First half: fair. Second half: a shocker. BC started slowly on a good pitch softened by overnight rain at the Chinese Recreation Club, built a 3-0 lead by halftime, and then gave it all away.
In defence, AM, CP, JW and a returning, now bionic, ATM Boy (CA) dealt tidily with any attacking threat from the Killer Whales, while, in midfield, MJ, JR, IG and DH controlled much of the game, with NG and GM up front. Late arrivals BM and (Scottish) JR were early replacements.
On 17 minutes, a well worked throw-in from IG put DH in behind his marker and free to slide over a cross from which MJ made no mistake. Ten minutes later, DH made it 2-0 from the penalty spot after a Killer Whales defender handled a MJ cross. Cruising, the BC extended that lead further when MJ picked up the ball in the middle of the opposition half, strode forward and beat the keeper with a swerving shot from just outside the box. JR went close with a header and NG created a good chance which went begging. On the stroke of half-time, Killer Whales cut through the defence but shot wide. It should have been a timely warning.
If nothing else, this BC team is generous to a fault. Hesitation at the back let in Killer Whales for a comeback goal, and a second followed 12 minutes later. JL pulled off a great one-handed diving save, but Killer Whales bagged a point with an equalizer late in the game.
At the other end, BC profligacy in front of goal went from High to Excessive. NG twice cut in menacingly from the left only to shoot high or wide, JR flashed another firm header wide of the upright and DH joined NG in creating, and spurning a straightforward chance one-on-one against the keeper inside the area.
BC are fast dropping down the Division Five table and, if we want to be taken seriously, we must take this league more seriously. We need to turn up on time, we need a bigger squad to cater for ageing, tiring legs and, most of all, we need a passion for success. We must be tougher in closing down games already in the bag. Three times in recent months we have given away a three-goal lead. In hindsight, 3-0 up and knowing we would fade, it might have been better to sacrifice a striker for a sweeper to protect that lead. And, again, we let the opposition, and the referee, rile us. We are old enough and big enough to know that a referee, however inept, is not going to change a decision just because we shout at him. We should know that bellyaching and cursing, almost inevitably, means the next few decisions go against us – as happened in this game. It costs us goodwill and saps the energy.
I thought JR and ATM Boy played very well in the first half, and JR (Elder) battled gamely throughout. MJ was booked for dissent. Fair play to Killer Whales, who hung in there and fought back well in the second half. They are a good side who pass the ball around and have a strong midfield core.
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