So onto the 2nd league game of the season and we started off brightly with lots of positive play against a side that only had 9 men at kick off time. We were passing the ball well and playing possibly our best football to date, building patiently and confidently. However as the half progressed we seemed to lose discipline and composure and when we conceded, much against the run of play, it was time to test our spirit. Despite the call to remain calm and play our football, the rythmn that we'd established was lost and shortly after the score was 2-0 to a young but talented Tattenhoe side. A special mention for the Tattenhoe side was that despite their young age for the most part they certainly had a few gifted players who I'm sure we'll see playing at a higher level in the next few years.
The conceding of the 2nd goal though threatened to derail our entire game as it sparked a mid pitch argument that showed that we still have work to do on our attitudes towards each other and our temperament. As the substitutes warmed up ready to make a change the gaffer asked how long was remaining until half time and was told 1 minute.
At half time there was an enforced change as influential defender Joe Slinn felt that he could not continue into the 2nd half of the game. This meant that skipper Jamie Lands was reverted into defence with Simon Carse given his first opportunity of the season up top. The change in personnel did not change the formation or the impetus to play good football and the game was back on for the 2nd half after a calm but firm team talk from the gaffer in which he made it very clear to all that the attitude had to be improved along with the work rate.
So into the 2nd half and with not much time on the clock the decision to introduce Simon Carse seemed to be an inspired one when he scored to not only get us a consolation goal but a brace ensured that we were back on level terms. The tempo of the game had swung in our favour again with some real classy football being played and despite living life dangerously on occasions we prevailed and in fact managed to get another couple of goals up with Colin Winn and Nick Crossley adding to the score.
With the game heading towards the end there were 2 more substitutions to be made and 1st Scott Wilson was introduced with Lewis Lawson making way at full back and then the withdrawal of Nick Sidwell meant the intorduction of the rapidly improving Aaron Wardle. Despite conceding another goal the win never really seemed in doubt as the game wore its way to its conclusion.
After the warm down we all retreated to the changing room where the gaffer spoke about the transformation of the 2 halves and again reiterated that the attitude displayed at times in the 1st half would not be allowed to be repeated. But then went on to praise the efforts and the footballing ability that the lads had shown in the 2nd half. He reminded them that they are still a young side in terms of playing with each other and that improvements had been shown but needed to continue in order for us to reach our potential. A special mention was made of MOTM Colin Winn whose work rate and intelligent runs were a highlight of the game and for the 1st time were noticed and picked out time and again.
That makes us 2 in 2 so far onto 2 strong training sessions to aclimatise us to the formation and positional sense needed for it and then we look to go into the Saturday afternoon games and hope to go 3 in 3 in 10 days time!
