Saturday can only be described as disappointing following the improvement the week before against Canterbury. In the Canterbury game we worked hard for 90 minutes passed the ball reasonably well and competed and concentrated during the whole game Ð Saturday we didnÕt.
Again we came up against one of the best teams in the league, Otford are a young, well organised, talented team who are well run and have a good set up with some of the best facilities in this league. Like Canterbury they get the ball down and play football.
We went with what was supposed to be a strong side, although lacking one or two players from the starting line up we went with the majority of the side who played well against Canterbury, the only changes being Matt Rice Tucker coming in at left back for Olli Allman who was playing Rugby and Biscuit returning in goal. There was a buzz around the team during the warm up and everything seemed to be running smoothly, giving us no reason to not be ready for the game.
Straight from kick off we played 3 or 4 quick passes with Ben Brooker making a good run in behind the defenders to go one on one with the goalie, Ben couldnÕt quite finish and the ball went out for a corner. This was to go one up after about 40 seconds and was a very good chance. Apart from a few half chances from out side the area this was as good as it got for us in the first half.
Otford pass the ball well, with short sharp passes with good movement off the ball from their players and when they were under pressure they played the right ball into the channels getting our defence turned with their forwards willing runners chasing down lost causes. Their first goal came when we had a number of chances to clear the ball but the centre forward took advantage of our sloppiness and finished from inside the box. The half carried on in the same fashion with us under pressure and not really putting up much of a fight, we had a couple of opportunities to take advantage of some possession but we rushed our final ball or players were not interested in taking possession of the ball. Otford went in at half time deservedly 3 goals up.
At half time we had a few problems to deal with, but the main question asked was Òwhat has changed since the previous week?Ó we were better prepared this week so there were no excuses, our work rate, effort, confidence was all gone. We defended poorly and didnÕt attack with any conviction Ð all in all it looked like no one wanted to be there.
The second half showing was a lot better and although we conceded three more goals, I think the final score line of 6 Ð 0 was a little unjust, quite rightly Otford deserved to win, they played some of the best football we have seen this season, this was partly down to us allowing them by giving them too much time and space and not closing down. With a couple of freak goals and one great strike the three goals scored by Otford in the second half did not show our improvement, the second half we had a couple of decent chances to snatch a consolation goal.
One bright point of the day was the inclusion of Mark Wyles from the reserves, we have being trying to have a look at him for a while now but due to other commitments has not been able to make it. He has been getting good reviews for the reserves and impressed with us, he played about 25 minutes up front and held the ball up well and linked play and had a half chance to score on his debut but hit the shot at the keeper. But all in all a good twenty plus minutes and we would have no hesitation in playing him again Ð thatÕs if he wants to!
Overall a bad day at the office and people need to question their attitude because we now know the ability is there.
Four games to go, letÕs get back to enjoying our football again in two weeks time and finish the season on a high.
Squad
S Temple
M.Rice-Tucker
A.Lindsey
T.Bowyer
R James
L.Hattle
S.Lindsey
B.Leete
M.Wood
D.Hymers
B.Brooker
A Evans
G.Hughes
M Wyles