Within 2 minutes Josh found Glenn unmarked at the far post but he was he too slow to respond and was closed down before he could pull the trigger. This typified our slow and nervous start which was seen in Gary's early fumbling and Darryls struggle to get a foothold. We were strangely quiet in the early exchanges.
In the 6th minute Olli found Sam also unmarked but he spooned the chance, in the 8th Glen and Kim combined to release Josh but he dragged his effort wide. By now they were happy just to clear their lines. Darryl took a casual swipe at their clearance and his miscued slice stranded Chippy and Gary was lobbed as he tried to close down the freed striker.
8 minutes in, 3 chances spurned, 1 mistake and 0-1 down. We responded immediately when Kim released Josh but he ballooned his back post volley. The next 15 mins were end to end. Dan worked hard to screen a back three and with Chippy, Ryan and Steve all on top of their game, as well as Gary once he'd settled, that unit gave us a great platform to push on and we did but we couldnt capitalise.
In the 25th Kim headed Olli's driven cross over the bar and Olli himself drove over from 25 yards after skinning two defenders. In the 35th minute Olli's cross was again headed over by Kim and as the half drew to a close Darryl found Sam free at the far post only for him to shoot the moon.
After the inteval it was a question of more of the same. Within 5 mins of the restart Kim drove a cross between the back four and 'keeper but he couldn't quite convert his own cross and nobody else gambled! A minute later Steve's diagonal ball found Olli but his curler didn't quite curl enough. In the 9th Darryl headed Olli's corner over and in the 15th Darryls diving headed conversion of Steve's cross was ruled out for offside.
In the 20th minute Glenn made way for Kyle who immediately latched onto Kim's cross but headed at the 'keeper. A minute later Josh released Kyle only for him to slot wide. In the 30th minute Kim's cross found Kyle but he couldn't convert his header - he was finding room but not the finish. A minute later Kim was again creating this time for Sam who lashed at the ball and skyed it. With 10 to go Sam came off for Neil, we sacrificed the left for a third man top end and within a minute Neil was causing havoc as he bundled past two defenders to earn a corner from which Kyle's prodded effort was cleared off the line.
With 5 minutes on the clock, time stood still as the ball fell at Kyles feet unmarked just 6 yards out with nobody closing but Kyle side footed badly wide. Darryl came close with another diving header as the referee blew up.
Lots of huffing and puffing in front of goal today but in the final analysis a lack of composure at the top end has cost us dearly and it wasn't to be our day. We'll be back next season for another tilt at the holy grail - The County Cup is our destiny and we will be stronger next season. Lets concentrate on whats ahead of us and take one game at a time. We have lots to play and lots of targets to meet. We're still on for an invincibles league campaign, we have an inter-div trophy to defend, a league cup to shoot for and last but not least the famous Yabsley.
There were some big plusses today even in defeat. We kept our discipline and shape and played good football from start to finish. Our defensive unit was fantastic, our individual and our team play was high quality and we continue to carve out a phenominal number of chances from open play and set pieces - some boots will be christened in the games ahead starting next week.
MOM could be any of Dan/Ryan/Chippy/Steve but Chippy just edged it.
