A Quedgeley team short of key players went to play a decent Macadam outfit away from home, looking to add to their 3 game unbeaten spell.
Quedgeley were tested right from the word go, and had to stand up to wave upon wave of Macadam attack. Just as Quedgeley looked to be standing up to the initial challenge, lightning struck. A dubious off-side goal from Macadam followed by two Quedgeley players leaving the field through injury meant a shuffle in the Quedgeley backline already struggling and a goal behind. The next bit of bad luck came in the form of an otherwise solid Matt Cappell helplessly turning a low cross into the roof of his own net. Macadam then dominated proceedings attacking from all angles and really trying to rub salt into the wounds of the Quedgeley players. Quedgeley huffed and puffed but couldn't find the essential ingredient to this fixture, a goal. Chances were few and far between for Quedgeley, the most notable chance came through Sam Sysum who struck the base of the upright.
The second half started with Quedgeley already using all of their 3 allocated substitutions. Macadam went 4-0 up after piling bodies into and around the penalty area. Quedgeley tried to soak up the pressure and break and managed to get on the scoresheet. Tom Morgan latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the box to step up and fire past the keeper into the bottom corner.
Quedgeley kept probing as best they could but another off-side decision going amiss let a Macadam player tap in from 6 yards, the salt now well and truly smothering Quedgeley's gaping wounds. More Macadam chances were squandered in the last 10 minutes to leave the game with a final scoreline of 5-1 to Macadam.
On another day without the own-goal, two dubious off-side decisions missed and a full strength side available the match may have taken a different path, but it wasn't to be.
Most importantly for Quedgeley, do not let this result get the better of us, we can perform better, we have a good set of players with everyone available. With a bit of luck and the right amount of effort in the right areas will see us pick up points against a lot of teams in this league.
Heads-up boys, Eastcombe next, a harder game on paper, we know what we have to do. Let's get a result!!