Not quite at the must-win stage just yet, but FC MMIX travelled to Leon School to take on a Lifesearch side knowing that a point – or 3 – would certainly not go amiss.
They welcomed back Scotty Page who returned after a 3-week absence with an ankle knock, with Daniel Reeb dropping to the bench – in name only – with a groin injury that would mean he wasn’t able to take part. Karl Jones had failed to shake off his knee injury and with Darryl ‘Darcy’ Wilson suspended, David Bird and Will Wright returned to the starting line-up as well.
The early exchanges were relatively even, with Des Clark firing wide and Will testing the Lifesearch keeper but the home side found themselves 1-0 up on 10 minutes after a quick break left the MMIX defence exposed.
Joe Meddings’ deep cross into the box saw a goalmouth scramble ensue which resulted in the ball coming back off of the crossbar before Des again came close and Will again tested the keeper. But at the other end, Lifesearch netted again to give them a 2-goal advantage.
2-0 became 3-0 on the 25 minute mark when a long range effort caught Martin Compton off of his line, and Lifesearch grabbed a 4th shortly after. How MMIX were 4 goals down was beyond anybody, but again they were facing a mountain to climb.
Rob Whittaker, putting in another impressive shift, somehow managed to poke a volley over the bar from a yard out before finding himself in the referee’s notebook for reacting to being kicked while on the floor by the Lifesearch number 7. Somehow, the referee managed to miss the original incident.
Mikey Lacey saw a gut-bursting run halted on the edge of the box before Shane Maynard fired wide, Des fired straight at the keeper and Will again came close. The referee wasn’t controlling the game well, having allowed a series of questionable tackles and challenges to go unpunished and as a result, a real bite was beginning to creep in.
Half-time, 4-0 to FC Lifesearch.
Neither side made any changes at half-time, but on 55 minutes MMIX were dealt a lifeline when Shane was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the penalty spot. Joe stepped up and buried the ball into the bottom corner, bringing the away side back into the game.
David Bird, after a tireless and impressive shift, had to then be withdrawn through injury so Will slotted into the centre of the midfield with Shane switching to the left, and Brad Freeman entering the fray and taking his place on the right flank.
But seconds later, Lifesearch grabbed a 5th and pretty much killed off any chance of an MMIX comeback. Luke Carey was giving his all but was yet visibly struggling with an ankle knock, while Callum Moon was literally throwing himself in front of the ball in order to keep the wave of Lifesearch attacks at bay.
Scotty headed narrowly wide from a corner, Rob saw an effort blocked on the line, Mikey came close before Will and Des both tried their luck and Shane began to send over a series of testing crosses but in truth, the game was beyond the away side.
Mikey then saw himself brought down with a bad challenge that saw his opponent go into the notebook, before Joe also saw yellow for remonstrating after yet another poor decision.
Lifesearch grabbed a 6th – from the penalty spot – with the last kick of the game after Joe was adjudged to have handled in the area. Martin did well to get a hand on it, but the power of the shot was just too much.
The points went to the home side – deservedly so after yet another lacklustre MMIX performance, but no-one can argue that the 6-1 score-line was perhaps slightly flattering.
It’s been said before, but changes will be made. It’s time to show some desire.
Full-time, 6-1 to FC Lifesearch.
