Yate Town 2 v 0 EMFC

April 28th 2024

Yate Town Football Club

TEAM: -Josh, Craig, Jason L, Andy M, Henry, Jon C, Jamie, Si R, Guy, Arron, Morgs

SUBS: - Ben C （And Steve Jones who wasn't kitted up）

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HARD LINES It had been quite a while since the last Monday fixture. Over a month. Frampton had called off the last fixture due to low numbers so Monday had won that fixture 3-0.

The team was strong but the squad as a whole was small! It had been a mad scramble all week leading up to the fixture trying to find extra players. Henry came in last minute as did Ben C.

When we arrived, Yate were already out on the pitch in force warming up. They had a squad of about 20! l overheard Guy and Jason chatting..'**k me they've brought out all the ringers for this game haven't they!' Not a great start to proceedings but weshould take it as a massive compliment that they feel they need to get this kind of a squad together when playing us.

The game started fast and everyone seemed to have a lot of time on the ball given the size of the pitch. Yate were seeing a lot of the ball (as expected but seemed to struggle to create chances in the final third. When Monday had the ball they, were geting forward quickly and causing Yate issues.

4-4-2 seemed to be working well and Guy and Si R were getting a lot of joy down the flanks. Guy was taking men on at every opportunity and the Yate defenders were having to commit some excellent challenges to stop him from getting into the box. SiRwas getting past his man on occasion and hitting the bye line. One ball pulled back to Arron who should have done better from 9 yards out but put it just wide. Jon C had a long range shot as well but we couldn't find the target.

After 10-15 minutes Craig managed to dislocate his middle finger when putting in a clearing header. Ouch. He had to be taken to the local minor injuries. That meant we not only lost one of our strongest players, but we also lost our management from the sideline! Ben C came on in his place and played left back. Craig going off didn't affect the balance of play too much but when 10 minutes later Jamie pulled up with a pulled hamstring, that really changed the game. Suddenly Jamie had to go up top with Morgs and Arron had to push to the wing with Guy pushing in the middle with Jon. This really changed the game as it meant Monday could no longer press high up the pitch. Jamie was immobile to say the least.

Yate were having a few long range efforts but nothing that was troubling Josh between the sticks. The defenders were putting in a few blocks and largely keeping Yate to just long range efforts. One free kick from just outside the box went just over the bar.

Guy had a cross/shot that went not too far wide.

0-0 at half time. The first 20-25 felt very even and maybe even Monday just edging it, but they were hanging on before the half time whistle largely due to being down to 10 men.

Shortly after half time Yate had a corner. Despite it being cleared away. It fell to the Yate captain who smashed it home from 30 yards out. Nothing that even a Premier league keeper could have done about that. 1-0 Yate

Yate were seeing more and more of the ball. This was largely down to their never ending amount of subs who kept coming onand having fresh legs. Pills had messaged before the game to say ''leave it all out there' - every single Monday player was certainly doing that. Especially having 10 men on the pitch.

Craig miraculously returned from minor injuries having booted out a 10-year-old girl with a dislocated knee! Harsh but it was appreciated. That got Monday back up to 11 players on the pitch after Jamie couldn't stay on any longer and the sensible option was to go off. Craig went back to full back and Ben C went up top with Morgs.

This brought about a different dynamic, suddenly we had 2 men up top! Yate were still seeing a lot of the ball and Monday were at times, having to defend very deep, but Monday were still managing to get forward on the break.

Yate had a few crosses and corners that were either headed onto the bar or excellently cleared away. Monday were really frustrating their opposition.

2-0 came up from another 30 yard effort, this time from an ex Bristol City player. Again -nothing that anyone could have done.

Monday were getting the ball on the break and had a few very decent passages of play. Tired legs (and heads) were setting in though and it wasn't helped by the referee's refusal to give Monday any of the decisions.

Arron was literally upended and dumptackled to the floor by the Yate keeper, but no penalty. Then, 2 minutes later, the Yate full back put a slide tackle in on Arron and didn't get any of the ball. The infuriated Guy in particular who ended up getting a yellow for decent. Arguably the most frustrating thing was that Yate were actually in agreement that it was very one sided and that the decisions were harsh. He didn't even seem to know the difference between a corner and a goal kick.

Arron and Guy had long range shots on target but the tired legs didn't get enough on the shots. There were other long range shots which the Yate keeper had to tip over the bar. Morgs also had a chance that he should have put his head on but controlled it instead and the Yate players managed to charge it down. Arron had a left-footed half volley after an excellent lay off from Morgs and connected well but it went just wide. Monday also hit the cross bar in the closing minutes when 62 year old Steve Jones, who had come on for a 5 minute cameo, found space on the right-hand side and floated a lovely ball into Ben C who connected well with the ball but it just tipped the cross bar.

An excellent game all round from Monday under difficult circumstances. 10/10 performances across the board.

MOM - Andy M and Jason L who were amazing in defence. They limited Yate to long range efforts the whole game and never stopped committing everything against amazing opposition.