Matchday Five - 5-4 Loss VS Toto FCLapses of concentration cost TTFE dear as they lost by a single goal to Toto FC.As the rain was ebbing away pretty much a week after it ravaged the Gol pitches in our last head- to-head with Brookes FC, TTFE had to make sure that their winning ways would not evaporate as quickly as the precipitation. Toto themselves suffered at the hands of HBFC, TTFE's own conquerors a game earlier and were not prepared to drop any more points after a very promising start to their debut season at Gol. This game was to be real a boost for TTFE as it was the return of striker Jon Ridout. It was to no surprise that the goal machine was eager to score his first of the campaign.
The game started with plenty of vitirol from Toto, who were very evidently fitter than TTFE and passed the ball immaculately. They certainly saw a lot more of the ball than our lads and played the possession game very effectively. However to begin with, they couldn't turn this ball control into goals and took few shots at ball stopper Dave Weller. He was called upon again time and time again and put another encouraging performance. But it wasn't long before Toto took the lead with a sweet strike, forcing TTFE to wake up and play some better football to stay in the game. Despite the shots on goal, TTFE couldn't settle down and play with the same confidence that has pushed them into a mid table place. Jon Ridout however struck from the wing from open play and scored in the tightest of spaces at the near post to level the game. He was surprised as the rest of us, but he was happy at least to score his first goal of the season. But it was never enough to galvanise the team into bettering their opposition, as Toto pulled away with two well taken finishes, down to some brilliant build up play before hand. At 3-1 Carling soon pulled one back through a solo effort, but Toto fired again to end the half with that important two goal cushion at 4-2.
As the second half began, TTFE soon upped the pace and started to compete in the game. Some confident strides into the Toto half exposed the defence much more and Paul Preece was taking whatever chances he had to attack the goal. It was Chris Phillips who broke the second half deadlock however, with a fine belter of a shot from the half way line, prompting the 'Belly' to make an appearance. Toto soon pegged one back and kept their lead over the game in what was to be a very intense final ten minutes. Both sides seemed to be spent - they could offer no more and cancelled each other out. Carling pinched another goal but by then the game seemed to be out of reach from a fatigued TTFE side. It was a shame for James Pugh, who was despite his efforts and determined PMA, turned out to marked out of the game and was fairly quiet in this encounter. One incident at the end which did provoke fury was the overhead kick of one of Toto's players, who cleared the fence completely. The referee then responded that TTFE should have got the ball as it was 'their time' they were wasting. As much of that was true, the fact that the game stopped dead for over three minutes was truly astounding. When the game restarted it was more of the same stalemate football, which resembled trench warfare. When the final whistle blew it was a relief to all, as TTFE knew they did not do enough to get anything from this game.
Some good passing in the game, even some a heel trick from Carling so set up Jon Ridout a real treat. The marking was overall pretty good, but this Toto did excel themselves and could have won by more if it wasn't for the mighty TTFE defence unit of Preece, Newbury and Weller. It was a shame that only a few lapses of the mind seemed to let TTFE down and had got them into a position they couldn't fight their way out of. Only the second loss of the season, but if TTFE are going to have rise a tier they are going to have to win more consistantly and convincingly. In a league of very even talent, a win is very important but a hammering will most definitely prove to be the deciding factor of who will escape Sunday's bottom league.
Goals: Carling 2, Phillips 1, Ridout 1.
Goal Tally: Pugh 7, Carling 5, Phillips 3, Newbury 2, Davies 1, Preece 1, Ridout 1.
