Match report
Trix 3
Beacy 1
This was always going to be a tough ask, Trix are on the verge of winning the league and today's result must now make them favourites to seal this next week.
Questions marks have to be raised as to why Trix are playing in the league with them playing on the outskirts of Slough, that said the facility's where as good as you will find in the league.
With the decent playing conditions it was an ideal opportunity for us to try and get the ball down and play the football we are capable of to exploit what I personally felt was a weak Trix defence. This never materialised particularly in the first half we were on the back foot for long periods, early exchanges saw Trix force several corners and an early free kick which was well saved, on 15 mins a perfectly good challenge by Bumpstead was misinterpreted by the ref who awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal(the first of many poor decisions). Luke carr stepped up and struck a powerful effort, Chris got a hand to it but failed to keep it out 0-1. Minutes later skipper Matt Gunnell was booked for what the ref interpreted as leading with an elbow when challenging for an aerial ball. A second goal arrived when the normally reliable bumpy miss judged a high bouncing ball which allowed dan Saunders to head on over summers 0-2. In between this Ryan should of done better when well positioned, only to drag a shot wide. 10 minutes before half time bumpy was on the end of a high boot which left the big centre back disorientated and with a nasty mark to side of the face, the striker was rightly booked and could have little complaint. Moments before half time manager Gunnell showed what a lot of players are not capable with his worldy left foot and sweetly connected with a strike as the ball left the pitch... Unfortunately what he thought he had connected with was the football in fact he had connected with substitute Shaun Cokers ankle who was also trying to kick the same ball back into play, the 6ft 5 man left rolling around in agony in his Holyport training gear. Half time arrived with very little other incident and a chance to regroup 0-2.
No changes made at half time with the message that they were to come pretty soon if we could not find a way back into the game, second half began with others controlling the play but as with previous weeks we could not find a crucial breakthrough, Trix were very much playing on the break, although this was being defended well. Taking no risks with the head injury bumpstead had suffered manager Gunnell took his centre back of and replaced him with Shaun Coker on 60 minutes, this allowed a change in shape to a 4-4-2, with Ebberson who was outstanding all game moving into centre half and the Coker brothers now playing upfront. Within minutes of the change we pulled a goal back, a long ball forward found the head of Ryan Coker whose flick on fell into
The path of Shaun, who hammered the ball home from just inside the area(a great finish). A double sub was them made with rodriguez and carpenter being replaced by wilkinson and debutant gray. The pressure continued and on the odd counter attack, by this time the manager was running the line and was getting abuse if there striker, bizzarly you for NOT flagging him offside, hands up if was mistake but as we know with this Trix lot intelligence doesn't come naturally to them (whilst the manager is involved in setting up a new mortgage company I guess most of these guys spend there day asking if people want to supersize their fries or if people want to buy to Apple pies for £1.50). Anyway back to the game, we continued to force the play and an almighty goalmouth scramble nearly saw us force an equaliser with 5 minutes to go, although the ball would not go in, kind of Sums up how the last few weeks have gone. Then with a couple of minutes left the Trix linesman who had been smoking his own home grown decided a ball had not gone out of play(despite Trix players admitting it had), the ball went forward and Asher Jennings got thru on goal, his week shot at summers squirmed through the keepers grasp and trickled into the net 1-3 & game over. Infuriated with the decision and the third goal our manager lost his head and threw the linesman flag down the touchline, allegedly breaking it before try to confront the ref who had just booked both Coker brothers for their protests. The game then fizzled out and finished 1-3 to hand Trix a massive boost In their title charge.
Has to be said that I was out of order for my actions, just annoyed that we are getting nothing decision wise from refs and every error we make is getting punished at the moment. I have empossed. a fine on myself and will be putting £50 in the club drinks kitty for end of season do, assuming I don't get a fine of the league for my conduct. Not good enough from me and I treat myself as I would anyone else acting in this manor, I will counter that by saying I am so desperate to be successful as a team That I get embroiled in stuff I shouldn't.
I would also take the opportunity to point out rich Davies deserves great credit, I had been in his ear about going down to try and win us cheap free kicks or penalties, again I should not have allowed myself to get stopped to their level, thankfully Richard refused & acted has he has all season, which has been as a proper sportsman and all round good bloke.
Shaun, Ryan and Matt - I feel your yellow card where all harsh yesterday, lesson learnt if we get this ref again!
Second half on the whole I thought the effort was first class and the team spirit shone through, In the toughest of games I saw people working together & not getting on each others backs.
Man of match (picked by Jason's dad) - Matt Gunnell for another outstanding performance, I will add last few weeks I feel he has stepped up a level and has been outstanding in a team who are struggling.
I would also like to highlight the performance of Pete, I felt this was his best display of the season & unlucky not to score. Shaun also deserves credit, as a sub he livened us up going forward, and hopefully can start games in the not to distant future.
Ratings
Summers - 6
Wingfield - 7
Carpenter - 7
Gunnell - 8.5
Bumpstead - 6.5
Piercey - 7
Douglas - 7
Ebberson - 8
Davies - 7
Rodriguez - 7
R Coker - 7
Subs
S. Coker - 7.5
Wilkinson - 6.5
Gray - 6
