FIGHTING HARD !

Subs

• Evans for Twist
• Abbey for Abbott
• Glover for Powell

Well, this is the 2^nd time in the last few weeks we have lost the game but I have not gone home too disappointed. Headless Cross are top of the division and are obviously a good side who will be playing in the premier league next season.

Just for those who didn’t know, Headless Cross were in fact three teams merged into one at the beginning of this season. So they chose the best group of players from around 30+ lads. So when you consider how we have put our team together by adding here and there over the past few years we didn’t do too badly at all.

Ok, the preparation. We were rocked yesterday by the news that Deano would be missing this week due to injury so we were forced into a change at full back. We were spoilt for choice though, as Daniel, Lewis, Niall and Phil can all play that position. It was Lewis who got the nod as he has impressed whenever he has been called into action in recent weeks and we thought he more than deserved a start.

CJ moved across to left back and Lewis started on the right side. Other than that we stuck with the lads who did so well last week.

I was a little tense at the warm up as our lads seemed different to before the game last week. We had drifted back into a playful and relaxed mood and that wasn’t the right one to have when playing a team like Headless.

The game began and we were kicking up the hill and against a gale force wind. I told Mark that 3-0 wouldn’t have been a bad half time score if we could hold out. The first 10 minutes went as expected. We defended a lot and very well too might I add. The back four battled well and Ryan was quickly off his line to deny any breakaways. The worrying part at this stage was that we were losing the midfield battle badly. Carl and Sonny couldn’t get into the game and Headless seemed to be edging the battle with Rob and Henry.

The goals inevitably came. The left-winger finished two one on ones and later he scored a penalty to make it 3-0. Ryan was still making crucial saves as we started to look a bit of a shambles toward the end of the half. 3-0 would be hard work but not impossible. When the fourth goal came I feared the worst, as the heads seemed to drop. I think our lads knew we had a mountain to climb.

The half time talk was fairly short and to the point. If we were going to lose, we would go down fighting. The midfield were told that they hadn’t performed and Graham and Paul needed to work harder for the team. Phil came on for Lewis and we were all set to go out and have a go at Headless.

The second half was a different game completely. We bossed all areas of the park and Ryan was rarely tested. Robert had taken control of the middle of the park and Sonny and Carl started to look very threatening. Graham was lively and Paul was creating havoc. Our back four looked a solid unit and with CJ and Phil getting forward we were a different team.

CJ hit the bar and also shot over as our pressure began to tell. Carl had a goal disallowed for offside and we were creating more and more. The goal finally came when Carlos intercepted a pass, beat his man and smashed an unstoppable shot in from outside the area. 4-1.

Our lads were visibly lifted. We introduced Niall to bolster the midfield and the pressure continued. Paul was really starting to run the defence ragged and another goal was imminent. Robs free kick was spilled by the keeper and Paul challenged for the rebound. The ball bounced about and finally went in off the defender with Carl and Graham breathing down his neck. 4-2.

We continued to press but couldn’t score again. We had battled bravely in the 2^nd half but we had given ourselves a little too much to do. I have said all along that it is progress that I am seeking. And if you compare the 2^nd half today to when we last played Headless I think it is obvious for all to see that we are moving in the right direction. Today we played the top team in the division and we gave them a big fright.

Well done to Carlos on his man of the match award. I thought Michael, Paul and Rob and Ryan pushed him hard.

Next week it’s Leafield. Remember the challenge I set, 12 points for survival. This is a great chance to secure points 7, 8 and 9. So lets take the positives from today. Lets remember the Knowle performance and lets keep progressing. The last four games have been very encouraging in one way or another. If we can play our final four games the same way then we will be more than safe and playing division 1 football next season.

Steve