Thank goodness this match wasn't played next week as the P.P. opener because any neutral or first time fan plus some of the old ones returning would have decided to go home at half time, such was the standard of football offered from both sides and as for the bowling green pitch at P.P., the ball would have hardly touched it.
In defence of the back four, we did have to defend against these tactics with a difficult sun in the eyes, but can offer no excuse for most balls being cleared out of defence high into the air whilst under no pressure and more often than not going out of touch as we tried to find a white shirt, whilst accepting only the odd last ditched punt into the crowd.
Second half much better as we got the ball wide to both flanks with Ryno and Davey taking on defenders, but the last pass was poor on most occassions giving the hard working Cassie little or no reward for his running into spaces, as Ryno didn't put in those dangerous crosses but chose to go for goal most times from long range and Davey taking one touch too many before crossing and allowing defenders to close him down as he tried to get the ball into the box.
Head and shoulders above our other players, Eddie stood out upon his return and showed the touches we have come to expect from him with his turning, twisting and dropping of the shoulders allowing him enough space to put in the 2-3 yards of quick acceleration getting him away from defenders and then putting in accurate passes, unfortunately most times he had to win the ball himself from the opposition rather than receiving passes out of defence.
Summing up they had one chance and took it hitting the post with the shot but seeing it go in, we had two chances one of which Ryno put wide off goal as he side footed a volley from a cross by Davey on the right (one of the times they switched wings) and the second one Ryno hit the post and saw it rebound out.
On the second chance which has been debated in other postings and which we will all see differently, I am not going to criticise Ryan because in other games we have seen him dribble around two or three defenders in the box then shoot home, this time he chose to dribble round the keeper went a little wide turned went back round the keeper and in an effort to beat defenders now on the line he hit the perfect shot hard and low across the face of the goal but unfortunately it struck the post and came out instead of going in.
We lost because we conceded an 88 minute goal another late one and when the forwards aren't scoring 1/2/3 goals this is a costly mistake, you can't blame the referee I thought he was very good (bar not speaking to their goalie for time wasting) and as for substitutes and whilst I don't agree with it, Tony, Paul and Steve are in charge, so if they leave it late before making a change then so be it.
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Topic: It's the Final Countdown... Evesham United, FA Trophy. (Read 6241 times)