A stark lesson on how to play fluent and attractive football resulting in a comprehensive defeat.
It was an even start from both sides with little to choose between the sides. We probably had the best early chance with a good interchange of passes on the left between Jed and Ken resulting in a shot from the latter going wide. They did score a goal from Danjuma but it was ruled off side. Then they started to press us back. Solanke looked strong up front when marked by Pearce and a pass forward saw him out muscle Pearce. The ball fell between Billing and Evans who swung and missed and Billing strode forward to dink it over Bart for 1-0.. We struggled to get a foothold in the game for 4 minutes but a cross from the left from Ken found Billy but his contact was poor. The keeper launched it long, Danjuma out ran Evans and slotted it to Bart's left for 2-0. They were flying and we were running around with our tongues hanging out. They played clever one twos, slick triangles and we had little answer. A good ball down their right found Brooks who cut inside Evans and hit the shot across Bart for 3-0. The whistle could not come soon enough and you didn't need to be Brian Clough to anticipate changes for the second 45.
On the restart we went to a back four, Pearce had made way for Mahoney. We looked more balanced, denied them space in the middle and looked more of a threat. A cross from Molly on the left found their defender who touched it poorly to Jed 8 yards out and he hit it home for his tenth of the season. We were back into it and had some wind in our sails for ten minutes but they were always a threat going forward. A good interchange between Billings and Solanke saw the latter free in the box for 4-1. We continued to press and a good cross from Molly to Ken was cleared for a corner. The ensuing set piece caused confusion and a back heel from Billy was cleared off the line. We made a triple substitution with Williams, Bradshaw and Burey replacing Woods Ken and Jed. They weren't done yet and a flowing move saw a good shot come back off the post. For the last few minutes they went into slow protective mode and there were no more goals.
Bart could have done better for their third goal but was completely exposed for the other three. Danny was lively down the right and never gave up. Evans had a mare and will want to forget the first half. Pearce was out muscled and struggled at times. Cooper was solid but Molly was defensively fairly solid but a real threat down the left and shaded MOM. Woods was busy and so was Billy and Dutch put himself about with some solid challenges. Ken had some moments but they were few and far between in the first half. He had a better second half and so did Jed who took his goal well. Williams played deep, Mahoney had a couple of flashes but was out of the game too much and Bradshaw was busy without being a threat. Burey was largely disappointing.
Beaten buy a better side who played fluent attractive football and took us to the cleaners first half. We sat off them too much in the first 45 and never really recovered. There were no complaints from me about the result and life will not be any easier on Saturday either!
It was an even start from both sides with little to choose between the sides. We probably had the best early chance with a good interchange of passes on the left between Jed and Ken resulting in a shot from the latter going wide. They did score a goal from Danjuma but it was ruled off side. Then they started to press us back. Solanke looked strong up front when marked by Pearce and a pass forward saw him out muscle Pearce. The ball fell between Billing and Evans who swung and missed and Billing strode forward to dink it over Bart for 1-0.. We struggled to get a foothold in the game for 4 minutes but a cross from the left from Ken found Billy but his contact was poor. The keeper launched it long, Danjuma out ran Evans and slotted it to Bart's left for 2-0. They were flying and we were running around with our tongues hanging out. They played clever one twos, slick triangles and we had little answer. A good ball down their right found Brooks who cut inside Evans and hit the shot across Bart for 3-0. The whistle could not come soon enough and you didn't need to be Brian Clough to anticipate changes for the second 45.
On the restart we went to a back four, Pearce had made way for Mahoney. We looked more balanced, denied them space in the middle and looked more of a threat. A cross from Molly on the left found their defender who touched it poorly to Jed 8 yards out and he hit it home for his tenth of the season. We were back into it and had some wind in our sails for ten minutes but they were always a threat going forward. A good interchange between Billings and Solanke saw the latter free in the box for 4-1. We continued to press and a good cross from Molly to Ken was cleared for a corner. The ensuing set piece caused confusion and a back heel from Billy was cleared off the line. We made a triple substitution with Williams, Bradshaw and Burey replacing Woods Ken and Jed. They weren't done yet and a flowing move saw a good shot come back off the post. For the last few minutes they went into slow protective mode and there were no more goals.
Bart could have done better for their third goal but was completely exposed for the other three. Danny was lively down the right and never gave up. Evans had a mare and will want to forget the first half. Pearce was out muscled and struggled at times. Cooper was solid but Molly was defensively fairly solid but a real threat down the left and shaded MOM. Woods was busy and so was Billy and Dutch put himself about with some solid challenges. Ken had some moments but they were few and far between in the first half. He had a better second half and so did Jed who took his goal well. Williams played deep, Mahoney had a couple of flashes but was out of the game too much and Bradshaw was busy without being a threat. Burey was largely disappointing.
Beaten buy a better side who played fluent attractive football and took us to the cleaners first half. We sat off them too much in the first 45 and never really recovered. There were no complaints from me about the result and life will not be any easier on Saturday either!
