Match Report

We should have got something from this game. Beaverwood didn’t deserve to score three goals, and scoring two goals should have been enough for us to take at least a point, if not more.

By 1pm we were down to 12 men as the whole club suffered from last minute drop outs, and this situation looked even more grim 20 minutes from kick off when we only had 11 men. Fortunately Jay Blay eventually arrived, having been delayed bleaching his hair. Paul Parsons helped us out by going in goal, and turned in a good display – particularly a save from close range in the second half. I’m sure none of us would fancy doing what Paul did and we all appreciated it. In truth the first half probably wasn’t a great game to watch as Beaverwood play on a really small pitch. I don’t know why that pitch is so small as there are acres of free space around it, but the inevitable consequence is that it feels like your playing pinball as the ball ricochets around, everyone struggling to find time to control the ball and pass it properly. Despite this we competed well and were unfortunate to be 1-0 down at half time to a good effort from long range (although as per the goal we conceded last week, you do feel that the guy probably won’t do that again all season).

At half time we agreed that no-one was playing particularly well or badly, but it was crucial that we scored the next goal. Then we conceded two goals which made things really tough for us, but we forced our way back into the game when Daragh Nott did well to get his body into the right position to convert a good corner from Aaron Carpenter. Jay Blay replaced Paul Tanton in left midfield and at 3-1 we really started to boss the game. Pete Morton hurled many a long throw into the box and the second goal soon followed, again from a corner, as Bobby Moulson converted after the keeper flapped at the ball. We still had 15 minutes to throw everything at Beaverwood and came really close to snatching a point. Paul Parsons made the good save I mentioned earlier but apart from that Adam Benningfield, Richard Davies, Richard Tapsfield and Pete Morton kept things pretty tight at the back. Unfortunately the damage had already been done and we didn’t manage to scrape a point from the game which would have been the least we deserved.

On a negative note, it was disappointing to see Dan Head and Richard Davies pick up bookings today. Yellow cards were the least these boys deserved after they each launched a disgraceful torrent of abuse at the referee. If there’s one thing I hate it’s indiscipline on the pitch, and I hope Dan and Rich have learnt their lesson. On a more positive note, Dan won the man of the match award, narrowly pipping Paul Parsons by five votes to four.

So all in all it’s a pity to have finished the year with a defeat but it’s fair to say we can take a lot of positives from the game, particularly the way we dominated in the last half hour. I’m sure that come the New Year we will start to string results together like we know we’re capable of. From my point of view I think we should think about helping the man on the ball more by communicating better, and also winning our individual physical battles on the pitch, which I know I personally need to focus on. I’m sure like me you all can’t wait to get back into it in 2008 and get out of this rut. Next game is 5th January (not far off at all) so let’s all be at the club bright and early, ready to score some goals and get some points on the board.

Man of the match: Dan Head