Knobs 3 Whitewebbs 6

A wise man once told me (or maybe it was Gavin) that if you want to criticise then you should sandwich the criticism between 2 pieces of praise.  So here goes –

We had a good turnout this week.  We have now played 32 different players in just 8 games.  The match being a friendly allowed us to revolve the players, start some players who deserved some playing time and give minutes to players returning form injury.  There was a record crowd in attendance and I am sure they thoroughly enjoyed all of the goals. All very nice. 

Before the match the new concept of “the last 2 to leave the changing room have to sweep up after the game” was introduced.  Unfortunately this was the quickest that many of the players in the team moved all day as the changing room emptied quicker than a John Boyle pint glass.  The new concept of “if you turn up late, you start as sub” will be discussed at the next managers meeting.  The management dream team run a tight ship!

This is the first time this season when the team have not played well.  The oppo were not great, they were not fit, they were not young but they can pass and move.  We beat them comfortably at home last year and we would have done again if we had not stopped doing what we have done so well all season.  We just did not get in their faces.  We did not shut them down.  If we did it was done by individuals and not as a team.  We have played much better teams this season and got results through pressing them as a team.  Let’s get back to doing that.  Surely no one enjoyed the game yesterday!

Anyway, somehow we took a 2-0 lead.  Both goals were against the run of play but the first was put away well by Dave M who has the pace and composure to trouble anyone we play.  The second was a cross that flew straight in from wide on the right.  Last week Steve Bradley scored a wonder goal, this week his goal was a little more fortunate!

The 2nd half is too painful to report fully.  The highlights were another great goal from Dave M, rounding the keeper after a great 1-2 with Steve Bradley.  The oppo linesman ruled out a Dave M goal for offside when he clearly was not.  The linesman was actually 20 yards behind play and that is being generous to him.  It mattered not, as we let them do whatever they wanted with the ball.  They had multiple pass options when they looked up and they just passed around us or in 1 case run from their own half all the way through to score unchallenged.  Embarrassing.  Maybe I’m being too tough but I hate losing and hate it even more when we don’t compete.

Special mention goes to Ally who scored an own goal from 2 centimetres out when trying to clear.

Back to the positives.  We continue to score goals even when we play badly.  It is the first time in 8 games we have not played well so hopefully a one off.  Richard continues to be a rock at the back.  Dave M looks like he’ll be a threat whenever he plays.  A much better turnout at the pub but I am not sure we got our money’s worth this week with a plate of brown stuff per team being all we were offered.

This week sees us continue or journey in the cup and I’m sure we will be up for the challenge and a place in the quarter finals.