The game was tight and cagey affair with both teams having chances but in the majority defending well.
The breakthrough came for Cleveland bay though after an early cross was headed into the net. This has to be prevented from happening again not
only did they have too much time to put the cross in but big decisions need to be made and in this instance I think we could be helped by strong assertive goalkeeping in coming and handling crosses like this.
The response was prompt, after some good play and build up down the left side a ball played through by McPherson was finished well by Morley.
The game 2nd half was tight and presented few clear cut chances, we had a few shots and so did they and had one come back after hitting the bar.
We thought we had took one of these chances though only to see the Cleveland bay keeper make a fantastic save from a shot on the edge of the box by j Nicholls, the score remained 1-1, until a ball poked through caused confusion between our defender and goalkeeper and the mistake cost us and meant us getting nothing out a game we deserved to draw.
Our defending and battling for most of the game was good and against lesser opposition we would have probably had this game wrapped up, but against opposition like this we need to be giving everything and showing more pride, there was still people with gas in the tank and not putting everything into the game for the full 90 and for me this is what puts us ahead in these types of games that are so closely contested.
The goals we conceded were awful, a cross that only had one person to aim for should have been dealt with and the 2nd was a hopeful ball that again should have been simple and dealt with 99/100 times.
Mistakes and weak performances are costing us points, we absolutely deserved something out of this game and we need to make sure we’re taking the opportunities at the given times not waiting for our easy games to get some points because there is no such thing… these are the games and points that define a season and looking at the league table I’m embarrassed at where we are sitting and some of the teams above us.
M.o.m for The Red Lion was C.Dixon, who worked hard and battled all game.
