We turned up early and well prepared but we were unable to carry the buzz into the game and we were again strangely subdued and quiet in the early stages.
Our squad has a midfield bias so positional rotation and formation changes are the only way to ensure appearances across the squad. All our players have the talent and ability to adapt and its important that players play in different positions with confidence in themselves and with the confidence and support of the rest of the squad. Some players are struggling with the demands of playing in different positions and this lack of confidence is reflected in how we are approaching games. I think you're all good enough to up your game in this area and we'll discuss it at training.
It took until the 9th minute for us to get a shot on goal (Jack) but within a minute Olli and Jack had additional on target strikes. By the 12th minute we were on our third corner which was poorly wasted - they expected the short and were surprised by the box delivery which we squandered with a youth level push in an easy arial challenge. Whilst the first 15 minutes were all about steady pressure the next 15 were all about our lack of composure. Our failure to convert possession led us into over playing (one too many passes) and forcing the opening (over ambitious passing/over eager running). We ended this phase with a bad tempered booking for Olli. The Final 15 minutes of the first half saw Joel make way for Bowles and also saw us back on script with a 35th minute trademark drive from Josh ending with a 25 yard low shot through a 'keeper who'd denied us up 'til then. Josh almost repeated the feat 5 minutes later quickly followed by a clever interchange with Jack whose volley just missed the upright. The final minutes belonged to Hatfield. Billy conceded possession and a yellow card as he lost his head and it took a finger tip full stretch save from Revill to keep out the resulting free kick.
We started the second period much more brightly and the team started to motor spreading play across the pitch and working openings with patience and purpose. Jack, Sam, Daz and Olli all plugged away and were all unlucky not to convert chances and half chances. In the 60th Billy made way for Glen who slotted pretty seemlessly into the righthand side but it was down the left in the 75th that Bowles played in Sam who finished a mazy dribble with a low driven cross shot beating the 'keeper of the far post. This was Sam's most productive period with another goal attempt denied by the post and a decent opening being carved for Olli. Hatfield threw an additional player forward and Revill was called to make a great 1 on 1 save, as we cleared their corner the ball broke to Kim, on for the last 15 for Dan, he forced the pass under pressure to Neil who continued his run and finished off with a sweet lob for 3-0. In the dying stages Kyle and Punter were desperate to get on the score sheet - so desperate that Kyle challenged and won a header off Revill and Punter smashed home the loose ball from close range - to make it 3-1!
We can and must do much better, especially aginst this level of opposition. In phases we showed glimpses of our quality with our passing, control, strength and movement but we have to find a rhythm for much longer periods of the game so we impose ourselves and fully dominate games. Kyle was head and shoulders above everybody today and Neil was just a whisker behind with another full bloodied performance - excellent those two. Everybody else did ok without setting any fires - it was good to see fat boy slim back again. We need to step up a couple of notches next week when we face The Brickies.
