This was the result that has been on the cards for a fair while now. Our continuous battle to get 11 players to the match regardless of their quality or fitness, finally ran out. We had 3 players out of the 12 who were struggling with hamstrings, 1 made it through the game, 1 made it to half time, and the other, after warming up realised he could take no part. I had to play 90 minutes, which was just as effective as putting a bollard in the middle of the pitch. We were 3-0 down at half time, courtesy of some average defending, and with the 10 men conceded another 3 in the 2nd half. Our only consolation came via the penalty spot, which Sargy converted.
Oz showed great desire the whole game, so he could take something personally away from the game, the rest of us huffed and puffed, but we were never in the game.
The warning bells have been ringing for a fair while now for both Saturday sides, and if they have not been heard before, they should be now, as the situation is at crisis point. We may well get through the season as the ressies only have one more fixture, and we may avoid the bottom 2 but if nothing changes, for next season, I believe 1 if not both sides could fold. A lot of work has to be done between now and next season, to make sure we have the personnel to continue, and this cannot just be numbers, it has to be committed players, who want to play each week, barring injury. We have used over 30 players in the 1st team this year, of which only 1 has been ever present.
As a team we have 6 fixtures left to rescue our season, 4 of which are at home. We need to find 3 victories and 1 draw from somewhere. If we have the right players, making themselves available, we are capable of that.
Squad: R Mansfield
B Turner
A James
A Lindesy
N Sargent
R Cornish
D Jacquin
A Tasker
M Wood
C Ells
S Waterman
L Gent