Knowing that we were in for a real examination by a good side doesn’t help when we turn up in dribs and drabs. Your captain swanning up 15 minutes after kick off isn’t a good way to start either! Thank you PC for filling in (true company man). Greg missing his first game of the season rather forced my hand, coupled with the potential of the opposition meant that I elected to start with three at the back (though Greg did come up and watch/video the first half - see comments on FB Group!). The first half rather impressed me. We were sharp and tried hard to get the line up to the midfield thus allowing little space for Oracle to play in. Our five man midfield worked well and hard. Alkie shaking off his injury to support Gary at RB, the Dave cup having his best (and coincidentally, I think not, most sober) game this season. A sweetly struck ball on the run, should have resulted in a Dave cup goal, but just cleared the bar. We took the lead through the excellent Dan Simpson who provided some graft and guile into an impressive midfield trio with Ben (the eventually) and Christian. Some good work from Alkie at the touchline providing the assist. 1-0 Potten! Our lead didn’t last long however, but we restored the lead via the Machine with Simmo turning provider this time. We should have gone into half time in front, but conceded a good goal just before the end. 2-2. Starting the second half, and succumbing to an immediate penalty, Nolan catching their fleet footed striker, and the rot set in. We had worked very hard to nullify the threat of our opponents in the first half, but you have to hold your hands up sometimes to the better team. They played by far the better football in the second half, with Dale and Diego especially finding it difficult against a very good pair of centre halves. Watching from defence as our dynamic old bill duo carve teams open most weeks, it was strange to see them get a bit of their own medicine. Sometimes this is a good thing, as I know that they will learn and adapt. The game had become stretched, and our discipline waned. Discipline and concentration are key here. Its good to play the better teams and stretch yourselves, and this really was the story of the game for all of us. 2-6. Man of the match this week easily went to Gary Carmalt (Carmichael!). After 'getting his head’ around the three at the back, Gary was solid and stoic. Played Sir! Back to the league this week, and Global who lost to Harpenden as we were loosing to Oracle. We know that we were easily the better side against Harpenden, so while this game should hold no fears, we need to be on our game. LETS HAVE EVERYONE TURN UP BY 1.15 on saturday please? Keep it Rotten.
