The Men’s 2nd Football suffer another bitter blow with their third consecutive defeat. The Game finished 1-2 at Metchley 3G.
It was a chilly autumnally evening at Metchley 3G and the pressure was on for the Birmingham boys to get their first win of the campaign and turn their season around. They were playing a talented Warwick side that had already got a win under their belt. The question was – Could this Birmingham side produce on home turf?
The game got off to a scrappy start. The opening minutes saw both sides unable to get a handle of the game with a lack of accurate passing. However, it didn’t take long for Birmingham to settle down with many players bringing composure into the match.
However, in the 8th minute, a monumental decision took place that changed the course of this tense encounter. The Warwick midfielder played a clever through ball to their striker; the striker was just ahead of the Birmingham skipper, playing centre back, and found himself in a one on one situation with the goalkeeper. The Birmingham skipper was hot on the Warwick striker’s heels, almost shoulder to shoulder, both with their arms tangled around one another.
The Warwick striker managed to get a shot away but was saved well. Yet, it did not end there. The referee blew his whistle and ordered a free kick to Warwick just outside the penalty area for shirt pulling. Unsportsmanlike, shouts went up from many Warwick players to show the Birmingham skipper a red card, as he was the last man. The referee went to confer with his linesman and after a few minutes, showed the Birmingham skipper a red card. This contentious decision meant Birmingham were down to 10 men with over 80 minutes still to play. They had an uphill battle from here on in.
Almost directly after the incident, Warwick missed another one on one, as they took no time in taking advantage of their extra man. It looked to be a long, gruelling, night for Birmingham. Nevertheless, Birmingham were holding their own, working their socks off which gave them plenty of the ball.
Birmingham kept on going and their efforts were rewarded. Number 11 bombed down the right wing with blistering pace. He whipped the ball in to the 6-yard box area. The Warwick centre back couldn’t deal with the pace of the ball and blundered it into his own net. 1-0 to Birmingham.
The second half was very similar to the first. The 10-man Birmingham side were showing great structure, using their full backs well allowing their wingers to get into good positions. These tactics offered Birmingham a golden opportunity. Birmingham Number 11 did a mazy run down the wing, squares it to number 9; he latches on to it but skies it.
All was going well until Birmingham suffered a double blow in the last 10 minutes of the game. Warwick score almost two identical goals, both of which were set pieces from the left wing involving good deliveries into the box. A bitter pill to swallow for Birmingham, who until then, had done so well in defending set pieces.
The remaining few minutes saw Warwick incorporate the well-known Jose Mourinho tactic of “parking the bus” (not the best watch I must say). The game petered out, the 10-man Lions side had nothing left in the tank.
The game finished 2-1 to Warwick. This defeat was not reflective of the game itself as Birmingham were arguably the better side. Birmingham must bounce back from this and head into the next game with confidence because if they perform like they did, on another day they’ll get the 3 points they deserve.
