Shambles vs Porto

Shambles stepped up for the first leg of their first cup match this season, their last cup exploits seeing a disappointing  first round exit when the cup was in its old single leg 6-aside format.
This week shambles have a different look, sporting 4 attacking players and only two defensive players, compared to the usual 3 of each. Would this be a rout for shambles? Or could it work in the opposite way?

The game kicked off and a strong contender for most consistent performer of the season so far, Ian, had an early effort at goal, giving Porto’s keeper chance to warm up for all the shots he would later have to deal with.
Both the teams had a fair share of the ball to begin with, neither team really taking control of the game, until Porto squeezed home a shot from the tightest of angles that no-one expected to even trouble the goal. In fact from this player’s position it looked liked the ball went into the side netting. Apparently it was like watching Flash play, although the ball definitely went into the goal! :)
This goal seemed to rally shambles rather than the usual self destruction that follows conceding an early goal.
Several chances came and went for both teams before Ian made a great run up the wing and played a cleaver ball of the back wall, which James picked up and gratefully slotted past the keeper.
Just as the shambles thought that they would make it to half time with the score all square Porto smashed the ball past a helpless James II and the shambles went into the break trailing by one goal.

HALF TIME

The second half didn’t start off well, with Porto taking advantage of a shambles not coming out of the break fully alert and making the score line 3-1 with some very nice finishing.
The shambles then had a series of chances which included a free kick or two won by Ade, who had formed a special relationship with the Porto defence who seems to enjoy taking a hold of Ade whenever he got through on goal!            
Although Shambles didn’t make the best of these free kick opportunities (we really need to work on these!) another chance was formed with a quick break where James took the ball up the left hand side then squared the ball to Craig, whom, if not for a great save from the Porto keeper would have made the score line a lot more optimistic for the Shambles.
Several good saves from the Porto keeper came to later haunt the Shambles when Porto smashed in their forth of the game, making the score line a flattering 4-1.
Shambles rallied and the score line was made more respectable after James neatly finished, putting the ball through a Porto defender’s legs and into the bottom corner of the goal.
Shambles had a foothold back in the tie, and probably the best chance of the game came when Ian stormed through from the back and seemed to slot the ball past the keeper. However the keeper had other ideas and made a great save! The ball rebounded to Ian and again the keeper made a cracking save, shambles couldn’t believe how unlucky they had been!
Some great defending at the back by Ian and Graham (and Craig and Ade when called upon) meant that shambles were still in with a chance, and Ade again got through on goal. Once again he decided to have a cuddle with the defender which after some confusion resulted with the Shambles being awarded a penalty. Dave walked up ready to work some of his magic when James was informed by Captain Graham to take the penalty and complete his second hat-trick in consecutive games. James duly obliged and sent the keeper the wrong way.

Finally score 4-3. The Shambles are definitely still in the tie, if we can get into the game with an early strike in the second leg, then everything will be to play for again!

Let’s have a Cup Run this year!