Well boys, we just didn’t turn up today. Give Royals credit, they worked extremely hard and deserved the win but I do think if we could have at least matched their work rate, the result might have been different.
We started the game extremely poorly which seemed to set the tone for our overall performance on the day. We were second to every ball and generally didn’t look up for the fight which this game was undoubtedly going to be which I admittedly, should have probably realized from the outset.
Royals didn’t play particularly attractive football but were effective in what they did. They made the pitch as wide as possible by keeping their wingers right on the touchline and switched the ball from right to left when possible. I think our new formation didn’t quite cut it on the day and I think a different approach will be needed when we play Royals again.
The first goal we conceded was particularly hard to swallow even though we were on the back foot at the time. The Royals winger played in a rather hopeful ball from the right which wasn’t defended nearly well enough at the back stick which lead to a Royals player volleying past Luke to make the game 0-1. We continued to struggle to match Royals intensity and regularly looked vulnerable in our defending as a unit. We did however manage to stay on level turns and might have even equalized after Raymond cleverly got the ball on his left foot just outside the six yard area but could only see his shot save by the Royals keeper. 0-1 at half time.
The second half was similar to the first in terms of our commitment and quality. We couldn’t seem to get our foot on the ball in all areas of the park and the lack of confidence in a lot of us was clear to see. We did try our hardest to get Eddy & Mumford in behind the Royals backline but it unfortunately just didn’t happen. We did manage to stay in the game at 0-1 for the majority of the second half but were finally undone roughly 10 minutes from time with a goal which signaled the end of our hopes of taking anything away from the game. The third and final game was added shortly afterwards which rounded up a bad morning for us at West Byfleet Rec.
I would like to add one extra thing and that was our attitude towards one another from the first whistle. The reaction from a player putting even a foot wrong was met with an immediate groan or huff which I haven’t witnessed in sometime and I hope I won’t see again anytime soon. We all get on and this should at no time be happening, especially 5 minutes into the match!!
I don’t think we should dwell on this result any longer. We have an opportunity to put things right by putting in a shift and a performance this weekend against Knaphill and only 100% commitment from each player will lead to a positive result!
COYH!!!!!!!
