Double Trouble!!!
This was our most important game of the season to date and it was a real disappointment to lose 1-0 to a tough Clayton outfit after a controversial late goal boosted our nearest rival’s chances of catching us at the top of the table.
The first half saw Clayton taking the game to Heyside and their combative style certainly unsettled some of our boys today. I don’t remember a game at this level with so many free kicks for fouls – the referee could perhaps have taken firmer action on a couple of persistent offenders but on this occasion chose not to do so.
Lennon and Joel were both outstanding in defence and George in goal did all that was required as well as distributing the ball quickly and accurately to his team mates. Aaron started his first game for the B team and deserves great credit for a hardworking display even though he was on the receiving end of most of the wild tackles. On another day he might just have won the game for us but today the ball just didn’t run kindly for him and the finish or the final ball was slightly off target.
Elsewhere there was good play from Ryan, Matty Louis and Jack but more is needed in terms of keeping their positions and using the ball better. We have good players in the team but we need to play as a team and not individuals.
In all fairness the second half display was much better and although George was forced to save well on occasions we had looked the likelier side to break the deadlock as Aaron, Matty and Louis had chances to score but also some opportunities were thrown away by the final pass or cross spoiling some good approach play.
Just as the game seemed certain to end as a 0-0 draw the ball ended up in the back of the Heyside net as the unsighted referee failed to spot a blatant push on George as he collected a loose ball at the second attempt and both the ball and poor George were bundled over the line much to the disgust of the nearby Heyside supporters.
Our disappointment at the result was soon compounded as the A team also fell to Clayton after a great start so the gap at the top of the league has been cut to just 4 points with all to play for in the remaining 8 games.
MOM: Although there were great displays from Joel, Lennon and Aaron all the boys were as one in putting George’s name forward for the award after another good display. That’s good team spirit and something to build on – when I looked over and saw 1 of the Clayton boys attack his team mate as the game ended the result didn’t seem quite as important! Still top boys – let’s get a run going again and make sure we stay there!!!
