A disjointed performance but 2 decent goals and all three points.
They started brightly and pushed the ball around well and we took a while to get going. It was clear right from the off that we were not very balanced. The midfield looked a man short and Jed was trying to play that number ten role but it wasn't working. Time and time again they controlled the middle and pushed it around with ease. It took us twelve minutes before we mounted a credible attack. A knock forward fell kindly for Bennett who knocked it on the Jed. His cross found Evans but his shot was deflected for a corner. From the resultant set piece Murray headed wide. We had a little confidence and momentum and a couple of minutes later a cross from Billy was knocked out to Evans but he shot over. Then they came into it more. They had good control of the middle with Obi One Kenobi and Powell but they didn't make the final pass count and they didn't have their shooting boots on so they didn't pose a real threat. We were hanging in there and a better side would have taken us apart. Then we got a break after 34 minutes. A decent free kick from Jed was knocked out for a corner. From the kick Cooper headed it goal wards but it came of the back of a defender's head. Cooper chased it the byline and chipped it back into the danger area. Evans nodded it on, Murray took it down with his thigh and hit it home for 1-0 from 4 yards. It was definitely against the run of play!
They pressed forward but couldn't quite get it right through the middle. After a few minutes they tried a different approach. A decent forward ball down the middle found Fletcher, Murray blocked the shot but it deflected across the goal. Pearce hesitated and it ran clear to Brown rushing in and he hit it firmly under Bart's body for 1-1. They still persisted in trying to play it through the middle but we held firm and it ended even at the break.
It was clear that we needed changes and I am sure that GR noticed the imbalance in the middle. Off came Ken and on came Dutch and it was immediately apparent that we had regained the middle. They no longer had the same element of control that they had in the first forty five. With twenty minutes gone we got a free kick which was floated into the box. Cooper headed it on, the keeper fumbled it and it fell to Murray's feet. His shot was blocked. A couple of minutes later a good pass to Jed from Evans was knocked on to Danny whose shot was saved. We were pressing hard and a great ball down the left was knocked into Jed on the 6 yard line. He hit it square to Bennett who rolled it in for 2-1. It was no more than we deserved, We carried on pressing forward and a good ball down the left found Jed who knocked it inside to Mitchell but his shot was wide.
They made several subs to try and bring about a change in their fortunes but they couldn't get it right. We brought on Bod for a cream crackered Bennett and a few minutes later Bradshaw for Jed. In injury time on came Mahlon for Danny and we saw out the added four minutes without drama.
Bart was unlucky with the goal which squirmed underneath him and he only had two or three regulation saves to make. Danny was solid and energetic and added some strength down the right. Murray was a rock in the middle and took his goal well. Pearce only got caught out once for their goal but otherwise was solid. Cooper was dominant. Billy was busy and solid and Evans was quietly effective. Ken was fairly anonymous and Bennett ran hard and took his goal well. Jed shaded MOM with a tireless display of great running, selfless play and one who was a constant thorn in their side. Dutch was a solid addition in the second half and played well. Bod ran hard and won a couple of good headers. Bradshaw hardly broke sweat and Mahlon was similar. In fact I don't think he touched the ball at all.
It wasn't the greatest of performances especially in the first hal. But we were good value for the three points with a good second half display and some good joined up football. So, 2 goals away from home, three points and ninth as we speak. No complaints from me but Saturday will be a much tougher test. Bring it on!
They started brightly and pushed the ball around well and we took a while to get going. It was clear right from the off that we were not very balanced. The midfield looked a man short and Jed was trying to play that number ten role but it wasn't working. Time and time again they controlled the middle and pushed it around with ease. It took us twelve minutes before we mounted a credible attack. A knock forward fell kindly for Bennett who knocked it on the Jed. His cross found Evans but his shot was deflected for a corner. From the resultant set piece Murray headed wide. We had a little confidence and momentum and a couple of minutes later a cross from Billy was knocked out to Evans but he shot over. Then they came into it more. They had good control of the middle with Obi One Kenobi and Powell but they didn't make the final pass count and they didn't have their shooting boots on so they didn't pose a real threat. We were hanging in there and a better side would have taken us apart. Then we got a break after 34 minutes. A decent free kick from Jed was knocked out for a corner. From the kick Cooper headed it goal wards but it came of the back of a defender's head. Cooper chased it the byline and chipped it back into the danger area. Evans nodded it on, Murray took it down with his thigh and hit it home for 1-0 from 4 yards. It was definitely against the run of play!
They pressed forward but couldn't quite get it right through the middle. After a few minutes they tried a different approach. A decent forward ball down the middle found Fletcher, Murray blocked the shot but it deflected across the goal. Pearce hesitated and it ran clear to Brown rushing in and he hit it firmly under Bart's body for 1-1. They still persisted in trying to play it through the middle but we held firm and it ended even at the break.
It was clear that we needed changes and I am sure that GR noticed the imbalance in the middle. Off came Ken and on came Dutch and it was immediately apparent that we had regained the middle. They no longer had the same element of control that they had in the first forty five. With twenty minutes gone we got a free kick which was floated into the box. Cooper headed it on, the keeper fumbled it and it fell to Murray's feet. His shot was blocked. A couple of minutes later a good pass to Jed from Evans was knocked on to Danny whose shot was saved. We were pressing hard and a great ball down the left was knocked into Jed on the 6 yard line. He hit it square to Bennett who rolled it in for 2-1. It was no more than we deserved, We carried on pressing forward and a good ball down the left found Jed who knocked it inside to Mitchell but his shot was wide.
They made several subs to try and bring about a change in their fortunes but they couldn't get it right. We brought on Bod for a cream crackered Bennett and a few minutes later Bradshaw for Jed. In injury time on came Mahlon for Danny and we saw out the added four minutes without drama.
Bart was unlucky with the goal which squirmed underneath him and he only had two or three regulation saves to make. Danny was solid and energetic and added some strength down the right. Murray was a rock in the middle and took his goal well. Pearce only got caught out once for their goal but otherwise was solid. Cooper was dominant. Billy was busy and solid and Evans was quietly effective. Ken was fairly anonymous and Bennett ran hard and took his goal well. Jed shaded MOM with a tireless display of great running, selfless play and one who was a constant thorn in their side. Dutch was a solid addition in the second half and played well. Bod ran hard and won a couple of good headers. Bradshaw hardly broke sweat and Mahlon was similar. In fact I don't think he touched the ball at all.
It wasn't the greatest of performances especially in the first hal. But we were good value for the three points with a good second half display and some good joined up football. So, 2 goals away from home, three points and ninth as we speak. No complaints from me but Saturday will be a much tougher test. Bring it on!