PHOENIX V OLTON

Subs

• Foster

After seeing improvement against Arden and a confident and impressive win over Cadbury I think we all had good reason to be to be optimistic for this game, and for the remaining games this season. Our squad size had dropped in recent times and in a funny way this has helped us to get a consistent side on the field. Less options has meant that we have stuck with pretty much the same team for 3 games and in recent weeks we have seen the benefits of this. Unfortunately we did lose Mark for this game as he is now away for 3 weeks. Mark has probably been our best player in recent games so he would be a big miss.

25 minutes into the game and we still had good reason to be happy. We made a solid start and looked the more likely to score. We were compact in defence and Phoenix had not created a chance. They have lots of pace upfront and out wide but we were coping comfortably. The size of the pitch meant the game would be scrappy so there was little football on show to boast about.

We pinched the lead after a scramble in the box. Mike's back heel was stopped on the line and Ross followed up to get a goal against his former team. 1-0.

We still looked comfortable although Phoenix has forced corners and long throws were causing some problems. Then we were hit with 2 quick goals. Both from high balls into the box that were only half cleared. 1-2.

We really fancied our chances in the 2nd half and when Phoenix had a player sent off for head butting with 30 minutes to go, the game was there for the taking. Strangely, and not for the 1st time, this had the opposite effect on our lads. The feeling of “surely we will win now” came over the lads and everybody just stopped and hoped that the ball would find it’s own way into the net. Within minutes of the sending off it was 3-1 and from here on in the Phoenix players out fought us until the end of the game.

The same long ball over the top was putting the pacey striker through to tap past our keeper.3-1 became 5-1 although the last 2 goals were really a result of us throwing players forward.

The 2nd half was generally a complete shambles from back to front. The lesson to be learned here is that just because you have beaten Cadbury and Shenley does not mean you will beat the lower teams just by turning up.

There is a degree of arrogance very visible at times. I often get the sense that we feel we have won a game before we have even turned up. Well, NEWSFLASH boys, take a look at the league table.

It is no good only giving your all against the teams that are expected to beat us. You should be playing like you have something to prove every single week. Hanbury in the cup this week will be the ultimate test. Can we roll our sleeves up and give a proper performance or will we turn up thinking “its just Hanbury”. Over to you!!!

Steve