What a disappointing score line, the fervour was high after the win over Bedians, the anticipation was hot and the weather likewise. A very strong team, weakened by the late withdrawal of new boy Wells..we missed him!!
We were there early, dressed and changed before the opposition (well and Dixie and cookie). The game started brightly for the visitors, but a strong wind blew our clearances towards the heads of sterling centre half Hill pairing. Strong and tall, but not very fast or skilful. the ball kept coming back when we cleared from goal kicks or long balls.
But a chink of light, Bradley, wide to Niven, wider to Thompson, a precision chip to Tok, behind the back line and 1-0 to the visitors and not a long ball played in a passing move in the vision of our new “swansea-esque” style. But before the half hour the old frailties appeared...set plays...2 resulted in headers in off the cross bar, one from an un-challenged right wing cross, the second from a corner headed down and up against the bar. The wind was proving a challenge............ and then maybe the defining moment. Thompson, beat the defender, pushed the ball a little too far and in trying to pull the ball back, tweaked the proverbial ham and his race was run. A shame because the performance from right midfield was assured and confident, defending with sensible balance and terrorising the Hill left back and wide midfield men.....who lets face it were terrified.
Hill pushed 3 in midfield and this seemed to give them an edge especially winning the second ball again and again. but the visitors played the better football, and got a “deserved” (well maybe) equaliser, not long after a penalty may have gone against us (wright, bundling over the Hill front man just before he cocked his foot). But then MoM Wright having a great performance down the left, leaner, fitter and definitely with more running in the tank, crossed the ball.....was it a scuff...well maybe...but it fell to dixie a twist here, a shimmie there and crashed into the back of the net...he will score a bundle of goals this season, lets keep feeding the Dix!
The half time team talk was easy...more of the same , the wind was to their advantage in the first hal, but no help to a football team except for clearing our lines, more passing rather than less and lets stop giving silly free kicks away...adn we will win this game.
In the second half all went according to plan, we followed all those rules..... except the score line....we were the better team, we had chance after chance, hit the bar, hit the post, last gasp clearances and a goalkeeper in form....sadly at the other end, the ref...who was actually alright, missed the blatant hand-ball as the midfield mistro for Hill, pulled the ball in to his path with clear intent, passed on to wanker number 20 and we can’t complain about the second decision in the move, Cookie clearly pulled him down, the major sin not kicking the b@*$tard hard enough in the process, thinks the boss!!
3-2, very harsh!
More golden chances spurned by Dixie, Eales and probably Locke...our luck summed up when Wright pulled the ball back, locke waiting for a tap in, when the Hill defender waved his back foot in desperation, making enough contact to push the ball away from the Locke contact zone and away for a corner.
Finally to add insult to injury, in pretty much the home teams only other foray into the visitors defence, a clearly off side striker slid the ball past the otherwise under utilised JK!
A sad start, but some good performances, especially from PEM, Bradley and Cookie the latter never missing a header. The two hill strikers were lively, but hardly got the better of the visitors back four in open play. Mark Hads improving with every game...now ignoring pleas to go long with teh ball....to run down the wing and slide rule a pass to the slightly grumpy and off the pace WoD. Tok, Chris and Mike battled against the extra man in midfield tenacious and tough, but maybe lacking a bit of match sharpness (especially Chirs, who we know will improve as the season prolongs).
The mangers only gripe....lets not fight with each other, we never have before and lets not start now....
Next week, home on the massive Orford no. 1 pitch v high lane, lets keep the faith and keep passing!!
rob
