Germans 0 (0) Club Albion 2 (0)

It is usually quite a fiery game against either of the Club teams, and with the German�s much improved over the past few weeks, but still winless, and Club Albion not having a good start in the league, this must have regarded as a possibility to get off the duck egg that we were sitting on.

Right from the start, and for the first 20 minutes, the German�s really dominated this match with some great possession in midfield, and the defence controlling and distributing well.

Stuart Jackets, finally getting the chance to play at his more natural Right Back position was particularly good, as was Andy Davison on the opposite side of defence and Nick Park playing in his preferred Central Midfield, due to Andy Dixon being out injured.

The German�s cause, however, was not helped when Andy Jeffreys, playing Right Midfield had to go off early with a hamstring problem. Willian Reiss De Sausa came on in his place, which is no bad thing as he proceeded to have a shot from the edge of the box which had almost everyone crying Goal only to see it scrape past the top left hand corner.

As usual for all the domination, this was really our only threat on their goal and as the half progressed Albion started to get back into the game and the difference between the sides became more apparent.

It�s not that Albion have better players, or are a better team even. But they are direct and head straight for goal. Nick Willows comment after the game that this is the Yau Yee league and most goals come from running straight down the middle, or screw-ups, has some basis.

So in the last 15 minutes Albion had several shots, not all good, and were definitely in control of the match. The defence coped very well as this �route 1� approach saw plenty of work for Alan and Mark in Central Defence, while Stephen made a good save in the last minute of the half, turning a goal bound header around his left hand post.

The second half began with the German�s getting back to grips with the opposition and a couple of chances were created. Simon could possibly have done better when clean through he ballooned it over the bar, while Haneef was not having any luck in getting in his shots on target.

With ten minutes gone on one of the ever more frequent Albion breakaways, a striker cut inside the defence at the edge of the box, curled it towards the left hand post requiring Stephen to turn it over the crossbar.

And a few minutes later the keeper managed to turn the ball out for a corner in a one on one situation with an Albion striker.

As the game moved into the final stages Wayne Bradshaw came on as a sub to be promptly clattered by an Albion player. Obviously displeased Wayne carried on, but the result of that tackle has caused Wayne some serious pain and it is hoped he makes a quick recovery.

As in the first half Albion came good in the last 15 minutes, but this time it was because of a total disintegration of the German�s shape across the park. And in the last minute a long ball saw an Albion player through on goal, with Alan, Chris and the out-rushing Stephen all trying to get there to intercept.

And it was hear that Stephen ruined all his previous good work by being slow off his line, and once reaching the ball only managing to knock Alan out of the way. The ball fell kindly to the feet of the Albion striker, and with an empty net had an easy task of winning the game.

With the heads down everyone got in the box for a final German free-kick which the Albion keeper smothered as several German players tried to get there first. The resultant Albion possession saw them run up the field unchecked, and with no one trying to intercept, the resultant shot deflected of a players backside and into the left hand corner of the net.

As the Albion players celebrated the referee blew the final whistle.

What do I write that�s not been said before?

Who is going to score the goals?

Is it possible to hold our shape for the 70 minutes, instead of disintegrating so badly as it did in the last 15?

There were points to be had in this game, and they were thrown away. The German�s have now been beaten in their last six games, with the last win coming at the end of last season.

Germans	0 (0)	Club Albion	2 (0)