Arsenal 3-2 Streets of London

The Streets of London FC were dealt a bitter blow in their opening away match of the season to rivals Arsenal in Folsom this evening.

With some late changes to the starting line-up, the Streets of London needed to put Andy Nelson between the posts after Don Bradshaw was a no-show for the game.

Under the advice of absent manager Kevin "The Guvnor" O'Brien, the Streets fielded Jon Taylor as sweeper with Andy Wylie, Steve Sims and Ian Baxter from left to right across the back line. Ed Gatjen started the half in right midfield with Tom Hillesland and Nick Mussor in the middle. Vadim Winkler closed out the mid section on the left of midfield, while Mike Daley and Dave Scribner, both nursing injuries, took their usual striker roles.

For much of the opening 20 minutes Arsenal did little to threaten the Streets. Anything that did get through the midfield was swiflty dealt with by the likes of Baxter, Taylor and Wylie. Wylie was quick to dispatch Winkler down the left and Scribner up front with some accurate toe-punts.

Some early shots from the Streets showed a level of spirit that was noticeably lacking in games from last season and the team was generally first to every open-play ball.

The hard work would pay off for the Streets of London. Nelson took a short goal kick to Wylie who launched the German rocket Winkler down the left flank. A touch to Mussor allowed the midfielder to round two players before touching across the edge of the box to Scribner. Scribners short pass found Hillesland who, in uncharacteristic fashion, softly tapped the ball goal-ward bound and into the back of the net.

The swift clean passing was a welcome sight to the packed stadium as the visitors took the lead. However, the Steets glory was short lived as 8 minutes later Arsenal pulled one back.

Arsenal pushed down their right flank and played the ball across the middle of the field to their right side where a midfielder ran on into the box past Baxter. Nelson came to the player but the shot snuck past his diving left hand and found the far corner of the visitors goal.

Moments later Nelson was forced into a save that almost exactly emulated the previous goal. Arsenal forward Kris Kuntz, formerly with Celtic Old Bhoys, came in from the same angle. Nelson stood his ground and saved as the Arsenal forward struck.

Both teams would go into the break feeling the score was a fair representation of play, although one could argue that the Streets of London might have had the edge.

Shortly after the break it would be the Streets of London that would retake the lead. Mussor was again instrumental in finding Scribner who crossed the ball for Daley to drive home.

With the score set at 2-1 in favor of the visitors and the gameplay edging in their favor Arsenal would need to dig deep to come back a second time. Midway through the second half they would get their opportunity.

After a few moments of intense pressure around the edge of the Streets of London box, it would be Arsenal striker Kris Kuntz who would mis-kick the ball as he shot at the goal. With a flury of defenders blocking his view, Nelson saw the ball late and was unable to reach it before it trickled over the line at the back post.

With the game tied up 2-2, a draw looked inevitable until 5 minutes from time when another goal-mouth scramble would see Arsenal clutch the win.

A shot came in from close range. Nelson tipped the ball onto the bar and as it dropped managed to get a hand to clear it. Unfortunately for the visiting side, the ball dropped on the edge of the six-yard box to an Arsenal midfielder.

The entire defensive line stood as if their feet were set in concrete and stared at the Arsenal player as he shot from near point-blank range into the goal.

Two defensive errors cost the Streets the first victory of the season. A hard lesson that will almost definitely have been learned.

The score line did not reflect the game-play, but at the end of the day it's the points in the bag that matter most.

Kevin "The Guvnor" O'Brien expressed his disappointment by phone from his airplane as he flew his wife back from an overseas trip.

"My understanding is that the team played well. We had some last minute changes to the squad that impacted everyone. We do need to close these holes that keep letting us down. I'm disappointed. I was hoping we would get a win in our first game."

The Streets of London will play their next match at home to Folsom United, the team recently promoted from the 3rd division.