With a squad missing Al, Chinders, Giles, Daz, Barrett and Abs I wasn't that convinced that we would be able to field a team.
Pad came back in to the starting line up and Jason (not sure of his surname but he's the one that looks like Mickey Quinn) and Neil (Loft's mate! Yes, he does have one) made their first starts of the season.
Longy was full of encouraging words for his team mates before the game during the worst warm up I have ever seen!
Well the game was pretty even for most of the first half, with both teams giving the ball away too cheaply and no one really taking the game to the opposition.
They looked like they wanted to get to the 2nd ball a little more than we did and they succeeded. They looked like it was their centre midfield that had them with 2 wins in 2 games. But Rich and Greenwood got a little more hungry for the ball and started to impose themselves.
We missed the natural width that Pagey gives us too as we had no real 'out ball'. I was impressed with Neil at right back, good in the air and covered plenty of ground.
We did play some nice football when we got the ball down and looked for our front men on the deck. In the air we never gave ourselves a chance as Finley and Loft were too far apart but Joel really helped to get forward and support.
Just as it looked like we would see the half out at 0-0 Daryl (of all people) was left totally unmarked and was allowed to carry the ball 10 yards and have a dig from 25 yards. With Longy not in position for the strike he couldn't keep it out. Not trying to cover myself but the 20 seconds before that should never have happened. Basic errors let us down once again.
Whistle blew for HT and a fairly well earned drink followed with a bit of a disagreement on the way we defended betweek Longy and Pad ensued. Just because a player that you are marking does not score it doesn't mean he has been marked out of the game. We allowed their midfielders too much space and we were nowhere near tight enough on their forward players, simple to correct?
Second half we came out and looked like we wanted it and this showed after 10 minutes as they started trying to slow the game down at the back and hold on to the 1-0 result. Could they do it?
With Dom looking like a man possessed at left back and Joel Leigh really getting into the game it made us look like a much better side.
Greenwood made so much space for himself but we didn't find him quick enough and Rich covered so much ground in the middle of the park it was making me knackered just watching!
Finley didn't really get into the game but seeing as it was his first start of the season it was half expected. Just need to get closer to Loft.
Then, from nowhere, Finley carried the ball into their box but decided not to shoot and their defender was stupid enough to clip him from behind! Thank God. That will give us the leveller our hard work deserved. Up steps Loft and hits the 4 stone, scuffed and scratched Ryman League match ball to the keepers right and he guessed the right way. Not the cleanest strike but can ask for no more than hitting the target! Unlucky mate, head up. You aint taking another one this season though!
Stevens, who thinks he pulls the strings then did. His fucking hamstiring!!!! He had to go off and Jason came on. Switching from 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 and Rich moving to centre half to replace Stevo, Jason slipped straight into the flow and was involved some good (all be it simple) link up play down the left that carved them open 2 or 3 times.
Then the moment of magic came, some good off the ball running from Finley and Greenwood created some space for Jason and Loft to link up and feed the ball out to the left for Joel Leigh to ping a cross for Loft at the back post and he finished with a pin point header, great finish mate but if you missed, I would have knocked you out!
Jason had a double chance but couldn't convert his close range header (well saved by the keeper). They had a few corners that we dealt with and then they had a screamer of a strike that left them celebrating the win with 10 minutes to go. Only thing is, Danny 'Robert' Long pulled off a world class save to get his 'slight' frame off the deck and fling his right hand to the top corner and divert the ball away from goal.
in the 15th minute of injury time (mainly caused by players having treatment for cramp. Oh and the ref's inability to count!) someone (not sure who) fed a ball over their backline for Finley to get a touch only to knock straight into the arms of the keeper. As with Loft's peno, we hit the target which is encouranging.
Good point lads but we could have had the 3 points, as with the last 2 games!
