Coming into the game on the back of two defeats the Monkeys are looking to bounce back with a victory over an only enemy, having last met more than two years ago, both the Monkey team and the Nemesis are unrecognisable with new faces on both sides. Would this new look Monkey team be able to finally overcome nemesis?
With kick off delayed by 30mins and Andy Wan getting lost on the way to the pitch, Monkeys had lots of time to warm up and discuss tactics, this showed in the opening 10minutes as Monkeys were quickest out of the blocks and piled the pressure on the Nemesis defence. Monkeys playing in their now usual 4-3-3 formation had a new holding midfielder in the form of Tim Yee, who’s passing and link up play with Chris and Yip in the middle was outstanding. The back four consisted of the three Simons and Rob, and with Daz out with Man Flu, the front three trio were Danny, Joe and Kin, and Mark in goal, whilst the visitors started with a 3-5-1-1 formation. After 10 minutes, Nemesis settled down and began to play some football, with some nice passing and movement of their own. But it was the Monkeys who were to score first, with good work down the left from Simon and Joe, Joe broke into the box, and his shot fooled everyone, creeping into the near bottom corner, almost rolling through the Nemesis goalkeeper. 1-0 Monkeys.
From the restart the game continued as it had been before the goal, with both teams having spells on the ball, working the ball round a packed midfield trying to find an opening. As the half wore on, both teams pushed forward in search of a goal, and it was to be Nemesis to find it, with a defensive error from Monkeys gifting Nemesis the ball, and a sweet strike left Mark with no chance. 1-1. the rest of the half continued in the same fashion, with the Nemesis keeper slightly busier than the Monkeys keeper, but at the whistle the game was all square at 1-1.
Monkeys kicked off the 2nd half, and as in the 1st it was the Monkeys who set the pace from the kick off, nice work from the midfield trio and wingers gave the Monkeys time and space to create chances, with a few long range efforts testing the Nemesis keeper. The next goal was to again come from Joe obviously enjoying his more forward role, this time coming in from the right, his rasping shot flew straight past the diving Nemesis keeper. 2-1 Monkeys, and with the run of play the Monkeys seem to be cruising.
Monkeys continue to pile on the pressure, with shots from Yip and Chris going just wide and over, the Nemesis keeper making some good saves and a header from Kin going just wide, and a fine defensive display from the whole defensive unit, and Mark making some vital saves in when a Nemesis player did manage to sneak through, it seemed only a matter of time before Monkeys scored a 3rd to seal the match. But it wasn’t to be, a fast break from Nemesis caught the Monkeys napping and a neat finish from the Nemesis striker brought the game back to 2-2. with 5 minutes left on the clock.
With lots of tired legs, and a few cases of cramp, the match ended 2-2.
Venue: - Albert Park, Salford (astroturf) (Kick off – 11:30am)
Scorers: Joe (2)
