Game 33: Longwell Green Sports 5.2 Odd Down (Western Premier) 03.01.11

After reviewing the Bank Holiday fixtures I decided to take in a couple of new grounds in the Western Premier league. The choice for the first game was fairly straightforward as Longwell Green was the only early kickoff that was a new ground. After heading up the A36 and through Bath, I headed past Bitton's ground and round to Longwell Green. There was plenty of parking available and the clubhouse had a wide selection of food and drink.

It was a much colder day than Saturday and the rain I was expecting from the forecast was coming down as snow although it melted on hitting the ground. I wasn't expecting to see Paul at the match but he decided to join me here before heading on to Roman Glass St George for their 2.15 game.

This was the first time that I had seen either of the teams play. The home team had lost the previous 11 games, failing to score in 8 of those matches including the last 4. This had lead to a change in manager and some new players who had to wait a month until now to make their debuts. The game kicked off just after 12 and soon settled down into an open end to end match.

Longwell Green won a free kick in a central position on the edge of the area when one of their players was brought down. Instead of taking a shot at goal, the player on the ball decided to play a short tap to his teammate standing next to him. It looked like the type of routine that was prepared on the training ground to start but the team mate wasn't at all prepared for this turn of events and ended up scuffing a shot wide.

Odd Down should have taken the lead in the 20th minute with a good move down the left but the ball was hit wide. They continued to put the pressure on and hit the bar from a free kick five minutes later. Longwell Green were finding it difficult to get the ball out of their half but Odd Down continued to miss their chances. They came close to scoring again in the 29th minute with a ball over the top of the defence that allowed their striker to run onto the ball. He slipped the ball past the keeper only to see his shot trickle wide of the post.

Longwell Green counter-attacked and their wide man took the ball down the left wing and into the penalty area. He took the ball to the byline when he was tackled and it looked like a corner would be awarded only for the referee to award a soft penalty. There didn't appear to be any contact made until after the ball had been played but perhaps I had a better angle than the referee. The penalty was well taken to the left and beat the keeper's dive to give the home team an unlikely lead.

The snow continued to fall and the flakes were getting heavier. Both teams had a goalbound effort saved before Longwell Green extended their lead in the 36th minute. They took a free kick and the ball was headed over the keeper and in as the keeper came out for the ball.

Longwell Green won the ball back from the kickoff and added a third goal moments later. The dangerous no 11 who had won the penalty took the ball down the left side again. He put a low cross in level with the six yard box and it looked like the keeper would gather until an attacker's boot trod on his glove forcing him to spill the ball. This gave a Longwell Green player an easy opportunity to tap the ball in at the far post.

As the first half went into injury time Odd Down managed to pull a goal back from a free kick on the far right. The ball was played from near the corner flag to the near post and headed in as the keeper and defence tried in vain to reach the ball to clear it.

The teams took a while to come out for the second half and the game eventually kicked off 8 minutes after the scheduled time. Longwell Green started well and forced the Odd Down keeper to make two good saves. Odd Down had a couple of chances as well but on both occasions the ball was hit at a Longwell Green player and was deflected wide.

Odd Down continued to create chances but weren't clinical in front of goal. When they managed to get a shot or header on target it wasn't far enough from the keeper to cause a problem and more often than not the ball was hit wide.

Longwell Green scored their fourth goal following a mistake by the Odd Down keeper in the 60th minute. He received a back pass but messed up his clearance which allowed Longwell Green's 7 to take the ball from him and curve the ball into the goal's side netting from a difficult angle. A well taken shot that drew plenty of applause from the spectators.

Odd Down brought on a couple of substitutes to try and change the game and one of them almost scored in the 64th minute with a shot that flashed over the bar. Longwell Green reacted to this by adding a fifth goal to kill the game off two minutes later. Their number 11 ran through the middle of the pitch without a challenge and hit a great shot into the back of the net.

The first half had seen a surprising penalty awarded and the referee decided to award another one in the 85th minute but this time to Odd Down as he wasn't happy with a tackle in the area. The penalty was well taken giving the keeper no chance. A final scoreline of 5.2 gave Longwell Green their first home win since the end of September.