Match Report v Forbes

Date: 10th Aug

Match Report by Saeed

QPT vs Forbes

Final Score 2 – 0 (h/t 2 –0) LOST!!

Lineup : Zuber, Usama, Amin, Saeed, Adam, Fayaz, Chotia Subs : Nakhuda (fully fit), Ebrahim (Injured toe), Ishy W (fully fit), Hasan Lambat (fully fit), Yasin (fully fit)

We started the game off poorly with some sloppy football all around, it was like watching the paralympics. If you ask me it was the managing/team selection that was wrong with all due credit to the players on the pitch and the manager. We were lacking forward runs, creating space and the simple football we played so well at the beginning of the season. On the day it looked like the bench players could have influenced the performance on the pitch.

However, we should have adapted to the manager’s decisions as to the team selection and played with a better attitude. We paid for our lack of concentration as the ball came into the centre, a free man intercepted the ball, with enough time to have a cup of tea and biscuits….and a cigar, who then fired the shot at the keeper which was parried which left a simple tap in for the ‘unmarked’ player on the front post. We did not show our regular character as heads dropped after the first goal and this lead to the performance deteriorating. A second goal followed from a lack of concentration by Zuber dropping the cross which he had called for, again leaving a simple tap in for the ‘unmarked’ player. However, despite our abysmal performance, Fayaz had two clear cut chances that could have changed the game and out us on our way to a second half revival.

The second half kicked off with a better vibe with us wanting the game more, and creating a couple of more chances. We got into the game with Chotia smashing the post and there were also openings for other attackers in the team. As we couldn’t penetrate the defence and convert chances Ishy W then replaced Fayaz who instantly livened the game up with a couple of great forward runs opening the defence. However, we couldn’t find the cutting edge to put the ball in the back of the net. In the latter stages of the game, attacking football was needed and so Ebrahim replaced Saeed and Hasan L replaced Amin. Despite further chances we couldn’t score and it was rather too little too late to end a frustrating game.

Summary

This is the third consecutive defeat (which is not good enough by our standards) and in my opinion has destroyed any dreams of winning the title. We now have to fight for second place and put aside any political issues for team selection, starting the best team every game. Starting from myself we need to stop whinging and get on with the game, knowing that nothing is yet won anything can happen. Sorry if any individuals feel offended, this was not the intention, it was only to put across how I feel.