Shoebury Town v Corinthians
3(2) v 2(1)
Frost 2
League
05/02/11
As a part of the management team I’m never happy at losing any football game, this game was no exception. Shoebury were by and large the team that ‘got away with’ the result. A penalty a goal mouth scramble and their winner a sloppy defensive mistake were the reasons for their goals but in general most of the play was consistently made from us.
It must be said that were still letting teams play and allowing an established team like Shoebury time and space will in the end cause problems and goals. In the first half Shoebury passed the ball around us and we were giving the ball away too easily. The blind passes and the long ball was not effective and our football needed to improve. The second half I believe showed our quality and the fact that when we finally get our defensive ‘team game’ going we will be a force to be contended with.
In case people believe the goals were the defences fault, let me just explain although the goal mouth scramble should have been cleared and the penalty not conceded Shoebury were constantly finding the time to pass to there striker. In the third goal a runner from midfield waltzed in and a long ball beat our 3 centre backs. That’s no good and obviously a massive mistake but the pass was played from a Shoebury player with no pressure on him what so ever. Hence Shoebury got the advantage to easily and without to much opposition.
When we did string passes together and play like the team I don’t doubt we can become, we created opportunity and we scored 2 good goals. Frosts first was a proper goal poacher’s goal from a long quick assist from Karl in goal. Fast thinking Frosty applied pressure and Shoebury folded. Our second a flowing move started from the right hand side across the pitch and Frost finished with the outside of his boot.
We also in the second half we denied a third from the ref calling Frosts goal offside, it was a borderline one but we were still denied. Billy headed attempt nearly nestled in the top corner and Harley created merry havoc when arriving as a second half sub. What we do need to improve upon though is our ‘team defending’. I saw Frost and Lee B run 40 yards to close some one down, I saw Dan H fight for every ball and Charlie nearly but in a faultless display at Left back yet we conceded three and was lucky it wasn’t more. Karl made a series of good saves and outstanding one on the hour when Shoebury hit the bar and got the rebound, and as I said there was that first half.
We need to defend like a team, hunt in packs and not like individuals, we can create good football with some ease but we also shoot ourselves in the foot. 1-0 to the good and within 10 minuets 2-1 down…….Concede from a 35 yard long ball, dive into and miss tackles then find the defence out numbered……we need to stop these school boy errors and start keeping possession better or we will find all games as frustrating as this.
The attitude today though lads was delightful, there was passion and understanding. There was desire and much better positional play. Looking at the bench I saw depth and with lack of a better word spirit. Everyone wants to play, not everyone can in every game. Each game needs a certain set of tools or players and by using some kind of rota I feel we will find the right balance and progress. Each of those signed to the first team are important players. Plus all those signed to the first team are wanted and will gain opportunity to prove them selves and help the team get the right results.
A thank you to all today I feel although the result was wrong the rest of the day wasn’t and we are not far from creating a vibrant team spirit and collective team focus.
Name
Rating
Scored
Mom
karl
7.5
Great saves at key times and an asst. No chance with any of the goals.
Andy
6.5
Weird position for you good in the tackle a little poor in the distribution today
Billy
7
Excellent positional play, unlucky not to get on the board.
Neil
6.5
Game of too halves, the pen and the missed tackle and the influential leadership
Charlie
8
X
Near faultless at left back / left wing back. Offered help to attack and defence.
Sam
8
Look calm and assured, enjoyed the change in formation
Kemp
7
Quiet in the first half never lost a hear in the second
Dan H
7
Great in the first half, sacrificed when we pushed for the equalizer
Mike
8
X
Quiet first 15 mins then burst to life. Created and defended consistently
Frost
8
Welcome back, best performance clearly for some time and too good goals
Lee B
7
Run for the cause still need a few weeks to get some sort of sharpness
Ewan
7
Came on and made a massive difference to the defence.
Harley
7
A constant menace wish you were here from the start
Parker
6.5
Perhaps too late to make such an impact as you have done all year.
