M4 vs Hereford 2 Away lost 1-0
MOM: Graham
DOD: Ollie
First away match and it’s the long trip out and flood damage to the normal pitch meant we relocated to a beach not very far away.
It’s always a tough match so hard match for new-by Raoul to start with.
As always, we started with team talk bingo, where I nearly forgot to say all my usual cliches leaving the classic ‘first ten minutes to last’. I need to develop so more for this season.
Our plan was to play on the break and stop Hereford building attacks in the middle and it worked really quite well, from my position at the back (where I spent all game chasing the centre forward around) the mid-fielders did that passing shape thingy, you know triangles and we played good hockey, not only limiting Hereford but creating are own chances, Ollie and Fin all having ½ chances. At the back we did cope, but when didn’t we had Graham who was kept busy all game and repelled all, so at ½ time it was 0-0.
Oranges, now seen as must plus Jelly Baby’s and Squashies. Easy one this time, just keep going! Improve the passing and first touch and don’t try and go through the old guys at the back go round them, it’s my favourite team talk I call it the ‘going on a bear hunt’.
Oh, and the opp. just dropped converstation that the young keeper is county standard!
In the second half Hereford put another high forward on, and they created more chances, Graham again to the rescue. We struggled to build attacks, although the ‘hail mary’ pass from the back did keep us in the game. Tobias pace worrying the defenders.
Hereford scored from short corner, ½ way through the half. It wasn’t the cleanest of strikes or plays, however a goal is a goal.
Did our head’s go down?…of course not we kept going putting pressure on the Hereford goal right until the final whistle, but couldn’t get the clear chance although lots of possession in the D. Need to work on first touch and composure in shooting positions. The training around short corners however is improving this aspect of our play.
Mentions for Ethan who played in several difference position and put in a good performance, Jonny who dropped in conversation at training that he can play CDM, so guess what I dropped him in that position. I was so impressed with one of Guillaume runs one-handed-far-left-to-middle-to-far-left runs, so may start calling him ‘Le ZIGZAG’
We all played really well and came off the pitch happy with the effort but disappointed by the result.
MOM: Graham, a commanding performance, keep us very much in the game.
Honourable mentions: Jonny – started as CDM solid
DOD: Ollie, green card for ‘robust play’
Dis-honourable mentions – Guillaume for the same as Ollie but on smaller members of the opp!