After an opening day 6-1 thumping and people withdrawing very late on (not my style) I wasn't sure if we would be strong enough to handle a tough, physical and dominating side.
I was pleasantly surprised to see their best player on the sidelines (not getting kitted up) and the long-haired centre forward that caused us a few problems was nowhere to be seen.
But don't forget the players that weren't available:
Abs, Dom, Pad, Elvin, Greenwood, oh and Finley who had the flu (even though he offered to come down and stand there). Bit like every other week I hear you cry!!
Anyway, we got to 15 mins before kick off and Stevo hadn't arrived as he was at home playing with is hampton!!!
We started with what was a solid back 5, Rich and Al gave us that little bit of compsure and quality that we have lacked in some games this season. Pagey and Chinders were always giving options and Joel and Dan (making his debut) were great on the ball in the middle of the park.
I know it was Dan's first game and Daz has been out for a while but work rate, common sense and positioning are definitely on your 'could do better' list for this season!
Barrett and Joel were great helping out going forward but again, a little bit quicker getting back to help out would have been needed if they didn't keep over hitting the ball down our right hand side!
I thought Chinders kept their left winger quiet but we didn't get doubled up on him quick enough from set pieces.
Up front we offered ourselves but Giles needs to be more inventive with his running. When coming short we keep running into our own players and when running forward with the ball we do same thing.
Without even the sniff of a threat on our goal for 20ish minutes Longy came out to gather what should have been a comfortable waist high ball from the right hand side of the area but lost his footing and couldn't re-adjust to gather the ball. Their striker, who was closing in, just toe poked it past Longy and then drove it into the empty net.
If ever a side didn't deserve to go 1-0 down it was us on Saturday, SORRY LADS! I have been saying that too many times in recent weeks!!!
They slung about 10 crosses in the box after their more relaxed, composed build up play and lucky for us they had no-one in the box to get on the end of them or they just couldn't allow for the wind as they kept knocking them too far past the back stick!
We were back on top near the end of the first half but just couldn't find the leveller. 1-0 down at the break.
Second half was pretty much the same. They had 2 chances that they should have scored from, a 20 yarder that was nestling in Longy's top right hand corner that he somehow managed to claw over the bar and a close range 1 on 1 that the striker should have buried but a great save none the less!
We battered them in every are of the park and with Stevo coming on to replace the leg-weary Daz, this allowed us to push Al into centre mid and Dan Keeley out on the right of midfield where they were both very effective.
Chance after chance went begging though lads and that just cannot happen every week!
A great challenge 10 yards out on the right hand touch line from Al saw their centre midfielder react with a nasty stamp on him. The ref, who had a decent game and the referee's assistant (Secretaty of the league who kindly helped us out) both saw the incident as a red card offence for violent conduct.
After getting to his feet and getting back in position to continue Al was, what can only be described as assaulted by the player that was sent off. I clearly saw the opposition player (I think it was their captain) head butt Al full in the face.
Unfortunately I didn't see what happened afterwards.
To be honest, it was an incident that spoiled a great game of football. I am sure we would have gone on to give them the first taste of defeat this season so it is a sh!t way to end the game.
Also, Loft and Joel L got injured during the game but I am hopeful they will both be fit for next week.
A great performance lads, we will need more of the same next week in the County Cup and I want to take a full squad down there! We are all available on Saturdays to play (except Dom who is away next week) so I want to make sure, even if you aren't in the starting 11 that you show some commitment to the Club and the other players in it, by coming down and being part of it. NO EXCUSES! Plus, if we win Loft is buying the beers!!!!!
Much Love
The Long Man
