A great all round performance from everyone was not enough to see off the team that have become our kryptonite. After the reverse fixture 2 weeks ago we knew that we could easily match the Saints all over the field, and our second half performance last time round showed that.
Going into the game we we missing two big players with N.Brace getting injured in a collision last week against Bricklayers (Cracked ribs) and a training ground accident had ruled Grace out (Knee ligament damage). Adding to that Wadhams still carrying the knock from the last game vs the Saints and Slater not being 100% fit we knew we would have to give it 110% but still had a stong line up.
Due to the injuries we switched a few things around, with Slater joing D.Brace in the centre of defence and moving Ilidio up front. We added to the changes with Edwards and Newberry switching flanks due to the bulk of the attack last time coming down our left flank, and the pace of their right winger meant Joel was more suited to sticking with that oppenent. Rowett continued his merry go round of the team, moving to left mid, Kemp started on the right and Wadhams, Siggins and Shambrook playing in the centre with the later sitting deeper.
Our previous outings this season have all started the same, with the first 15 mins being very unsettled and players doubting their own ability on the ball. Not this week. From the off we keep tight in defence and everyone was getting into positions to recieve the ball. The first half saw us equalling everyting the Saints tried to throw at us, with lots of pressure in the middle of the park from our centre trio, and on the few occosions it got that far, the pace and power of Slater prevented any through balls from coming off. D.Brace's composure and reading of the game was the perfect partner to this. Some good passages of play were undoing the Saints defence, who were very organised last time out. From a throw in just in our half, Siggins threw the ball the D.Brace who epitimised his composure on the ball by taking a touch, looking up and deciding to play the simple ball across to Slater. The composure was rubbing off as Slater also took a touch, looked up and played an inch perfect ball over the top to pick out Kemp's run. The defender had just managed to get across but Kemp's hussling allowed him to steal the ball off him and move into the 20 yard box and play a pass back the Wadhams who had come steaming into the box and then played a placed shot that the keeper unfortunatly got the better of. It would have been a great team goal, and was just one passage where the passing and moving game we are so good at was getting us good chances.
Mid way through the first half came the first of a few, debatable decisions from the ref. After an attack from us, the Saints played the long ball once again, which was initially cut out well from Edwards, but the second ball fell to another member of the oppostition who played the ball through the their front man. Slater got on his bike and was on the player in moments. Then came the controversy as slater jumped to head the ball on the bounce, the two players came together in the box and their man was holding Slater who was leaning into him to try and collect the loose ball. Penalty. A very soft one at that as both players were tussling for the the ball and no clear foul was commited by Slater who was getting a few kicks for his efforts. Justice was done though when the penalty came pinging off the upright and the follow up play resulted in an offside flag being raised. A very debatable penalty but a let off none the less. More, positive attacking football followed with good chances coming from a Shambrook volley and a Siggins free kick that the keeper just got to and the follow up just wouldn't find its way in. They were on the bakc foot and were showing their frustration by flying in for challanges, and lots of nicking away at Kemp as Wadhams as they ran riot down the right flan and like wise on Siggins who was haing jaunts down the left. A good header from D.Brace from an Ilidio corner was the last real chance in the 1st half and we went in at the break knowing we had the better of them.
The second half carried on much the same as the first, with our defence holding out whenever the Saints came at us. Newberry was relentless at right back, at times having two players for company, and Joel was continuing his great start to the season, always being an option and choosing his runs wisely when he got forwad to join the attacks. Shambrook was making the holding run his own, being a real presence in the middle, and his late runs into the box were causing mayhem. Wadhams, as always was box to box, making runs with and without the ball and getting back to make important challenges. Even with his ankle not being 100% he can still run around all day. Siggins, who celebrated his birthday on Thursday was not showing any signs of ageing as he too was popping up all over the park. Ilidio was holding the line well, holding the ball well and bringing the flowing midfield into play. It's hard work being the lone striker but Ilidio was always chasing the ball, even the lost causes that he would sometimes get on to. Ivo was having a quiet game with the most action being collecting the ball when it went over the defence. His kicking was once again good, with good distance and better consistancy than last season.
The Saints only real chance got them the goal that would ultimately win it. An optimistic ball over the top cleared our midfield, who were perhaps running a little low on juice after a very hard fought game. Newberry did well to stop the initial danger with a stretched block stopping the ball from skipping to the advacning winger. Unfortunately the ball fell to another opponent who made tracks toward our goal. Slater was speeding to cut out the danger and another second or so and he would have been ther, but the player was already in the box and as Ivo came off his line to narrow the angle, their man squeezed in a shot. Goal. Previous seasons would've seen this goal open the floodgates, but with 25 mins left and us knowing we were just the better team, we held our heads high and nearly got the instant equaliser that would've got us back in it. Straight from the restart, Siggins found Wadhams on the wing whose jinking run took him towards goal. He then laid the ball off to Rowett whose first touch took it onto his weaker left and the resulting shot went straight at the keeper who still had work to do to tip it over the bar. It was a good chance but a hard one due to the pace in the movement from Rowett and Wadhams. This spurned us on and lots of encouragement was coming from everyone. We wanted this and we knew it was within our grasp. Pushing Slater up for the last 10 mins meant we were rarely in our half with lots of postition and half clearences from their defence always getting picked up by one of us. Unfortunately for us it was never to be, and a hard defeat to swallow was the result. An injury to Edwards in the 2nd half added to the bad day, but Lewington looked sharp in his first appearence this season, and picked up the pace of the game effortlessly.
So a great perfomance wasn't quite enough, but we can play even better than this, and when we do we will cause other teams problems. Divine intervention may have helped the Saints, but the Cobras will bite back, and hopefully in next weeks big game against league leaders Grange United. SCFC.
