Penycae Football Club C.I.C.

Today saw us welcome Chirk to the riverside, sitting 2nd in the league would obviously mean this would be a tough game for us. With a few players coming back into the squad we were looking to give them a game. The game started with visitors trying to press us back with long balls up to there 3 forwards quickly, we seemed to be ok with this but on 12 minutes we conceded a very soft goal. A free kick from inside there own half was hit 60 yards to just inside our box, and a Chirk player had a free header from 15 yards to head past Matt Griffiths in goal. Very poor defending from us with nobody challenging for the ball. On 15 minutes we were level when Austin Owen pressed the their centre back and poked the ball through for Josh Millington who slotted past the keeper for 1-1. Chirk were clearly rattled and began to use there physical presence and height in causing us problems by throwing the ball into our box at every opportunity. On 18 minutes we found ourselves 2-1 down when a long throw found the centre forward on the 6 yard line, he was challenged and both players fell down but somehow the striker got a shot off and scored. We were soon to be 3-1  down when we were caught sleeping and allowed a free cross into the box to the far post to find a chirk player unmarked and he headed home. HT 3-1. After giving the players some harsh words about our poor defending we came out fighting for the 2nd half and had a real go at the visitors, we fought for the ball and caused problems going forward, Chirk always looked dangerous on the break though. A couple of chances went begging when Austin Owen and Luke Peters had chances to score and it was looking like a frustrating day in front of goal, then in the 2nd minute of stoppage time Chirk added a 4th goal with us pushing forward. Ft 4-1. Poor defending cost us today and allowed the visitors the chance to take control, we have got to cut out mistakes to gain anything from matches, the 2nd half was a lot better but the damage had been done in the 1st half. We must now dust ourselves down for the local Derby at Cefn Albion next week.