Season 88 - Are you ready?

[talisman]

Desert Rats FC played at home in the Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg and the opposition manager turned up with 8 groupies. The resultant 11% away possession advantage meant that the Rats came off the worst in the match statisitcs for the first time this season, but the Management like to think of their choice of 4-3N-3 to combat 4-5-1V was a tactical master-stroke, as the 3% better home side capitalised on their chances better.

The Rats were warming up a substitute early, as midfielder Ireneusz Jezierski became the 10th injury victim of this season, being quickly whisked off and replaced by Graeme Brooks. Very much against the run of play, striker Emanuele Imbimbo put the hosts in front on 29 minutes, and better was to come as striker Matt Goggin got onto the end of a Glenn Seynaeve free-kick for 2-0 early in the second-half. Seynaeve then put in a MoM-winning shift, forcing the visiting 'keeper to save on two occasions and putting in a series of defence-teasing crosses. The Management was most disappointed, therefore, when the visitors made a counter-attack run 7 minutes from time which saw the ball nestle in the corner of the home net. Home 'keeper Bismark Carroll then belied his low match rating by making three saves to deny the visitors an equaliser before the final whistle, to add to his point-blank save from a visiting attack in the first half.

The 2-1 final score in favour of Desert Rats certainly doesn't reflect the overall play, but they should be very happy with it. The tie is in the balance, Desert Rats with a goal advantage, and the opposition with an away goal, which the Rats will look to nullify at the earliest opportunity in the 2nd Leg.