Monday night saw us travel to Lafrowda Park where we met combination winners St Just 1st team with a couple of their Reserve players chucked in for good measure (writes joint manager Daz Smith).
Featuring the league's top scorer and a league winning experienced side , we knew it was going to be a tough ask from the lads, especially considering we had several key players unavailable due to work , festivals, and illness respectively. However, we needn't have been so worried. The lads that did play gave absolutely everything and came away feeling slightly dejected. Not because we lost or played badly , but because we felt we could have grabbed at least a draw, maybe even the win.
We lined up as a 4-5-1, with 17 year old George Steadman leading the line, 16 year old Freddie Neaum on one wing , 18 year old Harvey Richings on the other and 17 year old Lewis Hitchens at centre back. 18 year old Dylan Walter arrived late due to a last minute call up, and stepped into centre midfield.
We found ourselves 2 nil up after the electric Kizzy took two chances on his left foot, but we were pegged back from two laced efforts from the St Just forwards. A foul in our box saw Murley called upon as he saved the corresponding spot kick before Harvey then got himself on the score sheet, with a flick at the near post , sending us in 2-3 at Half Time.
Our Half Time team talk was straight forward enough, look after the ball, shorten the game up, and be clinical when possible.
The second half saw St Just come out the better side, as they grabbed an equaliser, but some squandered chances from our lads saw St Just left off the hook on multiple occasions.
With the game at times becoming end to end, and our legs beginning to tire, St Just were always going to get one more chance and they did with minutes to spare. Top league scorer Ashley Ellis latched on to a cross and grabbed the winner, thus sealing our fate.
The Final Score 4-3.
However, we left feeling really proud of the lads efforts and on another day, the score line could have gone in our favour. St Just are no mugs and proved why they won the league last season with their resilience and never say die attitude, and I'd like to think our lads will have learnt from last night, as well as Lee and I taking many positives from our display.
We are working on one more friendly, before our league kicks off next Wednesday when we welcome Newlyn Non-Athletico to Penlee Park .
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