Heart in Mouth Action as FCI Complete a Comeback
(Rose, M.Lakeman, Saribiyik)
Venue: The Farlington Pitches Date: Saturday 28th September 2013
FCI Line-Up, Bookings & Substitutions
Beardshaw
P.Smith
Draper (Saribiyik - 60)
Neave
Regular
Goddard (Draper)
M.Lakeman
J.Florit
R.Lakeman
Rose
Willams (Whitfield - 45)
Substitutes
FCI’s unbeaten record against Heartlands and in their opening season in Division One looked to be as good as over at half-time, with the home side leading 2-0, but second half goals from Rose, M.Lakeman and Saribiyik ensured a momentous comeback.
Jazz Rose was enigmatic in the red and white midfield of FCI and instantly struck up an effective partnership with Matt Lakeman, who has, much like Southampton midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, stepped up his game as FCI advance through the divisions.
The visitors dominated much of the opening stage without particularly threatening and their first clear cut chance of the game actually came through a defensive error. The well-pressured centre-back failed to effectively clear the ball and Ryan Lakeman pounced on his clearance and put through Williams, who could only slice his shot wide.
Heartlands were soaking up the pressure well and spent much of the first half an hour with 8 men behind the ball, quickly countering up the other end within two passes. Beardshaw actively swept his box, keeping the home side at bay.
However, it was to be Heartlands that opened the scoring. A scrappy finish inside the box put the hosts ahead and FCI had been handed a sucker punch.Heartlands 1-0 FCI.
Indie were sore and Heartlands were profiting, and with their next attack the Portsmouth side had doubled their lead. This time a much better goal - a well-struck shot from outside the box that left the ‘keeper with little chance. Heartlands 2-0 FCI.
Half-time was a chance to reflect and despite Florit’s downbeat mood, spirits were surprisingly high: “If we score I think we’ll win this,” was Matt Lakeman’s prediction.
Whitfield came on for Williams and Florit shuffled the pack, pushing R.Lakeman upfront and Regular into the midfield, allowing Whitfield to adopt the right-back position.
Although FCI looked more threatening in the second half, with Jazz Rose now filling the #10 role behind R.Lakeman, the away side were being stifled effectively. With half an hour left, Florit made the second substitution of the game, bringing on Mitat Saribiyik for George Draper in a like for like swap at left-back.
With twenty minutes left and the kitchen sink firmly in Heartlands’ half already, the visitors were out of ideas, but kept plugging away. Mitat Saribiyik, a natural battleaxe, epitomised the final twenty minutes of the game.
Bursting down the left flank from defence, Saribiyik played R.Lakeman in with a through ball into the final third. R.Lakeman had pulled out wide, allowing Rose to drift into the centre forward position, so when the former drove in a low cross the latter was there to guide it home. Heartlands 2-1 FCI.
Belief was restored. The midfield was now at its most dynamic and innovative. Regular was coming in central, Rose was pulling out wide, R.Lakeman was dropping and M.Lakeman was commanding the centre circle with grit.
Perhaps most fittingly, it was Matt Lakeman that would equalise. Playing his last game before a two-week ban and against a Portsmouth side, M.Lakeman was in his element. As he does week-in-week-out, he found himself about 20 yards out with a yard of space in front of him. Regular pipped his marker to the ball to play M.Lakeman in and the centre midfielder unleashed a cannon, ricocheting off of a flailing defender and up & over the ‘keeper. Heartlands 2-2 FCI.
There was to be one more turn, though. With two minutes on the clock, Florit returned Draper to the action in the heart of midfield, with one special instruction, “get the ball and drive with it to the box.”
The script was written and Draper obliged with his role. Charging through Heartland’s defence, Draper broke into the box, turned his man, heardSaribiyik’s call and laid off his oncoming team-mate who hit a first time finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal. Heartlands 2-3 FCI.
Full-time - Heartlands 2-3 FCI.
FCI’s dramatic comeback was a testament to their determination, perfectly exemplified by the entire match day squad. The win has put FCI top of Division One, two years after first leading Division Three.
Paul Smith’s unbeaten run in an FCI shirt continues, whilst Joel Whitfield has a mini run of his own forming: FCI are yet to score with Whitfield on the bench and haven’t conceded with him playing.
The Man of the Match was Mitat Saribiyik with 10 Points.
