1 DOWN - 4 to GO

Finally, we were back on League duty as it seems an age since we last played opposition from our own division.  For the 1st time all season we boasted a fully fit squad as Scotty made himself available for selection.  It has been a long hard road and there is still a lot of work to do, but Scotty’s return was a nice boost for the lads and supporters.

My job gets more difficult by the week when it comes to picking the team.  Once again we tweaked our system in an attempt to score more goals, and to get more players in attacking positions.  Graham dropped into the back four and Mark went back into his preferred midfield position, with Robbo and Skipper Henry.

I opted for a new look front three.  Dyl, Sonny and Ry would start together for the 1st time.  Sonny and Ry’s recent form and consistent training performances meant that I was more than confident that goals would come.

The biggest danger with this game would always be that our lads may find it difficult to be “up for it”, due to so many big cup games recently.  The start of the game suggested we were a little too relaxed but we still managed to put some encouraging stuff together.

Early passing moves involved, Pete, Mark and Ry.  Another involved Henners, Rob and Dylan.  More often than not the move broke down due to sloppy or under hit passes. (We will discuss this Thurs).  Lakeside battled and tackled as we expected.  They put together a few decent attacks in the 1st half.  Peter and Mikey C were quick to see out the danger.

We made a break through with a good goal and great link up play.  I am pleased to say this goal came straight off the training ground.  Sonny fed Dylan who had made an intelligent run.  Dyl’s cross shot was tapped in at the back post by RYAN.1-0.  We have spent hours and hours in training on the fact that we never score taps ins or messy goals because we do not get enough people in the box.  I was delighted to see Ryan in the right place at the right time.

We pushed on a little from here although passing was still ragged at times.  The nice thing to see was that we were trying to play our football even if it didn’t always come off.  The 2nd goal arrived when great footwork from RYAN saw him burst in to the area.  He evaded 2 tackles and the on rushing keeper to put us 2-0 up.

The 3rd was not far away.  More good link up play lead to the most satisfying moment of the game from a coaches perspective.  The change to the system was to encourage Rob and Mark to get forward.  Mark had already been unlucky on two occasions when Sonny fed Robbo on the right hand side.  ROB had surged through the gap and blasted us 3-0 up.

In between our flurry of goals we had looked unusually shaky at the back.  Lakeside kept catching us out with a ball over the top.  Stevo was quickly off his line to deal with the pressure.

Lakeside got a goal back when a good shot from distance lobbed Steve. 3-1.

We could have had more 1st half goals.  Dylan had a few near misses and Henry’s cracking shot hit the keeper in the face.  The game almost spilled over before the break when the Lakeside midfielder was booked for a succession of late tackles.  I think that lad has now been booked in the last 3 matches between our teams.  Our lads kept there heads and went in to half time ahead.

The 2nd half actually saw the Ravens play a little better.  We lacked a cutting edge in front of goal but the shape and play was better to watch.  The subs all went on and contributed.  Dayle was lively and only his poor 1st touch stopped him from being in on goal.

Dylan’s lively Man of the Match performance was frustrating for him as he could have had 3 or 4 on another day.  His all round play though was really excellent.

Our defence also looked more solid this half and I was very impressed with Henry in midfield.  There was a 15 minute spell where everything went through him in midfield.  Peter also put in yet another solid display.  Ryan and Sonny also get a mention for encouraging performances.

So, 3 points to the Ravens to take us back to the top of the league.  The Robins and Chelmsley didn’t play today.  Moor Green away is next and once again we need to win to keep our promotion hopes alive.

Today we did enough and I saw in patches some of the things we are working on when going forward.  Now we need to make it happen more often and more clinically. 

Well done boys.

Steve