Germans 0 (0) Antonhill 2 (1)

So after all the waiting the German�s played their first match as a Division 1 team for 1 � years, and against the team that apparently never cared too much about losing to University in the last game of the 1996/97 season. A result which at the time contributed to the German�s going down to Division 2.

The game started well for the German�s with lots of pressure on the Antonhill goal resulting from sustained amounts of possession. This was obviously in stark contrast to the previous friendly games.

With Andy Dixon and Moses running centre midfield, and looking more up to pace than the previous week, good running from Simon and having the luxury of two strikers, in Wayne and Will, to aim for, the German�s actually looked quite menacing.

Then again in this 25 minute spell the German�s really didn�t test the keeper once, as while we had Wayne and Will to aim for they were not getting the service they required. Simon was also starting to get some rough treatment on the right wing which eventually, and correctly, led to a yellow card for the opposition.

Antonhill played as expected, constantly holding back and breaking forward as a group only when required. Throughout the game they hit long ball�s from their defence trying to split the German defence with their speed.

However, with Alan and Mark in central defence virtually nothing was getting through. Not much gets by Mark in the air, and what does allows Alan, as usual, to mop up every loose ball as well as making his customary last ditch tackles. The right and left back pairing of Bill and Andy Davison were also doing a good job of canceling out Antonhill�s wing play. And anything that got through that lot was being gratefully collected by Stephen in goal.

This resulted in Antonhill relying on cross balls to carry out their attacks, which should have been simple enough to cancel out considering the German height advantage. However, as the half came to a close a cross ball from the left saw the smallest player on the park out-jump Andy Davison, had the ball hit off his head with no attempt at direction, and as Stephen struggled across his line, hit the top right hand corner of the German net.

A terrible goal to lose, Antonhill had scored with what was basically their first proper attack. And how often have we had that happen?

The German�s disintegrated. Moaning and shouting amongst ourselves, and to the referee, saw all the German�s good play disappear as we wound ourselves up to ridiculous levels.

Half-time, when it came was a chance for everyone to calm down.

The second half saw the German�s come out as a more positive and encouraging group. Antonhill were still relying on the long balls and having as much luck as before. As legs grew heavy in the mid-day temperatures some of the balls were starting to get through to their forwards. However, the moment when Stephen, colliding with an Antonhill player, won the ball and at the same time sent the forward about 10 feet to the left, soon dissuaded any desire to go one on one.

This point was made crystal clear when substitute Steve Baldock made a brilliant last ditch tackle in the six yard box to stop an Antonhill forward from a certain goal.

The German�s were playing some good, but scrappy, football while service to the front men was disgracefully in short supply.

The second goal when it came was a real kick in the teeth for the German�s as another cross ball, this time from the right wing, fell to an Antonhill player just left of the penalty spot. With plenty of time he scored easily against the helpless keeper.

A small consolation was that the German�s kept going, learning the self-control lesson from the first half, and kept trying to get back in the game. Which they nearly did when a perfect cross-ball from Bill on the right fell to the on-rushing Andy Dixon. From ten yards and with an easy header he should have scored, but instead sent it a good distance over the crossbar.

And that was the last chance as the final whistle went and the German�s went down in the opening game of the season.

This game was not all bad, and a much improved performance than the fiasco against KCC. More possession from the team, and after faltering in the first half learning to keep our mouths shut. How many times have our opposition had more yellow cards than ourselves? The defence looked solid, and it is a pity that Bill may not be able to play for the German�s in the foreseeable future.

On the negative side, our front-men had no support again, with the only decent chance falling to a mid-fielder. The German�s have a few good attackers this year to choose from, and providing proper service to them is our most important area to work on.

Germans	0 (0)	Antonhill	2 (1)