Match Report

What a difference one week can make. The scoreline does not reflect our dominance in this game. It could so easily have been 6 or 7-1, but we settled for 3 instead and also remembering what a sorry performance we turned in against them the week before.

This game was all about getting back on track – and we did. We were a shadow of the previous week’s inept display. This week we got our football back, we passed and created very well but could have done with more aggression in the box and better finishing, but we played a much better game. Additonally we showed attitude, Stevens and Wray making two thunderous tackles in the 1st half which showed the opposition and their team mates they meant business. The defence was never in trouble, Barnett winning lots of headers and the dream team of Fullone and Adams at the back had the forwards in their pocket for the entire game. Keyworth was his usual self, breaking up play and setting up possession for us. Bridges showed desire and willingness down the left, Stevens was back to his usual high standards and encouraged his team mates constantly, Wray delivered plenty of crosses from the right flank, while Laurant and Holmes were a constant threat to the opposition. The passing was slick and accurate and the opposition had no answers. How did we manage to draw with them last week?

Stevens got us on our way after 10 minutes with a trademark shot from outside the box which rocketed into the roof of the net, the keeper had no chance. Before Bridges made it two at the end of the half, we basically assaulted the Whytleafe goal, chances went begging and if we’d been more aggressive in the penalty box we surely would have scored more. So Bridges picks up the ball outside the box swivels and smashes a right foot shot into the goal.

Stevens made it three from a penalty after Bridges had been tripped in the box. And the rest of the 2nd half followed the same pattern as the 1st. It looked like another clean sheet for Burkett until Milner started doing Ronaldinho impersonations in our own box which led to us losing possession and committing a foul. Burkett was unlucky not to stop the spot kick, so 3-1 it finished.

A much better footballing performance which included skill, aggression and desire. We just need to be more ruthless with our finishing. We need to show this type of performance in all our remaining games. Today there was certainly no complacency, had we learned our lesson from the previous week? I hope so.

Well played lads, keep it up.