MEDWAY MESSENGER REPORT - Monday 2nd December 2019
Cover Photo by Jannes Glas on Unsplash
Lordswood keeper Rilwan Anibaba continued his remarkable season on Saturday with another penalty save.
Anibaba actually faced two spotkicks at Punjab United, saving one effort and seeing another put wide of the post after his delaying tactics seemed to get into the mind of his opponent.
It's not the first time the Lords keeper has come to his team's rescue this term - he saved penalties in both cup competitions against K Sports - and his latest antics earned high praise from his manager.
"For me he is one of the best keepers in the league, I know we wouldn't change him!"
said Lordswood boss Darren Anslow about the former Beckenham and Sevenoaks keeper.
"After the game Punjab were raving about him and how he came and punched or caught crosses. He dominated his area well and was commanding.
"We think it's down to a lot of practice. He is fantastic from them and I think he is learning to read what the penalty taker is going to do more and more. It's not an accident to save that many is it? He is a very good keeper at this level."
Emmanuel Maja's goal in the second half proved the difference between the two teams, although Lordswood were on the backfoot for long periods, especially in the first half.
"It was a bit of a smash and grab if i'm honest," added Anslow. "They battered us in the first half. The pitch was heavy and we dropped a bit deeper.
"In the second half we were a lot more resilient. We didn't play well but we dug in and tuck to the task.
"It wasn't a pretty game but we battered Erith & Belvedere and lost 2-1 so we've played a lot better and not won games.
"It's about finding a different way to win. It looked like men against boys in the first half but it didn't in the second half, we matched their physicality a lot better."