THE WALKING WOUNDED

Subs  

• Barnes for Hill (injured)

• P.Barber for Palmer (asthma)

• Hill for Mytton (injured)

• Foster for Mcloughlin

• Palmer for Cardall

Today was round 2 of the cup and we had been unlucky enough to draw the current top team in the Premier Division Bromsgrove.  After recent poor performances we were looking for a response.  Not necessarily in the result but more so in the performance.

We fielded a strong 11 and I was keen to see just how far we had progressed in 12 months.  Remember last season we played the top of the Premier league Ulverley and lost 9-1.  To be fair though I think Ulverley are in a completely different league to Bromsgrove when it comes to quality individuals.  Bromsgrove did seem to have a much better team ethic though.

We were forced in to 1 change from the team I had hoped to play as Matt Barber pulled out on Saturday night, which meant Dylan came back in on the right wing.

The talk before the game was basically about trying to be at 0-0 after 10 or 15 minutes.  The week before that is what Hollywell did to us and you began to see the panic and frustration setting in.

I actually thought we started quite brightly and defended soundly.  I was given great optimism the 1st few times we got Dayle on the ball and they were resulting to bringing him down as they couldn’t handle his pace.  There was a definite improvement in our Midfield with the addition of Alex who tends to stick his foot in where some others wouldn’t.

The unfortunate thing about this game was that just when we were settling in we had a 10 minute period where 3 of our players had to come off.  That upset the balance and we were 2-0 down before we had really settled back into it.  Graham (our best player in recent weeks) pulled a muscle taking a goal kick.  Dayle had to come off with asthma and Alex got clattered and had to come off so before we knew it we had made 3 substitutions.  Mikey Cardall was already struggling with an ear and throat infection so we really were the walking wounded.

I have to say that credit where it is due.  The lads who went on did their best and we ended the game with10 players on the pitch and 4 or 5 players playing out of position.

Just before half time we got the goal I think we had deserved when Henner’s charged the crowd to score a great header from Mark’s corner.  Half time 3-1.

There was a 5 minute period after our goal that we dominated and it was great to see the confidence and belief creeping back in to the lads games.

I actually thought we did great in the 2nd half.  We had a make shift 11 on the field with Graham hobbling around trying to make the numbers up and Mikey still struggling with illness.  Steve in goal continued to have his best game for us with a string of outstanding saves.  We saw the best of him today and just what a great signing he has been.

Jack came on at right back and gave a typically gutsy performance including a 35 yarder that we all thought was flying in to the top corner.  We looked better going forward this half.  Mark hit the bar with a free kick and Paulo Barber was causing chaos on the right wing. 

I wanted to give a special mention to Mike Halloran who played up front on his own against 3 big Premier League defenders.  At times he gave them the run around.  He showed a great example of how to hold the ball up and bring other people into the game.  We had 4 players on that pitch who I thought stood out, even against the Premier league opposition.  That is great credit to them and it does show that we have made strides since last season.

We did concede a couple of goals in the 2nd half even though Scotty and co were doing there very best.  I though Scott looked more like himself in the 2nd half today.  He was great.

We did score a deserved and fantastic goal before the end of the game.  Ryan had come in to the game a lot in the 2nd half and it was him who played a great ball through for Mike to run onto and coolly lift it over the keeper.

Steve topped off his Man of the Match display with a penalty save and I think that when you weigh up the injuries, illness and recent form.  6-2 is nothing to be ashamed of against the Top team around.  This was much much more like it from us and I am hoping that from this Sunday we can get back to some winning ways in the league.

Steve