The game began with our visitors, a physically strong side featuring several tall players, eager to seize control of the ball. We inadvertently played into their hands by consistently opting for long balls. When we attempted to play more on the ground, we strung together several passes, but an opposition player intercepted the ball, bypassed our defender, and scored. Their first goal stemmed from a significant individual error, unfortunately setting the tone for the rest of the match.

After conceding the first goal, we struggled to regain our footing. Within 5-10 minutes, the opposition was awarded a penalty, which they converted, bringing the score to 2-0 in favor of Moulton. We tried to make adjustments by bringing in fresh legs, but nothing seemed to change, and we went into halftime trailing 2-0.

We started the second half with renewed determination, but a miscommunication between a winger and a defender led to Moulton scoring their third goal. At that point, our resolve began to wane; players lost confidence, and individual mistakes became more frequent. We found ourselves making errant passes directly to the opposition striker, who capitalized on our errors. The score climbed to 4-0, and to make matters worse, several players sustained injuries, necessitating substitutions that did not help our cause.

As the match drew to a close, we appeared increasingly vulnerable, allowing the opposition to net their fifth goal. Their final score felt inevitable, leaving us with little reaction. This encapsulated our Saturday performance. However, the silver lining was the determination shown by the players in the changing room to quickly put this game behind us and prepare for the upcoming match.

We hope to improve and return to winning ways in our next game.

Match Report by Reserves Manager Lucian Stiopu