With some key players missing through injury and unavailability, and with no risks being taken, others had the opportunity to stake their claim for a starting position.
Whilst we worked hard when we didn’t have the ball, the problem was that we got far too much practise at this particular discipline. When we had the ball we really struggled; it just seemed that we were far too static and quiet in possession. It’s hard to take a man seriously when he turns ups on a freezing cold, rainy Sunday morning to spectate wearing shorts and a knee length sleeping bag, but as he’s the club captain I suppose we should listen to him. Foggy’s main observation was that we were not compact enough. By which I think he means that when we had the ball, the man with it was isolated and lacking options – both obvious ones and the desire from team mates to make themselves available. When we didn’t have it, the fact we were so spread out meant our opposition could easily find the room they wanted. Passes were being rushed – and subsequently misplaced – or the ball was just being kicked away without any real target. I know this all sounds really negative, but it’s only worth saying because people were mainly screaming insults at themselves, through the frustration that they expect much better of themselves.
We’ve had a tough run of games, and when mistakes are punished as harshly as they were this week and last, players can lose the confidence to try and keep hold of the ball. But I think we’d all agree that no one is going to get on anyone’s back for trying to play the way we want to, and we can only get better by getting things wrong once in a while. Each of Stanford’s four goals can be linked to individual or team errors, but you still need to take your hats off for the quality of the finishing. For the first, we were too slow to close down the striker on the edge of the area, and he bent the ball into the far bottom corner. The second saw the ball squirm under Luke C.’s foot on our right, which allowed the winger to take possession and make the opposite corner of the net bulge from just inside the box. In the second half, Eye-Ball’s attempted pass to Bobby was intercepted on the half way line, and one pass later and the striker had glided past Brian and rolled the ball under Lewis. The fourth came as tired legs couldn’t get the ball clear around a crowded penalty area, and as we were outnumbered our opposition were able to pass through us and walk the ball into the net.
In the first half we rode our luck, and if it hadn’t been for the posts, some timely interceptions by Blakey and Brian, and a fine save from Lewis to prevent the ball flying into the top corner, our opposition could have been out of sight by half time. As it was we were still in the game after the first 45 minutes, and if we had taken some of chances, and Stanford’s keeper had not been on such top form, the result may have been quite different.
The best chances of the first half included a near post header by Eye-Ball from Liam’s corner, which was directed towards goal but sailed way over the bar. Eye-Ball was in the thick of it again as a pull back from Liam in the box unexpectedly turned into a one two with the full-back, and Liam was felled by the keeper on the bye-line. Nothing was given, but on another day the referee could have pointed to the spot. Then Dale warmed the keeper’s gloves from a tight angle when he volleyed Harry’s looping cross back across the goal.
Arguably our best chances came in the second half, and when Liam played the ball through for Dale, it appeared that we would be back in the game at 2-1 and chasing an equaliser. However, Dale’s superb turn and first time shot with the outside of his right boot was only bettered by the keeper’s fine reactions to keep the ball out. It that save was good, the save from Brian was out of this world. The box was crowded, but Terry found another way to get the ball through to Brian, by lifting it over the defender. Brian let the ball bounce once before unleashing it high towards goal, but somehow the keeper got the slightest of touches to the ball and deflected it onto the crossbar and out for a corner. There were also a couple of free kicks, the first of which Dale would like to forget as the ball was sliced well wide of the goal, and then Craig rattled the crossbar from a similar position.
So it wasn’t a great day at the office, but the character of all the players cannot be faulted. In particular, James’s contribution as a late substitute deserves some attention, especially as it’s rare to earn a MoTM vote having been on the pitch for so little time. He came on to play on the left side of midfield, and being unshackled from the responsibilities of defending looked to run the ball down the line at every opportunity. He really should have scored as well, when Dale got the ball across into the box and James found himself with the ball right in front of goal. Perhaps he should have leathered it first time, but instead he tried to take a touch, and now a little off balance he could only lift the ball harmlessly into the keeper’s hands. He also put in some tempting crosses, and should have been rewarded with an assist when his measured cross to the back post was met by an unmarked Blakey. You’d put your house on the big centre half at least finding the target from there, but the ball skimmed off his head and out for a goal kick.
When it came to voting for MoTM, this miss did not deter Blakey’s team mates from giving him the title, for a commanding display which included some great tackles when he looked to be second best in the race to win the ball. The defence spent a lot of time chasing the ball back towards goal, and our two centre halves had to do the majority of the work, so it is fitting that one of them should get the award. It was a clean sweep for the back four, as Luke C. picked up the DoTD award. I think his below par performance stands out because he has been one of the Accies best and most consistent performers for a number of weeks. However, when he kept getting out-foxed by a bouncing leather sphere – seemingly unaware of the shouts of “watch the bounce!” – his sudden fall from grace seemed inevitable.
So there isn’t much more to say, apart from that for the second week running the best team won which you can’t really argue with. The challenge for us it to find the level – which is well within our reach – which would make us the rightful winners against the majority of the teams we are going to face. It’s only minor things we need to put right, and I’m really looking forward to seeing the results when we do.
Eye-Ball
Next game – Sunday 22nd January – Away @ William Edwards School v Thames Gateway
Goal scoring chart
CORRECTION - I credited Luke A. with the assist for Terry's goal against Thames Gateway, but have been informed the final pass was from James. I'm sure the description is still accurate, and that the ball was 'sublime', and apologies to James for almost stripping him of his first notch on the goal scoring bedpost.
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