In an answer to the fundamental problem of not putting away the teams chances created, the Gaffer switched to a flexible 4-4-2 with Elliott Wright helping Billy Jolley lead the line, it was a gamble that was subject to change, dependent on the opponents formation.
As luck would have it, the visitors started with a 4-4-2 too and Jordan Hay and Nick Hallam were asked to form a partnership of just two, with Jordan offering protection to the back line.
Robbie Linstead was promoted from the third team, and placed straight in to the starting XI much to his delight, with Lewis occupying the left and Linstead the left.
Speedy was placed at left full-back in place of the late Wildey, with Connor, Alex, and Adam keeping their places, with the Gaffer trusting them to build a return to the mean back line we are used to. There are definitely signs it is returning.
Tudor Sports started with real menace, and man for man looked the better team in every area.
Let me be swift in saying, Alex and Adam will have come off that field feeling like they could have done more with the ball, however it must be noted early on in saying this was a team full of confidence, who fancied themselves against a waivering team.
They also have two of the better , more physical goalscorers in the league, and I know looking on as the forward, and even the midfielders will agree, they had a tough time. With everything they did, they did through hard work, and nothing came for free. It is often that the centre halves in Tudor, being so good, are often left out, but the manager and many spectators were aware that this Fleetdown side was not easy to play against and nothing was given to us cheaply.
Moving on...
With 2 forwards, and natural wingers at our disposal, it was the central midfielders job not to dwell but to move the ball from left to right and right to left as quick as possible.
Where Elliott and Lewis were often quite cheap with the ball, it must be noted that Nick and Robbie were particularly up for this game and really drove the team on early on, allowing everyone to feed off it. Jordan Hay has been handed man of the match, as contextually he had the tough task of playing his first out of three games in the centre midfield, whilst adapting to the formation changed, tied in with playing a team with a 100% record, a big ask for the youngster. He stuck to his task very well, which again, means the team can relax in possession and pressure is not heaped on the back line.
In terms of clear-cut chances, this was not a game of easy chances spurned, there were a few half chances originating from the pressure of two forward players, and some great counterattacking show from the right, Jolley often finding him and Robbie lending the ball to one another to draw fould in dangerous areas and play cleverly. This was an excellent show of cute gamesmanship that has been lacking.
A memorable moment of counter-attacking was a clipped ball down the middle had the centre half beat and Jolley found himself wide of centre with the other full back breathing down his neck, he rifled the ball from 25 yards to see it tipped to the bar and over.
The goal came from an excellent team move, involving half-a-dozen of the attackers, made up of precious passing and unrushed ball movement. The ball found itself with Elliott with back to goal, not particularly high, dropping it off to Hallam, finding Lewis, who ate some yards up but thinking against hitting the byline with only the forwards to hit against 5 defending, instead he overhit to his right sided counterpart, who latched on, beat his man just enough to reach the byline and wrangle himself a crossing opportunity, delivering a sumptious ball into the POMO (position of maximum opportunity), the decision to place two forwards on, was fully vindicated, Jolley took his marker back post and Elliott taking his past near post towards the ball, leaping acrobatically ahead of his tight marker he took the ball at a volley to bend it round his marker and score the opener. Against his old employers, it was ever so sweet.
Tudor Sports, continued to press and genuinely looked a threat, however let it be known, the football flowed well with Hallam at the hub of most good things, as mentioned with all the pressure there wasn't a great deal of clear-cut chances. These were no mugs.
Much to delight of the opposition the half-time came around with Tudor really enjoying themselves.
With half-time the opposition made a tactical change and shuffled their midfield and played 3 in central midfield. Tudor were set up for this with Elliott naturally dropping off to deal with it, it nullified the threat well and Tudor, although appeared the better side, found themselves affording the visitors a lot more of the ball and with that came the equaliser, a forgettable goal with Fleetdown fully aware that they are lucky to be in the game.
The game became more stretched, and where the first half was a dream 45 mins for Hay/Hallam, now their best efforts were being drowned out by the extra man, Tudor suffered a wobble during the mid-section of the 2nd half, adapted well by, to their dismay, missing out Hallam and Hay and using the natural widemen to stretch the tiring opposition, all three subs came on with Wildy on for Speedy to ensure no cavalier efforts at the back cost us any points, and Sam Cormack and Fizz Rogan replacing Billy and Elliott respectively.
The Tudor Blues would have like to have another ten minutes, as they began turning the screw however on reflection is a fair result and one that we would have taken before the game.
All in all, a good day at the office, with more squad players returning, it is clear people are playing for their shirt.
Next week is Stansfeld in the KJCA.
#COYB #ARRPPPTHETUDOR
