Match Review: Aioli Monkeys FC vs 1TM Latini FC

• GK Fraser Tyler
• DF Alex Stathopoulos
• DF Philip Scharff
• ST Mark Addy
• ST Peter Besselink
• -- Romen Herrera
• -- Martin Eusebi
• -- Ruben Angel Rodriguez
• -- Darren Naughton
• -- Silvan Lehner
• -- Boujema Jelikh Kamel

• --
• -- Oliver Johnson
• -- Thibault Torregrosa
• -- Brian Twomey

Poor Show from Aioli PM

A good squad available and lovely cool friday night temperatures in turf city. What could go wrong? Latini started similar to the last encounter with a strong pressing game giving us no time to get the passing game going. A midfield battle ensued with Latinis lone striker working hard to keep our defence on its toes. A well placed free kick put latini ahead midway through the first half and in truth we created little to peg them back before half time. One break away addy goal of the season attempt the closest we came in the first half. Second half we started a little better moving the ball a little faster to the wings. Latin still looked dangerous on the break and eventually made it 2-0 after their player stole into the box and finished well. We had a few chances in the last 10 but really didn't ever really look like getting a result against a resilient latini defence and GK. A couple a unusual refereeing decisions had both teams screaming at the officials but they didn't affect the outcome and the best team on the night won. Onwards to rangers next week and our chance to get our season back on track. Fair play to latini, deserved victory, looking forward to the return leg. MOM that CB, hope i got the name correct.

• Pete O'Brien GK
• Andrew Mollitt DF
• Jonathan Baker DF
• Lee Bradshaw DF
• Jamie Townsend MD
• Luke Townsend ST
• Ben Morley --
• Jonathan Talbot --
• John O'Neill --
• Mark Raven --
• Mathieu Harding --

• Jon Kelly --
• Ganesh Vandesan --
• Graham Bignell --
• Darren Wareing --

That's more like it

Friday night saw Latini and Aioli PM lock horns for the second time this season following Aioli’s dramatic Cup Victory a few weeks ago. Latini were determined to make amends and Coach Price set his team up to start fast with Harding and Duplo setting the tone with some excellent closing down of the Aioli back-line with the rest of the team following suit. Duplo had the game’s first real opening when he found himself bearing down on goal and the Aioli keeper racing out. As is now customary, he lobbed the ball harmlessly over bar as the first chance came and went. Latini were soon in front however, when Lego expertly converted a free-kick, bending the ball around the wall and into the bottom corner. It was a lead Latini deserved and despite one or two breakaways from Ailoi, POB in goal was largely un-troubled. Aioli started the second half well, looking to control possession a little more than the first, but Latini struck what was a decisive blow when Lego latched onto a poor clearance and played in Baker behind the left back. The centre back who has found himself deployed in a more advanced right wing role in recent weeks finished well with his left foot to give Latini some breathing space. The remainder of the game saw Aioli dominate possession, but with Latini keeping them at arm’s length as the clock ticked down. There were a couple of good old fashioned goal mouth scrambles at either end, with Aioli first to feel aggrieved as the ball bounced around the Latini goal without ever falling kindly for the attackers. Latini then missed 3 glorious chances in as many seconds to wrap the game up. Harding saw a close range header saved at point blank ranged, before JK and Harding again somehow managed not to put the ball home when well placed inside the 6 yard box! Ultimately it mattered little, as the Latini took all 3 points with a well deserved controlled performance, topped up with a clean sheet. It’s always a tough game against Aioli who have dangerous players all over the pitch and play some great football at times, but we managed to restrict them to very little on the day whilst maintaining a threat at the other end. The MOTM vote at the end of the game showed just how well we played as a squad, with half the team receiving a nomination. Zoolander, Lego and JT can all feel aggrieved not to have got the nod after excelling, but Harding just pipped them after a tireless display to go with some real moments of quality. Mark Addy was a constant threat for Aioli. Big thanks to Bazza for coming down to support Next week is our last game of the year and will sure to be another tough one against Hotspurs. Kit: - Pet Shop