Knowles attack. Point continued to apply pressure in the right areas, unfortunatley without any further success. Nick Blake played well before being replaced by Rich, who along with Paddy tried to inject some fresh ideas into the team after coming on. The continued pressure could have seen the away team score three or four in the second half, but in the end it just wasn’t meant to be.

Lessons can certainly be learnt from the first half display, but take heart faithful readers, the perfomance was eventually a solid one. Now the team can concentrate on the more important matter of the league competition.