With a decimated team on a drying pitch against a opponent who wanted the points, the recipe was there for a bit of a clanger.
A number of players were missing today, Ding (skiing) Jake (sprinting) Ferg (trialling) and to just complete a already formidable line up Jimmy (ill).
Desire is going to be my thread with this report. We need to up the ante and start to show that we really do want to win a unprecedented fourth double. Thats what i felt was missing in todays match. We just put little physical effort in and even less mental effort!!!!
The game started very scrappy with not too much going on. Donny Pumas always seem to adopt a negative approach. Five across midfield - pump it long and get the midfield runners to join up. Not rocket science but it seems to bamboozle us. So to combat this we played a 4-4-1-1. It worked as regards stopping Pumas, but it took away a bit of our threat going forward.
It took us until the 30th minute mark for our opening goal. Maddo got on the ball after a almighty melee in the Pumas area to rattle home from twelve yards ( 0-1 30 mins MADDO)
Pumas equalised only 2 mins later, an absolute farce. A long punt was looking like a easy tap out for a throw for Brett. He dallyed and ended up conceding the corner. From the POOR corner two players let it run passed them it hit the foot of the post and rebounded into out nrt from the attckers head. I'm sure he knew very little about it. (1-1 32 mins). Very sloppy defending from us. Deal with it put it in row ZZZZZ. Thats what you do.
HALF TIME 1-1
Things didn't change too much in the 2nd half. We were lacking that drive and desire we normally show so well. After conceding lots of unnecessary free kicks, throw ins and corners around our 18 yard box it was no surprise when we fell behind. A ball into our box was pinballed aroud ontil eventually Pumas managed to force it home. Poor goal again for us to concede. (2-1 45 mins)
Our first big test for a long time, we were behind and chasing the game. Step up Chris Caddy. After a very quiet 1st half Cads came alive. He got onto a ball from ardy and outpaced the defenders a slotted home perfectly (2-2 48 mins CADDY)
Unfortunately our error strewn defensive display didn't end there! Calamity number three was just round the corner. At a time when we were just getting on top of Pumas. A long ball over the top was not dealt with in a timely fashion by Catty he waited, Belly came out to meet him. Catty laid the ball back short, the closing attcker nipped between them and had a open net to slide the ball home. Calamity number three. (3-2 52 MINS) For the 2nd time we found ourselves behind this time time was running out.
We responded quite well to our down turn in fortunes and did start to liven up a bit. It took jus 3 minutes for us to equalise yet again. Caddy got on the ball fairly wide on the left side. He jinked inside and opened the angle up for a fantastic shot into the top right corner giving the keeper little to no chance. (3-3 55 mins CADDY)
It was too and fro the last 15 mins or so. I think on balance a drwa was about right. In the circumstances a good point for us!!
FULL TIME 3-3
Conclusion - We need to show the desire and winning attitude in abundance the next two or three weeks. One game at a time and win every game thats the aim. Five games left - win them all and we have the fourth DOUBLE.
When we make big mistakes in a game theres two ways you can go as a person. You can deflate and let it affect you or you can rise up and show what you are made of. Its the second attitude i'm looking for. Theres an old saying you are only as good as your last game! So we need up our game collectively starting at Harworth Colliery on the 8th April. Big chance for you ALL to go out there under lights on a top pitch in front of your family and friends and show whose the CHAMPIONS and why we are going to be CHAMPIONS again.
Cut out the mistakes (less XBOX maybe)!!! Play with confidence and attitude. This is the exciting part of the season and what makes it all worthwhile. But its got to be enjoyable.
Go out there and show us all how good we know you are.
REMEMBER as a parents and coaches/managers friends ' we feel what you feel, we kick every ball with you, we want you all to do as well as you possibly can'. Lets do it all together starting on Friday 8th then the CUP on the 10th.
Well done for getting a point from a game we could have lost!!!!!!!!!!!!
