SAL Division 2 - 7th October 2006

Esthameians being possibly the worst place to get to in the SAL and going there without our Skipper , 2 or 3 of the squad missing, on the back of two poor performances in the cup and league and against a team that were relegated from Division 1, it was going to be a tough day.

Keith decided to change the formation to 4-4-2 and although the result went against us, the switch proved to be beneficial as we looked a lot more solid and had a better shape as a team. We will not play as well as this all season and get nothing from a game, with Esthameians having 3 chances and converting  two of them. We just need to be a little more composed and clinical in front of goal and the results will come.

We started really well against a big physical team and were moving the ball around and stretching them all over the pitch. We dominated the midfield with Andrew Taylor and Adam Fisc out muscling and outplaying their opposite numbers. Luke Appleton and Richard Smith were the two highlights of the first half, giving the Esthameians right hand side a torrid time and was where we looked most threatening. Unfortunately we conceded a goal against the run of play with a well taken goal. A long ball into the channel, hit first time into the box, was met by an on running midfield player, to give Neil no chance of saving. We did not let our heads drop and continued to dominate, with some neat passing football and Scott Poullier, with some determined tackling, found himself one on one with the keeper, only to be denied by the inside of the post. The pressure then told, with a great flighted cross from Luke Appleton being met at the far post with the the head of Matt Wigham, to make the score level. Esthameians looked shaken and could not keep possession and were desperately holding on to half time. Andrew Taylor was unlucky, after some neat footwork had his shot stopped by a last ditch tackle from a defender. Rob Morley turned well in the box and was unlucky not to get on the score sheet. We also had a good shout for a penalty turned down from a referee who liked to let the game flow. John Biggle and Ash both had solid halves, against two huge centre forwards. 

Keith did not have to say too much at half time, apart from to keep playing the way we had been, as we had been competing all over the park and looked a completely different team to the last two weeks.

We continued to move the ball around well in the second half with Webbo getting a lot of time down the right and using the ball really well. We just need to take a bit more care with our final ball and to get the ball in the box a bit earlier from wide positions. Esthameians, having soaked up the pressure, then broke quickly down the left, with their left winger finishing excellently with a lob which again gave Neil no chance and coming out of the sun. We had 20 minutes to try and turn it round but seemed to have the puff knocked out of us from a number of crunching late tackles committed by Esthameians, one being eventually punished 5 minutes from time, with the only yellow card of the game. We battled all the way to the end and with a bit more confidence and care, could have got something out of it. We again had a penalty turned down as the goalkeeper clattered in to Rob Morley as he had touched the ball passed him. It was the least we deserved from a game that we had had 70% of the play. But it was just not to be and the final whistle went.

The team came off the pitch absolutely shattered, with all 11 players, playing 90 minutes. Keith got the team together in the dressing room and said that if we play like that every week, that we will not be beaten for the rest of the season. Although we lost, this was such an encouraging performance from a young team that will very soon turn round the disappointing start to the season. It is a shame we have no fixture this week ! 

Solid performances from everyone, but Luke and Richard, both playing in new positions, were the two that stood out.

Wiggy