Match Report

Facing up against opposition that we’d beaten 9-2 the week before always meant that this fixture was a breeding ground for complacency and over confidence. We spoke about all these usual clichés before the game and tried to get it into our heads that this was a new fixture against new opposition.

Unfortunately it didn’t really work for us, yes we won the game and chalked up another 3 points and we have to be thankful for that, but it was a real laboured performance against an average team who showed minimal skill and a very physical approach that sometimes knocked us out of our stride.

Our back ‘five’ are beginning to exhibit a real understanding with each other, Skrine and Middleton were able to time their forward forays well and still provide ample cover for the telepathic central duo of Beesley and Benningfield when needed. Custodian Clarkson is growing with every performance and shows maturity way beyond his tender years. Coney were caught offside frequently today, yes it can be a risky business but it worked well for us today.

Matt Wilson got us off to a good start finishing well and putting us in front early on, we then coasted and complacency did obviously creep in. Dan Head popped up in the box and notched our second with a well taken effort. Benningfield made it 3-0 with a thumping header from a Lamoon corner. It has to be said most of our goal bound efforts found the net, we hadn’t even got out of 1st gear and broken sweat. We’d played so lethargically but led 3-0 at half time. We discussed this at half time and obviously we’d done well with the scoreline, but the performance itself could have merited a much closer scoreline at half-time.

In fairness Coney’s approach wasn’t that enterprising but it was spirited. After a reasonable start to the second half they managed to get one back and their hopes were lifted, with at least 25-30 minutes still to go they made it 2-3 with an unstoppable shot from outside the box that Clarkson had no chance with. At this stage we could have lost it and the game swung in Coney’s favour but we stood firm and gathered ourselves and rediscovered our composure. Nicholas and Graham replaced Lamoon and Wray to give us fresher legs on the pitch which helped.

We secured the victory with a really smart goal, good combination of passing from Head and Clark and excellent centre forward hold up play from Wade, allowed us to put in a good far post cross (can’t remember who crossed it.. sorry) which Wilson finished off with his usual class in front of goal. Coney were left deflated and couldn’t raise themselves at this late stage, so the three points were safe.

This was a really strange game, we didn’t play that well and we still won and that’s the most positive thing that we took from the game. The performance itself was distinctly average and I’m sure there is better to come from us. Another 3 points to the total, so we’ll willingly take that. That’s 6 points taken from Coney who I am sure will get better and take points off other teams so we may just have played them at a good time or was it us that were just too good for them anyway? Probably a bit of both.

Well played boys another 3 points, onwards and upwards from here – let’s hope.