ab
1st team Player
Posts: 1,214
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Post by ab on Sept 22, 2010 6:56:16 GMT
A match illuminated by three superb goals; an exquisite left foot volley from Jols as the ball dropped over his shoulder ( his first kick of the match?) inside thirty seconds and a fulminating strike by the impressive BWG ten minutes later seemed to set us on our way. Then an enterprising Harrow side got back into the game and scored a great goal of their own just before half time which set up a nervy second half.
We have a number of injury concerns at the moment which have 11 days to improve before we play again. In the meantime three more valuable points have been bagged.
Six straight League wins and top of the table. Onwards and upwards.
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Rambo
1st team Player
Posts: 1,664
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Post by Rambo on Sept 22, 2010 7:17:57 GMT
For those who didn't make it to GGL last night, or people like me who "missed" the 1st goal ( I was in "The Office" ), the game was filmed, and I was told by the chap who will be doing the filming on a regular basis , that he expects to put the highlights on You Tube tomorrow ( he'll register on here, and let us know when it's ready to view )
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Post by holmes on Sept 22, 2010 7:29:33 GMT
In the buildup to the game someone (I think it was Gareth ) said that a championship winning side win when playing badly, and that's exactly what we did. Last night turned into a game that mattered more about the result than the performance. Lowestoft won a difficult game at Billericay and are looking like the early challengers. Having spoken with a few people after the game, the reasons for our faltering performance seem a little clearer. Kennedy failed a fitness test, but played anyway, Kes stubbed his toe early in the game and was struggling, Bradley came into the bar with a pack on his right knee after pulling up after chasing a through ball in the second half, Jason said he felt like he had been run over, Fola looked like he had cramp and Steve Watts was hobbling. Considering the walking wounded we had out there and the overly physical challenges (bordering on assault!) from Harrow, I think I can forgive the loss of shape we suffered in the second half and have to praise the lads for finding the strength to battle on! Three points doggedly earned, but we now need the break that the early exit from the FA cup gives us to let players regain their fitness. We also need to learn to cope with sides scoring against us and focus on playing football and keeping a disciplined shape when things get tough.
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Post by doublebarrel on Sept 22, 2010 8:39:08 GMT
Three points - what we wanted and what many people on here said they would be satisfied with. Very little structure to the game and disappointing that we couldn't control matters once in front. We have made a great start to the season in the league but the results can't hide the fact that there is still much work to be done on developing our playing style. What the matches so far have shown is that even when you are not playing great , if you take your chances you can still win and that is a major difference from last year. We didn't have a fully fit side at the start let alone at the end and this has to be taken into account. I think the match was what most expected - not the greatest game - got the points - the big plus was the three great goals. There is an obvious pressure from being front runners in the league and we need to deal with this as well as becoming more confident and comfortable when leading in matches. All this said, the players are putting great effort into their play and I regarded this match as vital and we won, so well done guys.
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taz
Top Performer
Posts: 3,760
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Post by taz on Sept 22, 2010 8:52:24 GMT
Made hard work of playing against a side who'd had men sent off. Really need to put our foot on the ball, move it around and find gaps instead of just trying to hit channels ASAP and rely on the frontmen to win a footrace. Bit more composure would have made a huge difference.
Harrow were a decent side. Quick, strong. Just looked to lack a final product up front until they scored. And start of the second half, I'd say they looked likely to pull level until they suddenly seemed to lose it a bit and started kicking. Some of the fouls second half were just bloody ridiculous.
Two superb goals from us, Brad's being an absolute belter and theirs was pretty good too. Question marks over our defending though. Sam Page went for the header with Baptiste, missed it and the ball dropped right to their bloke with Goodliffe in front of him. Jason seemed to back off and invited a shot and he obliged by cracking a half volley over Scrivs.
Not our best performance, but a win and 3 more points in the bag however. Not to be sniffed at even though we're not quite firing on all cylinders last couple of games.
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Post by Amber Aleman on Sept 22, 2010 8:53:38 GMT
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billy
1st team skipper
Posts: 2,626
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Post by billy on Sept 22, 2010 9:25:16 GMT
A lot of the players in this league simply don't have the ability to control the ball and pass it.The ball is booted aimlessly into the air time and again.You walk home with neckache...............
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taz
Top Performer
Posts: 3,760
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Post by taz on Sept 22, 2010 10:17:37 GMT
Can't really argue with what Dos says there. Good group of players, just need 'em to click a bit better in certain situations.
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Post by manchesteru on Sept 22, 2010 10:45:44 GMT
Well we got whate we needed in the 3 points, especially with the injuries (Fola never looked fit last night, and let's not forget we were missing Dundas, Downer and AJ last night). After the 1st 20 minutes I thought we were going to murder Harrow, but then we got to comfortable with ourselves. I love the fact that Bradley is having his own personal goal of the season competition most certainly my player of the season so far. I thought Harrow were a decent team last night, probably unlucky not to equalise at the end. But they let themselves down big time with the lack of discipline.
Still I'm very happy tonight, played 7 won 6 drawn 1 lost 0 for 12 against 3 points 19. That's all that matters!
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tonyd
1st team Player
Posts: 1,494
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Post by tonyd on Sept 22, 2010 14:02:41 GMT
Well, I'm sounding like a stuck record, but we started the 2nd half in what I now call the "Alton Formation", a 4-2-4 which I haven't seen since pre-Alf Ramsey days, with Adjei and Davis overwhelmed by a 4 man Harrow midfield. Sooner or later, Bradley and Fola need to learn that at least one of them has to tuck in when we haven't got the ball. We started to play a lot better when Murray replaced Watts, and we were then playing an actual Alf Ramsey 4-3-3! However, our inability to take total control, even when they were down to 9 men was very disappointing. It's all gone ok so far, but champions don't scrape through 42 matches - there will be a large number where they will dominate the game and win by 2 or 3 goals. I refer the jury to a certain black day in Dover a couple of years ago.
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Post by os on Sept 22, 2010 17:10:29 GMT
I think what Dos is saying is spot on, its irrelivant how good or bad the other 21 sides in our league are. His job is to get the best from our team and improve whatever league postion we are in. I think all of us can see where there is potential improvement and believe we have the ability in the side to do it. We did not keep the ball well last night but did show another side to our game and that was strength of character, we got the result we needed. I can't help thinking being top, unbeaten, conceding only 3 goals with a game in hand and thinking we are not playing as well as we could is a very healthy place to be
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frakey
1st team Player
Posts: 1,757
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Post by frakey on Sept 22, 2010 18:08:25 GMT
There may have been a lack of quality for much of last night but the three goals certainly made up for it. We looked to have & so it has since been reported to have a number of players who weren't 100% fit last night.
Harrow had loads of energy & credit to them for keeping going after concedeing two goals that they would not probably expect to see at this level in the first 11 minutes of the match.
However, their appalling indiscipline cost them dear in a second half where they threatened to take all the points. Dave Howell was remonstrating with the ref afterwards when he really should have been in the dressing room lambasting his 7 & 4. Whatever the merits of their first yellows, you don't put in tackles like those two did and expect to escape an early bath. For once a ref in the Ryman who had the bottle to do the job.
Even after that, Harrow could and probably should have equalised. We were gulity of not keeping the ball and maybe being too hurried. That said, the Harrow nine kept going and if any praise is due to Howell's side it is their desire to play for him.
Apparently one of their directors bemoaned the fact that the first sending off ruined the spectacle. I suggest this fellow tell that to the player.
I note nobody has mentioned Scrivs contribution. He made a couple of really good saves in the second half - crucial.
Another 11 days off now. We need to see Dundo back, we are missing our human battering ram but still winning without him, just.
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taz
Top Performer
Posts: 3,760
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Post by taz on Sept 22, 2010 19:09:07 GMT
Dundo said in the bar after that he was hoping to be back for Margate.
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Post by sallycat on Sept 22, 2010 19:40:07 GMT
That's good news.
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Gareth
1st team Player
Goon
Posts: 1,646
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Post by Gareth on Sept 22, 2010 21:27:05 GMT
With the game last night being in the middle of nowhere in terms of the fixture list, it was always one we just had to pick up the 3 points in.
Really looking forward to this video footage to see the goals again!!
Time for a bit more R&R for the next few days to try and get the squad fit again for stage 2 of the season. Whilst the title won't be won in October, 12 or 13 points out of 15 should hopefully help to put a gap between us and the likes of Lowestoft, Bury and Ks
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