So, As you know, I was away for the Dave cup. In the hot seat this week were Dale and Ben. I must say what a fine job they did too! Thank you fellas. It did take a bit of chasing getting a match report out of them (Ben!), esp' as I was off to the Ryder cup for the weekend, so appologies for the lateness of this match report!
The Following is form your Cap and the Machine. The marks are a 50/50 split of their opinions of the game.
Ben:
It was great to see another start to the game where we were up for it from the minute the first whistle blew and we started incredibly well, with plenty of possession and creating early chances, and our goal scoring MACHINE duly obliged by sticking a Kieran pass in to the box in to the back of the net!Another early lead for the Rotten!
What we need to do is push on from the early leads, but as we have already seen this season we seem to take our foot off the gas as we think we are going to walk it, and sure enough the Oxhey side which may be limited on talent but always give 110% got back into it, 1-1.
Alkie decided he was then going to get us the lead back single handedly by closing down and harassing their defender who surrendered the ball.Our MAN ON FIRE then skipped passed another defender as he burst into their box, took it round the keeper and with the outside of his right boot finished with great composure and style!
We continued to play our attacking football creating lots more chances but were unable to take them with shots going just past the post or over the bar from 3 yards out.
The next passage of play was very unfortunate as a long ball came in from the Oxhey right hand side across our box and Gary gave a composed header back to our keeper, except our keeper had come to collect the cross and instead the ball ended up in the back of our own net.Mistakes happen in football lads, it is early in the season and we are still getting into our rhythm and we will cut them out.But it was the start of worse to come…
It has been a shame to see that moaning at our own players has started to come into Potten End over the last couple of seasons.I think it comes partly from the expectation we now have of ourselves to do well and be successfully, and we now have high standards that we expect every week.Nolan commented that the body language looked poor and tried encouraging the team to get back on track but as we went on the negativity and comments had started.This took us off our game, we looked like individuals out there rather than a team.
10 mins into the second half bad went to worse as Oxhey gambled on a half chance and the 2nd rebound fell to their striker again who duly tapped it into the net – behind in the Dave cup against a team we knew we shouldn’t be losing to.When things aren’t going our way we need to respond in the right way – digging deep and finding our resolve to get back into the game – the Potten End way.What actually happened was even more bitching and moaning with additional players getting involved.This is not good enough and it stops NOW.It seemed to be aimed at the defensive players for their mistakes and not getting the ball forward quick enough but may I remind you when an easy goal was missed from 3 yards out there was no negativity, just team-mates telling the player “better luck next time”.
Fortunately there were still some players out there that were trying to encourage the team on and lead by example, we kept chipping away at them and sure enough a ball was put into the box with enough quality to leave the defense stood still so that all the striker had to do was nod it past the keeper.It was still a big pressure goal to score in the circumstances but the MACHINE was there to be counted and got us back level to take the game to extra time.
Then we decided to play.On FaceBook the PESC have claimed it is the best they have ever seen Potten End play.I find it hard to disagree, the short passing and movement was absolutely superb.My only concern is where was this for the first 90 mins of the game!It didn’t take long to get in front again with Gareth whipping in a dangerous ball that was heavily contested for between their defender and Chris with Chris claiming the last touch.We continued to knock the ball in style around a now deflated Oxhey team which culminated in our fifth goal and the MACHINE picking up his 2nd hatrick in two games!Take a bow son!But the real heros are those that dug deep at 3-2 down (instead of moaning) to get us back in the game – Thank You.
Machine:
Well here goes, my first match report which is actually harder than it seems. Gav fair play for remembering each kick through the 90 minutes.
A start from Potten that we should be thinking about each week here on in. The balls were won from the defence to midfield and slotted through to the forwards. Ihad three runs which ended with a good tackle, a shot on target and a goal within the first ten minutes set up kindly by Ben. Good work.
The first Oxhey goal came from a free kick which was snuck under the wall which sometimes cannot be helped.
We responded well, a short time later a ball came over from the back and was headed yes headed by myself into their box. Queue Alkie who’s strength, speed and acceleration work wonders as he flew passed their defence, knocked it passed the keeper and tapped in for 2 - 1 Potten.
The second Oxhey goal was down to a lack of communication and a rare mistake from the gladiator Gary. A great header passed Mark drew us level and there ended the first half.
The second half begun however it didn’t match how we begun the first. Dan T took up position in midfield with Kieran who I feel wants to be a more attacking player took a rest.Alky walked off injured shortly after and Gareth came on. Keep that head up Kieran I know you were frustrated. Oxhey scored to go ahead for the first time after a hot potato moment from Mark. This however didn’t cause our heads to go down and in true Potten style we dug in and hunted an equalizer. This came after Ben placed a lobbed ball over the defence and I headed the ball for the second time which actually went in the goal. 3 - 3. The match ended a draw with extra time to follow.
The first half of E/T was all Potten and a goal came from a great free kick swung in by Gareth. Now some would say that it was an O/G but I certainly wouldn’t stand up in court to confirm who scored it. So Mr Wren who was defiantly the closet to it before it went in claimed it. After his strong performance I feel it was deserved.
The second half of E/T was again mainly Potten. Nolan went off for Steve who came into midfield and Chris strengthened the defence to see the game out. One last goal by myself from a superb ball in by Gareth made it 5 - 3 for the win and into the next round of the Dave cup.
Well done boys we have scored 14 goals in 3 games which is a positive but in true Potten style those crappy scrappy goals are finding themselves in the back of the net. We have held onto our unluckiness.
Keep it Rotten!
