A BAD 10 MINUTES

The last time we played Hadley Rangers we were on the wrong end of a disappointing 5-0 scoreline which, to be honest, could have been worse. That game was not helped by a severe wind and an incompetent referee but nevertheless we did not perform on the day.

On Sunday, the boys set a very different tone and came out determined to put that result in context. There was a notable change in the determination of the tackling and the willingness to attack in the first half particularly as we got some joy down the left with Alex and George G linking up well. We went one down to a superb volley from a corner and although our marking was disappointing you have to credit the scorer for a superb finish. Unlike the last game though, the boys did not let their heads go down and Stan got us back level with a long range shot which their keeper seemed to think was going wide.

The rest of the half we battled hard and unluckily conceded a second when their left winger put over a cross and it was deflected past Josh. 2-1 at half time and even their Coach said afterwards he thought we had been the better team at that point.

Our tendency to start halves of football slowly though came back to haunt us in the second half. Perhaps as a result of the extreme effort the boys had expended in the first 30 minutes, we seemed flat coming out and within a short time had given up a third goal and there followed a desperate period where we seemed deflated and suddenly the score read 6-1 to the opposition. One cannot attribute this to anything other than the boys having a bad 10 minutes where we had little luck (the shot that Josh turned onto the bar which then caromed off him into the post to the feet of their striker) and seemed to freeze somewhat in the face of what one has to admit is a very strong opposition who punished even the slightest error.

To be fair to the boys, as Geoff and I stressed afterwards, for the last 10 minutes we came back into it and once again that effort level was back. Although by then the game was decided, it speaks eloquently for the team that they were able to raise themselves again despite being 5 down.

We took from this that for probably two thirds of the game the boys competed at a similar level to an excellent opposition side. We had a difficult period which ultimately cost us the game but we have to accentuate the positives and this was a much better performance than at Barnet, even if the result does not reflect that. We have to keep pulling together as a team and keep our concentration and effort levels up. We have to make better decisions under pressure, which we tend to be a lot as the standard in our Group is so high.

Josh was MOM - he was very unlucky with several of their goals and made some excellent saves as well. Well deserved.