IHMFA at Ellesmere College– 2
Stalybridge – 3
Date: Friday 20th October 2023
Venue: Away
Competition: Inter College league
IH Manchester were denied any share of the points in the very last minute of this week’s fixture, away at Stalybridge.
In what was the worst conditions yet this season for the international players to contend with, having storm Babet battering the north of England, the team took on board the lesson from last week’s game and started very strong. The team zipped the ball around in the middle of the park with ease, with the three midfield players; Kim, Asadak and Alex, controlling the game. Their handywork allowed IHM to get the ball out to the wide players; Mo and Derek; whose work rate was unquestionable, getting up and down the field.
Once again, due to a lack of concentration and totally against the run of play, the visitors found themselves one down. However, just after the break they had managed to level up and then take the game to 2-1 in a short space of time.
The game looked to be won, with IHM just not quite being able to break the lines once more to get a third. But, comfortable and controlling the game, until an error meant the home side levelled the game with 10 minutes to go. That set up a frantic final 10 minutes in the stormy conditions with the visitors trying to push for a third to take the points. But, with just 1 minute remaining, a further mistake by the IHM side allowed the hosts to grab a third and take all 3 points.
This was the second defeat in a row for the IHM Football Academy side, as they go into the half term break.
Head of Football Sam said:
“Overall a great performance from the lads. We were the better team and played the better football. We used the size of the pitch to our advantage and on another day that would have been our game.
We hit the post, their keeper pulled off some great saves to keep them in it. On another day we’d have come away with all three points. We will regroup and look towards the games coming up after the break and build. There are loads of positives, we just need to cut out those mistakes that have punished us today.”
The IHM side now have 2 weeks until the next fixture, with some time off the pitch to rest and come back rejuvenated ready to go again.
