Lowestoft & District League Division 1- 28/03/09Pot Black F.C- 3
Blundeston Magpies- 1
Match Overview- The pitch at Normanston Park looked surprisingly good prior to kick-off despite a small amount of surface water. Scott Reynolds and Captain Darren Boyd returned to the P.B back line in place of Darren Laws and Gary Boyd missing due to work commitments. Their challenge on this occasion was a more dangerous looking Magpies side than on their previous two meetings in league and cup.
The strong winds and miserable conditions were always going to play a massive part in the outcome of this match, but there were also other factors to be considered as Adam Bird latched onto a through ball passing a defender on the way, slotting home with power only to see Magpies manager Ronnie Socrates holding his flag aloft. Enough Said.
With temperatures raised on and off the field, some graft down the magpies left lead to an opening with which the winger placed the ball into the corner of a furious Kevin Sherwood's net. With their 1-0 lead in the bag, the visitors manager called for change to a 5-4-1 formation and requested that his side run the clock down, a brave move with 60 minutes still left to play.
After the interval Max Wall came on for a limping Scott Reynolds and Richi Reeder making his first appearance of the season came on for Jordan Wardrope. With the home side immediately benefiting from the wind behind them as the pressure backed the magpies into their own half.
A Pot Black corner got the ball under way as a scrambled clearance bounced around the box, which eventually fell to Paul Taylor who's clever chipped ball saw Darren Boyd loop his header over keeper and defender into the top corner.
L'Orange took the lead shortly after when another corner from Max Wall which looked straight off the training ground, as Danny Rose's dynamic front post run was rounded of with beautifully right foot flick, which to Mr. Socrates credit was deemed to of clearly crossed the line.
Seriously deflated by that goal, P.B took control of the match as break after break looked like it would bring another goal with Hunt, Reeder, and Terry going close but it was the latter who finally 'rung the Magpies neck' as he broke from the right before slotting home with a powerful left foot finish.
Neil Banks entered the proceeding with 20 minutes left on the clock, and looked comfortable and steady at right back, but delighted his team mates when in the process of clearing a dangerous cross managed to combine a ice skating jump and high board diving move into one and rounded it off by head butting the post, too which his teammate convinced him his nose was a hell of a mess, despite the fact it always looks like that.
Following 3 matches in 7 days the L'Orange management are delighted with 9 points in the bag but also know that arguably we have under performed in two of the matches, which from a positive point of view gives us something to improve on. The key to our development after today's match is patience as after only 30 minutes we were beginning to lose our cool, our shape and our focus (and I'm as guilty as anyone) so remember as Rocky said "It's not over til it's over!"
Goals- Darren Boyd, Danny Rose & Vinny TerryG.H.Windows & Doors M.O.M- Danny Rose, two very solid performances in 5 days and a delightful goal to put the cherry on top.
