Palace Casuals

[talisman]

Day 12 dawned with Palace Casuals wanting to put the nightmare of the last League game behind them and looking with caution to the later Cup match.

First, some team notes - two players came off the Youth production line this morning, Jordan Bridges, a 4* (115) central midfielder and Sam Harrold, a 2* (106) central defender. The club has taken them on for the time being, and hope they will start developing further.

A lunchtime kickoff in San Salvador, El Salvador in League Round 10 saw a mixed 1st and 2nd XI squad take on mid-table Alianza FC. Striker Andres Ramos ensured the visitors were quickest out of the blocks with a 4th minute strike that kept the home side on the back foot for most of the rest of the half. In the second half, Defender Sebastian Domanski walked a tightrope after conceding a penalty and receiving a yellow card for same, but breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the home spot kick taker Abdel Meguid slide his shot past the right post. Thus reprieved, Casuals set about the Alianza defence again, Midfielder Michael Muscroft heading home an Anurak Arma corner for the second goal, and top scorer Catalin Neagu keeping his personal tally ticking over with a fine solo goal, making the final score 3-0 to the visitors.



Back home again, the Cup 'Top 16' 1st Leg match was against Glory FC, 1 Level and 2.3 quality higher than the home side. Facing a strange and unfamiliar formation, the Casuals Management decided on the 3n-2w-2n-1-2 formation which proved so effective against Sajete Boys in Round 2 of the League.



The end result was everything the Management hoped for - the mass of opposition forward players nullified due to some amazing blocking, tackling and Goalkeeper saves. The home side's counter-attacks were getting the same treatment from the away defence, so it was no surprise the first half ended goalless. The second half started with more of the same, until...



...and, after one of the Glory attacking midfielders had been given a straight red card for a trip, things got even better...



After that, the home side cruised home for a 2-0 advantage for the second leg in Cirebon, Indonesia.