Gutted!!! As I write this match report I feel is a mixture of pride and disappointment. Pride in the performance, but gutted in the result. The fine margins and drama sport can provide are why we love sport, but sometimes it can be cruel.
That said on a beautiful autumn morning the opening 4 mins were a disaster, we started the match with most of the team still half asleep with sloppy passes and slow reactions and we allowed the Dolphins to score with their first attack. In only the second minute the Dolphins attacked with numbers with the midfield not coming back quick enough they over ran the defence and finished with a low shot in the bottom corner.
However, that gave us the jolt they clearly needed and the Spitfires burst into life, within the next couple of minutes shots from Zaim, Jeff and Sam all tested the Dolphins keeper. We started to win the midfield battle with Finley and Jeff, and Thomas and Zaim were brilliant on the wings. Last week we did not make our periods of dominance count, but this week we did all be it a little route one!! From a drop kick from James in goal and the defence misjudging the bounce with the low sun Thomas was in on goal and calmly slide the ball under the keeper for his first of the season. We were back in the game!!
The Dolphins are a good side and our defence was magnificent a combination of Connor, Austin, Oliver and Lucas were putting in brave tackles, interceptions, blocks and headers to repel their attacks. Oliver had several lung bursting runs out of defence into midfield to start attacks and Connor produced some wonderful passes to build attacks as we continued to press.
In previous matches we have started the second half slowly, but not today. We continued where we left off, with excellent set piece delivery we came so close to scoring where any touch would have resulted in a goal. The game was very entertaining with both teams trying to get the advantage, but the turning point came in the last few minutes. With 5 mins to goal we had a corner and what ensued was a massive goal mouth scramble we probably had five shots on goal and somehow through woodwork, excellent keeping and brave blocks the Dolphins managed to scramble to ball away - where is goal line technology when you need it!!
But we were made to pay for not taking that chance and with two minutes to play and despite some wonderfully brave and resolute defending as we pushed for a winner we got caught and the Dolphins scored the winner with a shot from the angle which eluded last ditch tackles and a despairing dive.
At the full time whistle you could see that we had given everything, it just was not our day. Although it is hard to take we can be so proud of the performance, the bravery and the application we just were not clinical enough and came up short. I am gutted for them as they deserved at least a point, but we are improving in a tough division. James was great in goal, Thomas and Zaim had their best games so far this season and Oliver's set pieces were terrific. However, MOTM was Connor, I lost count of the number of blocks, tackles, headers and interceptions in defence he made and as a result we limited them to long range shots for much of the game.
I truly believe it will come, but it will take time as the step up is huge. From what I witnessed today we can do it in this division they are capable we just need belief, character and maybe after today a little luck to get that first win to build upon.
