24th June 2007
Complacency, over-confidence, lack of commitment, hard luck? or was it just a bad day at the office? Well whatever that was, Park View gave their worst performance in about three years.
It was an abysmal performance from the league leaders, which had fans from both sides asking the million-dollar question, “is this really Park View, what’s happened to them?” Park View with no real pressure on them, having won all games except one drawn against this same Republicans side in the first leg, arrived disorganised and unprepared for such an important fixture. Referee Howard arrived at Hackney Downs Park (Hackney FC’s grounds rented by Park View for their home matches) knowing this was the game he had to be extra vigilant. But it never lived up to expectation at all.
Just 15 mins into the first half Park View had already hit the post three times and missed three easy sitters. With Agyemang and Frank (both defenders) covering for KK and Charles respectively in the left and right midfield, going ahead would have boosted their confidence. But with such hard luck, the reverse happened and panic set in. With such a young and inexperience midfield including Moses filling in, youthfulness got the better of them, chasing the ball everywhere and getting tired too early. Obviously not taking ones chances meant being punished later on.
With spaces left everywhere in the midfield area the Republicans punished the youngsters by knocking the ball around but with no real threats at goal, until a lapse in concentration by the defence was capitalised on by one of their players heading the ball cheaply above Mohammed into the net for Republicans first goal. So the first half ended with Park View a goal down.
Bright, Charles and Kwame were brought in to replace Agyemang, Frank and Moses in the second half but Park View’s fight back was to no avail. Another easy chip from 25 yards beat Mohammed to end the game at 2-0 to the Republicans.
Park View FC – Line Up
Mohammed (Keeper), Osei, Richard, Joe, Princeton, Kofi (Captain), Frank, Moses, Junior, Afful, Agyemang (and KK, (Subs: Bright and Charles)
LAUNCH PICTURES