Sunday 12/4/2015 – Pink Shield home to Athenlay

Eltham Ath 1 v 2 Athenlay

Once again I find myself trying to describe a game that we did not deserve to lose. The boys put in an excellent team performance one of fight, spirit and endeavour.

On a sunny morning the conditions were difficult with a strong wind blowing across the pitch and a very hard and bumpy surface. We welcomed Athenlay to Eltham and have to say what a nice bunch they were from the manager to the players and they contributed to a very good game of football.

We took the lead through a Freddie long range effort, but chances for both sides were lacking as both defences come out on top. Athenlay got back into the game from our point of view a sloppy goal to give away. Second half followed the first both teams playing neat football looking for that ne chance, we thought we had scored when sub Charlie shrugged of two defenders and let fly from approx. 20 yards only to see the ball hit the inside of the post roll along the line and come out.

With the game heading for a fair draw, Athenlay created a chance out of nothing and scored the winner with 30 secs left on the clock, to say it was a body blow to us all would be an understatement, we have been here to many times before.
The Athenlay manager said sorry for winning after the game, think that says it all !!!

My big concern are the refs, over this season I have seen professional referees cost teams points with poor decisions in the Football League, today I witnessed a young man who again made some wrong decisions but was not prepared to discuss them or explain why, we got the “I am in charge and what I say is correct “. My concern is they don’t want to listen or learn from their mistakes and they will just continue to make them, this is not good for youth football or the professional game.

There little or no point in marking the ref down the game card, nothing gets done.

It’s a problem that needs to be addressed for the sake of football at all levels.

MOM was Tito, found it hard to get a foot hold in the team, but is a lovely lad to have in the group and today showed us the footballer that we all want to see from him.

Regards
Colin
Manager

Eltham Lions Ath (was United FC)

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