Todays game of Selwyn vs Coastal was interesting.
Coastal played a fairly solid game and probably had the wood over Selwyn for first 15/20 mins. The difference was when Selwyn did get on the counter, they took their chances and made them count.
Coastals set play from corners etc were dangerous, but the defensive line/Keeper held strong and kept Coastal at bay.
Selwyn on the counter took their chances and made them count again.
Near the end when Coastal were trailing by 1 (3-2) was amazing from two sides.
Coastal were in desperation mode - Clearly peppering the goal where they could, but making some horrendous fouls (2 fouls - 1 that deserved to be carded and 1 that didn't look out of place on WWE RAW) Even players berating the Referee for making a decision that didn't go their way (appealing for a handball that may or may not have been - my view wasn't good for this) - I was even more appalled by the reaction of the bench (apart from Jessie who genuinely looked concerned who players that went down) didn't see an issue.
Winning is always the mission - but winning dirty - up your game. (To be fair Some decisions or lack of by the Ref may have resulted in some of this happening, as he could've been firmer)
Selwyn on the other hand defended extremely well and played the dying 5(or 8) mins of extra time extremely well - and while Coastal might feel robbed of the game - play smarter.
Injuries have not helped Coastal in the second half of the MPL, with just one win and a draw in their last six games but poor conversion of their scoring chances has been their down fall this season. Sixteen goals in their first seven games, eight against and in the last six 9 for and 14 against.
Today they dominated the stats, attacks, possession - corners were 18 to 3 but Selwyn dominated the scoring stats and in the end that is the only stats that matters and lead to points.
Interestingly Coastal have the most individual scorers of all the teams in the MPL 14, but on the flip side their joint top scorer's MPL are Ant Jones, Aaron Spain, Ash Wellbourn and Haris Zeb - all the three goals, 3 players have scored twice and the other 7 a single strike.
History shows that if you are to finish near the top you need to have your top scorer(s) in double figures, even in a 14 game league.