A Crisp morning signalled the start of winter, and what could be a winter of discontent for Milanda if the form of this day continues. Soundly outclassed in a first half which made the second a formality. Things can only get better. Lack of desire, team effort and fitness proved the undoing. Milanda need to get back to what they do best - playing for each other and finding their desire to win to combat younger, fitter teams.
The theme of the early exchanges of this game was giving the ball away with both sides getting out of defence only to give the ball to their opponents in the final third. No 11 for C A was coming into the game more and seemed likely to cause trouble. His decision to wear gloves giving rise to some early shouts from the Milanda bench. In 18 mins the aforementioned player took a dive in the box (no bias here) after cutting inside but the referee saw no infringement. A minute later though, a cross from the left was missed by Early and gave the C A forward an easy side foot volley from 5 yards. Early it became apparent, had damaged his ribs just before the goal (hence the lack of jump) and was taken off to be replaced by Dunn. Milanda then provided their first real passing move of the match but again things broke up in the final third.
C A scored their second with a move up the right. The cross was again missed and the ball was slotted to the keeper's left from just inside the box.
Just after this Milanda had the ball in the net, but it was ruled offside.
It was all perspiration from Milanda, but in isolated cases. The inspiration was all with C A and it was no surprise when they made it 3-0 after some sustained pressure. Again Milanda failed to clear their lines and the ball fell to Todd who turned on a sixpence and scored low in the corner with 3 milanda players watching.
A minute later, Milanda pulled one back. Fitzpatrick using his experience to outpace the defence and slide a thorugh ball from Reid into the right hand corner of the goal.
C A then made it 4-1 with a neat passing move down the right hand side and with their forwards outnumbering the Milanda back line, a virtually undefendable cross was swept away from 6 yards.
It was 5 -1 soon after - a cross from the right being deflected into his own net by Dunn. Soon after that it was 5-2 - Fitzpatrick scoring a carbon copy of his first. Credit has to be given for him never giving up the chase for a ball which was more the keeper's than his. Surely though, had the keeper not stopped to fix his cap as he was rushing off his line, the goal may have been prevented. Sheer class!
No 11 for C A was then involved in a short fracas with a member of the Milanda midfield. The shout from the ref was "put the handbags away ladies" to which the reply from the Milanda bench was " but it matches his gloves..."
Straight after the break Milanda poured forward to try and get back into the game. C A were restricted to breakaways as Milanda forced a series of corners. Coyle came on for Addison to spark life into the midfield and was effective in bringing others out of their ruts from the first half. Murray in particular was finding more space and time. In 55 mins, a corner to Milanda was cleared only as far as Andy Scott who fired a fierce volley onto the crossbar. This was followed by a move up the park by C A which resulted in a shot tipped over the bar expertly by Preston. Another two chances at the other end fell to Mark Reid after keeper indecision, but composure left him at the vital moments. Coyle then went on a mazy run soon after, culminating in a fine cross with no takers.
C A were coming more and more into the game. Their one touch passing much more effective than Milanda's - especially in their wide play. Milanda saw the game put beyond them in 80 minutes though. Andy Scott was unlucky to see his blocking tackle rebound off himself to land at the feet of the C A attacker who passed to two unmarked teammates almost on the goal line to score their sixth. Milanda were a spent force now. Cohesion was lacking all though the game, but they could not have spelt it at this stage. Fitzpatrick deserves special mention for effort though.
The final goal was scored 5 minutes from time with more indecision in the Milanda defence. Final ball struck home from close range.
MoM : Fitzpatrick
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