A large squad turned up to our first home game in a long time. Inga gathered the team around and announced his starting line up as follows:Naz – GK Task – LB Woody – CB Dave – CB Weeman RB Slouch – LM Brian – CM Tim – CM JJ – RM Dave – CF Sharkey – CF The first 10 minutes was a fairly even affair with both teams trying to find their feet and neither really controlling the game. ASB’s defence was handing most of West Ham’s attack with Naz often coming off his line to make some crucial saves. At the other end ASB had a few long rang shots but weren’t really troubling the keeper. As the game went on the Hammer’s increased their intensity and started to win the 50 50 balls and this gave them more of the possession. It soon became evident that the Hammers danger man was their left winger as more and more their play was directed down the left side. With all possession West Ham were able to scored the first goal. It looked as though it was going to be one of those days for ASB. We were struggling to play our normal game and weren’t getting it out to the flanks where we are usually so dangerous. Brian was trying to lift the team with some strong tackles in the middle of the park and the few times that Slouch and JJ got the ball they looked dangerous. One of the few times ASB were in a dangerous position in the first half, we were awarded a free kick from about 20 yards out. With the box stacked full of bodies, Brian stepped up to take the free kick and smashed it through all the traffic and into the back of the net. It was 1 all. Was this to be the turning point for ASB and the lift that we needed? Unfortunately not! West Ham, to their credit, didn’t drop their heads and within 5 minutes had a free kick in a dangerous position. With the ASB defence asleep the Hammers took a clever free kick which saw their tricky left winger in open space. He knocked in a cross to the far post with unmarked West Ham player waiting. 2-1 to West Ham and the half time whistle went. In the second half a few changes were made. Frange came on for Weeman, JJ moved to Centre Forward with James taking his place on the right wing. The break had some benefit for ASB with their intensity lifting and having more possession. Unfortunately we still couldn’t find our normal game not through the lack of trying. Task was leading at the back and was talking non stop and helping direct play. JJ went close from outside the box but a fantastic save from the keeper denied him what would have been a great goal. Inga made some more changes but ASB still couldn’t get the equaliser. The whistle blew for full time. It was to be ASB’s first league loss of the season and a game we didn’t really deserve to win. | 
