MAGICAL STOKES SEALS THE WIN

Subs

• Stokes for Hay

• Abbott for Cardall

• Hay for Mcloughlin

• Cardall for Palmer

A win but all in all I must say the game has left me very frustrated with certain aspects of our performance and with individual mistakes that are sure to cost us eventually if we do not iron them out.  

We have been very successful this season in sticking to our system.  We all should know the way we want to play by now and in recent weeks I have been left a little bit bemused by a few things.  The shape of the team was not right and at least half of our players did not do the jobs that they were asked to.  This is not a problem if you are trying to do the right things but all over the pitch today there were players in the wrong place at the wrong time.

I am sure that I am coming across as very mean considering we won but I expect more and I know that today’s performance will not be good enough in the coming weeks.   Granted, the conditions were awful and the pitch wasn’t the flattest and I have taken that into consideration but with the big games to come we need to put it right.  Enough said (for now).

The game itself was played in a very nice spirit in comparison to recent seasons against Lakeside.  Both sets of players coped well with the blustery conditions.  Selection had to be changed at the last minute as Jack phoned in sick.  Stevo was playing with an injury.  Mark went back into midfield after some sterling performance at the back and Henner’s dropped to the bench for a well-earned break.  Graham filled in at left back.

It was an even start to the game but we did seem to have more of a cutting edge going forward.  Dayle was again our best outlet and he had the beating of the full back.  The midfield was understandably scrappy and we were not helping ourselves by playing the ball in the air far to often, even though we had discussed the importance of passing to feet. Defensively we were a little rocky at times but Steve was alert to any danger with the wind making life difficult for all.

Our forwards did ok at times but they seemed too far from the action and slow to react to the situation.  This was very frustrating to watch as generally this season we have defended from the front.  I didn’t feel we did that today.

Our first goal came when Rob fed Dayle up the left.  As usual Dayle supplied a quality cross for Dylan to control and finish well.  More crosses from Dayle caused problems for Lakeside but we were unable to put the ball away.  Halloran latched onto a through ball but fluffed his shot wide and generally although we huffed and puffed I was pleased to hear the half time whistle.

After a few home truths I felt we did a little better in the 2nd half.  We offered a little more as a team rather than individuals but the shape still looked wrong with our wingers taking up bad positions to receive the ball. (I will discuss this Thursday).

The game was still very scrappy but Rob and Mark were now winning the midfield battle.  Rob had a good 2nd half.  All of the things I associate with his game were there to be seen.  Big tackles, high energy, surging runs and I was pleased to see his distribution was a lot better than in previous weeks.

The game needed something and the introduction of Ryan sparked the Ravens into life.  I gave Ryan a set of instructions when he went on and after asking me to clarify a few points he was ready to go.  He went on and put everything into it and we immediately looked a better side.  He found spaces in between the Lakeside defence and midfield and used the ball intelligently in finding our wide men.  I thought his link up play was outstanding.  He topped off a great display with a contender for goal of the season.  After receiving a pass he beat his man and looked to lay the ball off.  After realising that he had no options he again turned the defender before bending the ball around the keeper and into the net.  Great goal.

We had more defending to do and stand in left back Graham, and the brave Peter and Matt closed out the final few minutes to secure the win and keep the Ravens on the top of the league.

We have a massive two weeks ahead against 3rd placed Robins and the classy Oakland’s team.  10 games unbeaten and 5 wins on the trot have been a result of playing to our strengths and working harder than the opposition.  Today I felt we lost our edge.  A few of our lads looked like they were starting to think too far ahead about the big games to come.

One game at a time boys and come April it will all have been worthwhile.

Thank you for the goal celebration – very funny.  It’s a shame we never got a photo.

Steve