The 60s were unfortunate last night in that they came up against a strong Woodnesborough team that remain in good form.
We struggled to get out at the start of the game and sat too far back which only encouraged Woodnesborough to play high and come at us. We struggled to control the ball in telling conditions where a wet pitch saw the ball zipping through to then, on occasion, catch a puddle and almost stop.
The opposition started the better and 3 swift goals in a relatively short period of time saw them take a commanding lead before 15 minutes were up with our defence encamped around our own goal area and there seeming to be no way out even when we had the ball. Jan made a few fantastic saves which really limited it to just 3, but then we remembered that we could play and we started to get going.
The last 5 minutes of the first half saw us start to peg the opposition back and they started to get a little frustrated as we defended better and were winning more possession. To go in at half time at just 3-0 down was a testament to how we had now started to play.
Following a slight tactical adjustment and the team being told to play higher up the pitch, the start of the second half saw us start as we had finished off the first. Fresh legs were brought on and we at last started to get some penetration with Steve Rich, Cedric and Geoff all getting shots away. The closest we came, however, was when Mark Chamberlain rattled their cross bar with their keeper beaten. We struggled to push but the chances were coming at both ends, Jan again being resilient in our goal.
It looked like the game was going to end 3-0 but they managed to work a chance at the very end of the game which eventually beat Jan and gave them their fourth goal, and that was how the match finished.
Woodnesborough showed why they are at the top of the league but we played some good football. This squad has developed throughout this season so far and, despite the scoreline, the way we played was much improved from where we had been at the start of the season and, indeed, our previous outings. Our discipline was good throughout and we avoided flirting with the edge of the goal area which has been our Achilles heel recently.
There have been a few new players come into the 60s this season with a few more new joiners to the club and members that are approaching their 60th birthday which will further bolster this squad. There were a few regular players missing last night and had they been available then things may have been different.
It must be said that Woodnesborough deserved the victory but there were certainly some positives for us to take from the game that should bode well for us going forward.
My thanks to the 9 players on the pitch last night, chins up. If you look at the game from when we started playing we only lost 1-0. Take confidence in how we played in the second half and know that we are improving game on game. There is no need to be concerned about any opposition but we must be on it from the start and play from the first whistle.
Thank you to the supporters who came out, despite the inclement weather, to give their usual vocal encouragement.
Lets start against Ashford tomorrow in the same way we finished this game.
Paul Jones Manager
