London Titans Football Club

A fantastic second half performance by the Titans at Regents Park last Sunday morning eventually saw off a stubbon Leftfooters side and set up an intriguing tie away to HotScots FC next January.In an un-earthly early kick off (well for gay football anyway) it was Titans who woke up first, Terry Connolly giving the keeper no chance, beating him from long range with a rasping shot after only 6 minutes.  This should have been a platform to build on but the Titans play got very congested down the middle and any threat was snuffed out by the Leftfooters defence.  In fact the good looking no. 27 up front for the ‘Footers was very nippy and cause problems for the Titans defence with his quick bursts of speed.  Eventually the Titans midfield worked out that if you got the ball out wide then you would cause the Leftfooters defence problems, so in the 29th minute Terry collected a weak ‘Footers clearance, passed out to Thomas Schuerch in space out on the left, he raced into the area and confidently shot passed the keeper to make it 0-2. 

In an unusual move Manager Ed Connell made three substitutions a couple of minutes from half time and while the new players were settling in the ‘Footers pulled a goal back.  Right on half time a lunging challenge resulted in a free kick out on the right, the kick was riffled in and was covered by keeper Dave Simpson until the ball hit a Titans defender and looped up and over him into the top corner of the goal to make it 1-2.  That was the half time score.

It was a scrappy half from a Titans point of view and a few choice words by Ed were needed to shake things up.  He responded by bringing on French starlet Julien and experienced midfielder Chris Maughan, the ex Falcon man making his Titans debut.  The changes had the desired effect and the Titans dominated the bulk of the second half scoring four more goals with out reply.  The third came after 53 minutes when a ‘Footers clearance was sliced back into their own penalty area leaving Matt Baker in space to send a curling shot past the keeper and into the far corner of the net, 1-3.  In the 69th minute (always a nice time to score) Terry took a throw in on the left throwing it to Julien, he gave it back to Terry who sent a deep cross to the far post for James Birch to head home from close range, 1-4.  The best goal of the match came seven minutes from time when Chris Maughan capped a great terrier like performance with a superb effort.  Finding himself in space 30 yards out he sent in an exorcet of a shot that ripped into the top corner of the net before the keeper had a chance to move, 1-5.  Titans scored their sixth and final goal in time added on, Sean Leahy, out on the left, sent in a curling cross that sailed over the keeper and into the far side of the goal, ”of course I meant it” said Sean, really!!!! replied the rest of us, whatever, it capped a fine second half performance by the Titans, who ran out winners by six goals to one.

Later that afternoon the quarter final draw of the GFN Cup was made and Titans drew HotScots FC away, the match scheduled to be played on Sunday 25th January 2009 in Edinburgh, giving the Titans the chance to avenge their opening day defeat at the hands of HotScots.