Ensign v Corinthians
1(0) v 2(0)
Frost 2
League
12/03/11
Today’s performance was not pretty nor was it going to be an advert for our season’s efforts and progress but we did what we had to do. We dug in and ground out the result. In many was this means it was a welcome win. We can take from the game that have played much better and not got the result, yet today against a spirited Ensign we won ugly and gave a shift which we might need to replicate several more times this year.
In retrospect of the game I will say this if we played like this 15 times a year we would be in the top 3 teams in the league. Teams like Stambridge, Rochford or Southchurch don’t necessary play bright, fast football they grind out results and churn their way to titles. Perhaps when we look back at this game we might see that our improvement as a side and a team has come from games where we played like one. I think we did a good job and I also think I’d take another week like this if the result was the same.
Looking at the team over two years this one and last I feel we would of lost this type of game a while ago. Our resilience and team spirit has developed and we have a bit more spine when things get a bit uglier. This could be two fold, we are all playing for our places in the team and each of us have people breathing down our necks for a crack at playing. The second reason is our belief is much greater, let’s continue this lets put ourselves up against the teams I have mentioned and dig in, scrap and fight for what should be ours.
It was unfortunate to lose Dan H at the kick off and Ant who got called into work but we did welcome Luke for his debut and Matt A back from his charity event so we only had to re-jiggle the team a little from the one that played so well against Borough. All in all I felt the first half was all ours we did most of the attacking, Harley hitting the post, Frosty creating havoc and the midfield supporting well and popping a few long shots off. Our passing suffered a little and our communication needed to be improved so we could of slowed down the ball and control it more but such was the game. It ended up being a bit kick and rush so 0-0 at half time was possibly justified.
We had a chat at half time and you took in what was said, so within 10 minuets of the restart up pops Frost to get his first. We looked then like we were never going to lose but we also looked a bit disjointed. This is probably why we conceded another sloppy goal but at least it wasn’t to damaging in the end. I know we had to change a few things during the game and different people were moved about but we got the result and even today it seems like I can forget the game quiet easily, we just move on with more points on the board and our winning streak intact.
My thanks goes to the ref who I quote, ‘I looked at my watch in the second half and realised I hadn’t started it’. A quality call and management of the game which allowed us to actually win the game in the 54 minute of the second half…………..Rochford next week, ugly or pretty Im after the win to make yet another statement lads. Keep it up.
Name
Rating
Scored
Mom
Breakdown
Karl
6.5
Not at fault for goal, flapped a couple but solid. Reliable when needed
Ewan
6.5
Great man marking and unsung efforts today mate, sacrificed for the win
Sam
6.5
Had to work hard today with ensigns work rate rarely out of position
Neil
6.5
Threat from the set pieces and solid into the tackle, starting to show form
Charlie
6.5
Simply Mr consistent, had everything covered and offered help to the attack
Andy
6.5
Slotted in and done very well, first 5 was a bit slow
Kemp
6.5
Battled and harried with two new partners in midfield, drove the team, Solid performance.
Luke W
6.5
Debut in midfield looked assured and when reverted to C Back easily dominated.
Harley
6.5
One of those weeks, ran all day, hit the post but couldn’t get the final reward.
Mike E
6.5
Had to work hard to get any of the ball, worked back very well.
Frost
7
2
Came good after last weeks efforts, Won us the game
Tom P
6
Came on settle fast, linked very well.
Lee B
6
Saved for the overall doomed master plan, came on and worked endlessly.
Matt A
6
Slotted into left back and managed to look good, solid and towards the end of the match saw the funny side of his double touch.
