Having already played Recreio B on grass earlier this season and recording a loss, Carnage were keen for some revenge against their less fancied opponents. However, the powers that be decided that Carnage required a ‘home’ game on the grass at Recreio. It is definitely not a surface conducive to the short passing game of Carnage, but one that seemed to favour the hit and hope tactics employed by Recreio B. Cutting to the chase, Carnage endured one of the most frustrating afternoons of the season, having dominated all facets of the game: possession, territory, and penalty corners to lose 1-0.
First Half
Carnage started off relatively brightly and after a sustained period of pressure, the penalty corners started to flow with 3 to 4 in relatively quick succession. Carnage were unfortunately unable to convert these into goals. Stuart was controlling the game well in the midfield, supplying good ball wide and up the middle. Our tireless strikers were unlucky not to have the first goal of the match when one of the Recreio B defenders (not the goalkeeper!) decided to lie along the goal line and stop a shot at goal, a mini umpires conference resulted and decided no goal!!! Against the run of play Recreio scrambled in a goal 1- 0. Recreio only had one other shot on goal all match, which was calmly swatted away by Neil.
Second Half
The second half was similar to the first with sustained pressure from Carnage on the Recreio goal, resulting in more penalty corners. The Recreio D was being peppered with balls from all sides, but unfortunately Carnage could just not get that elusive touch. Simon was finding a lot of space on the right and was making a lot of telling runs wide and even with a frantic final ten minutes Carnage could not find the equalizer. A number of opportunities were missed by not having someone on the goal post to deflect passes or having someone harassing their keeper more. Final score 1-0 to Recreio.
Highlights
Good committed display from the whole team, but unfortunately on this occasion the better team did not win.
It was good to have Chang and Toby back with us after brief injury breaks. Toby is off on a work junket for a couple of weeks, but hopefully we get him back for the business end of the season.