Mixer Savage Phoenix Lambs

Camden Mixer – 4 Gower Phoenix – 2

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Simon – Ell, Joel, Wall, Dens – Aaron, Jake, Jon, Muffdog – Fleshie, Bolu

A tired and distinctly off-the-pace Gower Phoenix side surrendered their season-long unbeaten run on Sunday against a 10 men Mixer side.

Having won the league and with several players on the team having been celebrating the bank holiday the early kick off say a slow start to the game. Despite the numerical advantage Phoenix had ‘too many Chiefs and not enough Indians’ with passes going astray and a struggle to maintain a decent level of possession. That said Mixer had a more than decent keeper between the sticks and the team, that are pushing for a 2nd place promotion worked hard. Several shots came in from the Phoenix but most were weak and/or misplaced.

Then 10 minutes in Phoenix struggled to clear the ball and allowed the skilful Mixer player to sprint into the box where he was clipped by Dens – penalty – 1-0 Mixer. Phoenix had a Bolu headed goal disallowed and a Muffdog shot looked to have crossed the line but didn’t – Dens, Aaron and Jon H all had good shots saved. The team were playing better football but disaster struck just before half time as Joel injured himself in a clearance allowing the Mixer striker to rush in for his second completely against the run of play, 2-0 at half time.

Second half saw Phoenix go to three at the back with Jabiz making his first appearance at right-mid and Muffdog filling in the defensive midfield hole. The teams attacks suddenly gained more poise and Muffdogs saved shot was turned in by Bolu to make it 2-1 and suddenly Phoenix looked right back in it. However the men in maroon and black were almost suicidal in defence and an inability to clear the ball allowed Mixer to add two quick-fire goals to make it 4-1.

Phoenix poured forward and Fleshie and Jon H missed some close chances to reduce the gap, eventually Bolu was followed in the area (a Mixer player was then sent off) and Dens struck a pen to make it a 4-2 finish.

So a scrappy and rusty performance for the Phoenix in what was easily their worst game of the season. However with the league tied up and several new players in this is no real disaster. With one more league game next Sunday at Regents park before our 2nd friendly against the Allstars we must aim to be right on the ball for the final two matches. Dens

Man of Match: Muffdog – Good work-rate and use of the ball in a match littered with errors.