The start to the evening was disjointed with players arriving without full kit and others arriving unfed and late due to heavy rush hour traffic. We were never able to fully prepare as a group and the only time we were together was for the photo about 5 minutes before ko. In the changing room we were quiet and lacked our usual spark - we entered the pitch with nobody in the mood to light the touchpaper.
Heath set out exactly as expected with long diagonals back to front turning Ryan and Neil as fullbacks. They both coped well positionally but our failure to press in the right areas resulted in the ball coming back far too quickly and was to eventually take its toll. Up front the movement from Kyle and Kim lacked real drive, never inviting the balls in behind which would have turned their back four. The times that we did get in behind Olli was missing any snap in his delivery and nobody was gambling in any event.
Darryl and Josh found themselves with too much time on the ball and with few forward options they never sought to force or invite our runners instead travelling laterally with ball at feet or going backwards. The times that Josh did surge out of the middle drew runs into the same areas from our own players with predictable results.
Heath's breakthrough came midway into the first half from an uncharacteristic Chippy error which probably played on his mind until he invited a red card 5 minutes before the final whistle. We responded with attempts which struck the post and bar and forced a couple of smart saves from the 'keeper but we just couldn't find any momentum to keep up the pressure. 1-0 down at half time, Heath couldnt play any better and we thought we couldn't play any worse.
We still failed to press at the top end with targetted balls repeatedly turning our back line. Neil had been overworked and was withdrawn after 15 for Glen with Kyle slotting in at rightback and Olli moving up top. This was after but not as a result of us conceding a second in a typical goalmouth scramble where we invited pressure on ourselves. The switch gave us a bit of solidity but Glen struggled to deliver from his possession and Olli drifted wide leaving us thin in the box - Glens pace did cause them some problems but there was no cutting edge. Jack was just as luckless on the left and made way for Steve with 20 to go, Steve did his bit and found some room behind but a lack of energy around the rest of the pitch saw things fizzle out.
Olli came off for Bill with 10 to go and Sam was moved up top as we went 3-4-3. As the pot was boiling Chippy had (another) red rag moment and his sending off punctured our balloon at the worst possible moment. We grabbed a late consolation with a glancing header from Sams 89th minute freekick - too little too late.
This was a poor performance from management and players alike. But we win together and we lose togeteher. We have to put this one behind us, regroup and get things right for a final 3 game run in starting Sunday. MOM Ryan, fantastic with Sam just a whisker behind.
