Matchday Ten - 2-1 Loss VS Real Zarargos

Despite a early goal from Gareth Jenkins TTFE could not finish victorious over Real Zarargos.

Taken from Dale Thomas' blog:

"We took the lead through Gaji but went in halftime 2-1 after two goals slipped through Dave's hands but it was too wet to save half the time and couldn't be blamed. We condeded another in the second half and lost 3-1. (Dale and Chris have both initially recoginsed the game as a 3-1 loss, however the Gol records show only 2 goals were scored by Real Zarargos.)"

Goals: Jenkins 1.

Goal Tally: Jenkins 5, Payne 4, Thomas 3, Collins 2, Pugh 2, Phillips 1.

Matchday Nine - 9-1 Loss VS Leave My Arselona

A deserved victory for table leaders Leave My Arselona condemned TTFE to their second consectutive defeat.

In retrospect, it was hardly surprising that the result went this way when you consider the run of form both sides have shown. TTFE have failed to beat top four opposition at any time this season, whilst Leave My Arselona have confidently destroyed every side the league has had to offer by winning all of their games so far. But the earlier reversed fixture of this tie was perhaps one of TTFE's finest games. Despite the irony that the score mimics their previous encounter, it is only the scoreline alone is the similairity between the two fixtures. In their first game TTFE shown real guile and determation and even attempted to break form guides with an early goal. Of course, the current leaders went on to dominate the game, but the lads put on a performance which displayed real promise of improvement. We now know that in the following game TTFE picked up their first point in all competitions by drawing 2-2 with Curzon FC (now Real Zarargos) and then propelled the team into a mid table position. Sadly if we return the present, this game exemplifies that the future is much less certain.

In this game, TTFE played a lot more poorly in comparison. If anything is certain, they certainly weren't at their best - in game which they needed to be their best to hold their own. The 5-0 lead at half time was well-deserved; indeed, it could have been a lot more. But not to discredit the lads too much, it was clear that the opposition had improved since the last meeting. They created some brilliant chances with some smooth play exposing the space left by TTFE. A particular failure of TTFE was to get the basics of passing and dribbling sorted. The addition of Matt Pride for this tie was certainly enlightening, however he often looked lost in a attack which could not support him. The link up play he offered however was a breath of fresh air for the team, as since the game against Zymotic, the team have relied on opportunies, or mistakes the opposition has made, for their main source of goals. Pride brought a refreshing option to the TTFE game plan and it is shown in their only goal of the evening, with Pride being the provider. Jenkins made sure he slotted home the best opportunity he receieved all night, as the goal would at least aviod the tie being a total whitewash.

To raise positives, TTFE found their feet and started to run off the ball a lot more. It was a shame that they began to do it more against an superb side of man markers, who cut off little space for manoveur and movement. The TTFE defence was tight and was strong - but was often disjointed, not to mention it was guilty of ball watching on many occasions. However it was certainly in good effect at times to stop this game turning into a massacre. Of course we must refer to the keeper - Billy Collins in the wake of Dave Weller's absence - in keeping the game respectable. He made a good show in goal and had a handful in organising the defence.

Two things can be stated about the first encounter between these teams which can go hand and hand. Firstly, TTFE had displayed a spirited performance against the projected champions and secondly, that very game may have had a catalytic effect on their elevation from the table's ground zero. But in this second fixture in which TTFE which looked sluggish and disorientated, will this game possess a omen in regards to their future fixtures?

Goals: Jenkins 1.

Goal Tally: Payne 4, Jenkins 4, Thomas 3, Collins 2, Pugh 2, Phillips 1.

Matchday Eight – 3-1 Loss VS South Glamorgan Saints

TTFE failed to add to an early lead and went behind to a commanding Saints team.

The game began brightly once more as the lads were brimming with confidence after their win against Zymotic in the last match. The Saints have been playing good football to keep up with the big boys in the league, but have occupied fourth place almost indefinitely for most of the season. If TTFE were to get a chance into the top four, this game needed to go their way to make that climb a lot easier.

Phillips, Thomas, Collins, Weller, Payne and Jenkins were present as well as their new team member, Owain Roberts. Pugh and Newbury were forced to watch from the side thanks to their respective injuries. Thomas became an unlikely hero with an incredibly consistant striker's touch, as he slotted home an early lead for TTFE.

However, for the second half, the lads went to sleep. Despite being in front at half-time, the Saints clearly wanted the game more. Dale Thomas has written:

Second half we conceded an early goal which I felt was my fault as I didnt close down quick enough and then when we pushed forward they caught us on the break ending the match 3-1 to them so they beat us twice but I feel that both of us are even teams as they only beat us 4-2 and 3-1.

I would like to thank Owain for his contribution as I felt he had a decent game but looked knackered afterwards admitting that the Sunday league is much harder.

Some of the lads claimed at the end of the game that 3-1 was a good result considering the fact it was respectable. However, that could have gone a lot worse. The lads were content with the opposition coming to them and felt the need to sit back often. In addition, there was way too much shooting from far distance. It is rare to see someone score from the halfway line!!!!

Goals: Thomas 1

Goal Tally: Payne 4, Jenkins 3, Thomas 3, Collins 2, Pugh 2, Phillips 1.

Matchday Seven – 4-3 Win VS Zymotic

TTFE endured a nail-biting finish to take all three points away from fellow strugglers, Zymotic.

It is another three points in the bag for the plucky players, but it was certainly not an easy task for the lads. As stipulated before hand, this was a ‘six-pointer’ game which no-one should dare to lose. Only recently Zymotic grabbed their first win of the season, so they were keen to start showing their true credentials. Their recent form reflects a side which has finally banished its leaky defence, previously known for conceding 15 goals a game; whilst their forwards have now started to find the net more consistently. TTFE however seemed to be going in the opposite direction. Since the win against Swifts FC, TTFE have conceded heavily against top of the table opposition. It was essential therefore that our lads had to respect their next opponents. The good news was however from the TTFE camp was enlightening; Phillips had returned from his toe injury and Weller was available to play in goal to make it a more familiar lineup. Pugh, Payne, Jenkins, Collins and Thomas were also in the lineup, whilst Newbury was still out with a broken finger and Preece was absent.

Play was open from the start, but TTFE had the better chances. Gaps were rife in the Zymotic midfield and the intent of TTFE in exploiting these spaces was certainly vibrantly displayed. It wasn’t long until Pugh found the net with a wonderful strike. This was not to say the game was dominated by TTFE; they failed to take the game into their own hands and were often sloppy at the back. Weller was forced to make a hand-stretching save to keep a clever tap into the TTFE goal. It was evident towards half-time that both sides were in with a shout of making this their second win, despite the score. As the interval approached Pugh was forced to leave the pitch after aggravating his ankle and sadly for him and the side, the game's only scorer at that time was unable to take part in the second half.

After half time the gears were set into motion. An unsettled TTFE attack was unable to break down Zymotic at first and now their opponents began to put more pressure on the TTFE goal. They got one back and ended any chance of a whitewash. However, it was Jenkins’s fine strike which put the game back into TTFE’s favour. Even now against the run of play at times, TTFE were able to use the counter attack to their advantage. Thomas was able to emulate his impressive solo play with another belter from midfield which made the game 3-1. Phillips was keen to get on the score sheet but was unlucky to stake his claim because of a dubious decision by the referee. Phillips placed a sweet drive into the bottom left hand corner only to be saved by the Zymotic keeper, but slips through his hands and hits the post, then hitting the keeper again, only to drift towards the open net. The keeper however made contact with the ball and he appeared to have stopped it before it went over the line in accordance to the referee; denying Phillips a goal on his return. Cruelly Thomas Payne, TTFE’s top goal scorer, was also robbed of what seemed to be a legitimate goal, but later indications had shown that earlier play leading up to the goal was the reason for this refusal by the referee. One of lads had stepped into the Zymotic area before playing the ball to Payne, resulting in the disallowing of the goal. Collins was not goalshy either, but he proved to be more successful; his powerful left foot drive was definitely goal number four. So 4-1 and the game looked to be comfortably in TTFE’s control. Yet, you know TTFE right?

The lads began to leave spaces open of their own and started to defend rather sloppily. Man marking was not adhered to, and Weller was exposed to a barrage of shots to which he struggled to keep a top of. The game win mentality was lost by TTFE– despite being the comfortable side. Zymotic pulled two back and now a draw was on the horizon. In typical hanging-on fashion, TTFE slowed the game down in the dying minutes to ensure the points were coming their way. The final whistle was blown and the game was over – TTFE had won only their second game of all time, but sadly not convincingly as it could have been. But we must not knock the three points, as they keep the TTFE in mid table mediocrity – something we have little experience of!

Goals: Pugh 1, Thomas 1, Jenkins 1, Collins 1.

Goal Tally: Payne 4, Jenkins 3, Collins 2, Thomas 2, Pugh 2, Phillips 1.

Next Week: No rivals roundup this week, but hopefully I can get on top of it next week instead. Now TTFE have played all opposistion once, it is time for revenge on those who punished them in the past.

This Sunday is against the TTFE’s first opponents at the Gol Centre, the South Glamorgan Saints, who remain ahead of TTFE by five points. It is also their first chance for revenge, as they lost 4-2 in a very close battle last time round. 7PM – Be there!

Matchday Six - 14-2 Loss VS Total Teamwear FC

As this reporter was absent, this week's report is lifted from Dale Thomas's blog:

I had to go in goal again as Weller was away visiting friends. Can't really say much, we didn't play that bad but we didn't do the basics of marking people and understand that you follow the man and not the ball but we need to play better than that, even the ref said that we weren't good. Come on lads we know were better than that and we need to tighten things up. We have injuries in the squad but we have good enough people to fill in and we need to be a bit more organised. One main thing COMMUNICATION as we don't talk to each other still!

Goals: Payne 1, Jenkins 1.

Goals Tally: Payne 4, Jenkins 2, Phillips 1, Collins 1, Thomas 1, Pugh 1.