22/01/2012 - CD Estremera 3-0 FCB Regional
The Regional team suffered a disappointing 3-0 defeat away from home this afternoon to CD Estremera. The Brits thought they had gone ahead at 0-0, only for their early strike to be chopped off, however, they only had themselves to blame for their subsequent demise. Despite dominating possession of the ball, FCB found themselves unable to break down the home defence and create chances. At the other end, however, the FCB rear-guard was found wanting, leaving the management team with plenty of food for thought for the training week ahead.
Match report by Mikey Langan
“Looking to arrest a poor club run as of recent, FCB made the ridiculous journey 70 km south with nothing but Lee Armstrong’s awful taste in music for company to face CD Estremera. Placed only one position above the regional side, this appeared a good opportunity for the regional side to bounce back from last week, and string together their second away victory in succession. Welcoming three debutants to the side, Neil managed to find places for Reece and new lad Paul, but was unable to accomodate double agent Nick Boyle in his starting 11. FCB lined up Hutch, Seba, Fernando, Will, Reece. A midfield five of (from l-r) Pughy, Stevie Mac, Lee, Michael and Yoichi. New lad Paul was given the unenviable task of leading the line alone. FCB started promisingly, and moved the ball well, if a little conservatively among the back four and middle five. Paul, up front, displayed an undoubted ability to receive the ball under pressure, although was a little rushed in his distribution earlier on, but this improved vastly as the game proceeded. Within ten minutes, FCB had the ball in the back of the net after Will turned home a driven cross, but was harshly adjudged to have been in an offside position. From here, FCB day deteriorated, and within ten minutes, they were dealt a triple blow. Firstly, defensive colossus Fernando was forced off with a quad strain, to be replaced with Nick Boyle. And FCB went from 11 v 11 to what felt like 14 v 10 in a hearbeat. Matters were compounded when, after slack play from the rogue agent, the opposition broke quickly, and, after a mix up in the FCB defence, Hutch was rounded and FCB were undeservingly a goal down. From this, FCB dropped the tempo a little, and were penned in for the next fifteen minutes, before again regaining composure, and possibly being unlucky to remain trailing at the interval.
The second half, however, was calamitous. After a decent spell of play, FCB found themselves another goal down after some collective slack play, and saw Fernando removed from the technical area for his protests at some increasingly erratic refereeing errors. Fifteen minutes or so into the second half, a melee broke out after a typically fierce Stevie Mac tackle, and Estremera were lucky to retain their full complement of players. While FCB were knocking the ball around nicely, a cutting edge and a sense of urgency in their play was lacking, perhaps assisted by an opposition content to allow us possession in non threatening areas of the park. From a corner, Yoichi was harshly adjudged to have fouled, and Hutch was again called upon to bail FCB out of trouble. Although he managed a hand to the well struck penalty, Hutch could not repeat last weeks heroics, and FCB were three down, and the game as a contest was over.
That said, the controversy continued, with Bobby Wang offering a 7.9 dive in the box in an attempt to reverse fortunes. Hopefully this is something which will be in the New Year’s resolutions list for the midfield dynamo. In an astonishing sequence of events, never before witnessed, full back Seba managed in incur a red card (two bookings), despite having picked up neither booking while on the field of play Special mention, however, goes to Neil Moran, for his vicious and uncensored assault on a referee whose only crime was to officiate the game appropriately. Usually ice cool and the epitome of discipline, the usually placid Yorkshire man was more Joey Barton than Alan Pardew on this occasion, and was rightfully banished to the stand. With Lee Armstrong left alone in the dugout, abandoned by his ill disciplined, colleagues, FCB’s attempted comeback ultimately amounted to nothing, and they were consigned to a second consecutive defeat. From here they, along with the Sala and Bunwer teams, are in desperate need of some points on the board this weekend. Three points and no ******* excuses.
Motm goes to Neil Moran (actually to the excellent Reece Carling)
Special mention to Nick Boyle, who finally looks to have rediscovered his confidence, although could do with misplacing his ability to throw away goals.“
An intense and frantic game for the Sala boys saw them leave the field with a deserved 6-5 result. Not everyone was particularly composed in the final third, but luckily new Mango model Jed Bernstein, replacing the repugnant Piqué, had his scoring boots on and put away 4 nice goals, with Julien and Fred adding one each. After initially going up 3-1 FCB Sala arrived at half time 3-3. There were some touch-and-go moments in the second period when the lead slip away, but some great defending from Jack and Julien helped secure the win. Smarter, calmer play needed with the ball next week to keep the team going forward but 3 fantastic points gained on an otherwise dreary weekend for FCB.
Stylish FCB Regional went down hard on Sunday in a wonderful game at the Cage. This was a game that had the barrio out in force as two top football sides showed off their talents by the barrica. 2-2 at half time with some sumptuous football already played saw Britanico come out confident of taking all 3 points, however, it was not to be after an early penalty and two late goals meant a harsh scoreline to a very even game.
