A truly shocking performance and a complete rout at St Andrews.
It began fairly evenly but we looked only a shadow if the team from last week. They had more urgency, more energy and it didn't take them long to start to put the pressure on. For about twenty minutes we were not at the races. They were on the front foot and just pressed us back. The worst culprit was Evans who looked as if his head was somewhere else. They had a couple of efforts which we managed to block but they had the bit between their teeth and they were not going to take their foot off the pedal. Eventually the pressure told. A move down the right was passed across the edge of the box, Evans did not press and their midfielder curled it off the far post for 1-0. GR was doing his nut on the line and we finally showed some pressure and made some chances. A good move involving Molly, Danny and Romeo saw his shot blocked for a corner. From the set piece Cooper headed it inside to Bennett but his shot hit the side netting. The we had our best move with a good ball to Jed from Romeo and the cross was back heeled by Bradshaw but hit the far post with the keeper beaten. Then Billy played a good ball to Bennett but his shot was blocked. We continued to press forward and a cross from Jed was headed over from Bennett. We thought if we could just hold on until half time then we could come again in the second half. They had other ideas and we helped them by pressing the self destruct button. A pass from Bart to Woods put him under prressure so he hit it back to Bart. It got caught under his feet and scuffed it off for a corner. When the set piece was swung in their CB was goal side of Evans, swung his boot at it and it hit the ground and found the corner for 2-0. Changes were needed and GR must have been very disappointed by our poor first half display.
He made three changes at the restart bringing off Bennett, Danny and Mitchell and sending on Mahoney Dutch and Williams who took over the captaincy from Jake. This was surely a sign the this was Williams' swan song. We had the better of the early stages of the second half and looked brighter. A good ball down the line from Williams found Molly and he hit a great cross which their CB diverted into his own net. Bradshaw was waiting to pounce if he had missed it. They were not to be denied though. A ball into the box was blocked by Dutch but it fell kindly to their attacker who tapped it in for 3-1. They poured forward and a good through ball skimmed off Cooper's head, fell to their attacker who crossed it into the box. Romeo slipped at the vital moment and their attacker hit it home for 4-1. Off went Bradshaw for Burey who forgot to take his magic wand on the field to spark a revival. They had the wind in their sails and cross squirmed across the goal for another tap in for 5-1. Woods came off for Ben who also forgot his magic wand to effect a miracle. From a corner it was swung in and hit their attacked on the thigh for 6-1. We were completely massacred and the ref took pity on us by adding no injury time even though there were several subs in the second hald. I am sure he spotted all the blood on the pitch and spared us any further embarrassment.
Bart tried but did not play well. Those in front of him did not help his cause. Danny was lively but caused less threat than normal. Evans was really poor, Mahlon tried but showed that he is not really a CB and Cooper was only really 90%. Molly looked lively and moved forward well but did not defend solidly. Mitchell came and went and so did Woods. Jed was lively but faded badly, Bennett was similar and Bradshaw just got muscled out most of the time. Dutch was really no better then the one he replaced, Mahoney swanned around but showed little threat and Williams showed why it is time to hang up his boots. Burey had no impact and Ben hardly broke sweat.
We lacked urgency all around the pitch, our hearts and minds were on the beach and I am sure they have all got their tickets for two weeks in Portugal starting Monday. And....it showed! Our capitulation was a real embarrassment and a very difficult game to watch. Thanks goodness for the close season!
It began fairly evenly but we looked only a shadow if the team from last week. They had more urgency, more energy and it didn't take them long to start to put the pressure on. For about twenty minutes we were not at the races. They were on the front foot and just pressed us back. The worst culprit was Evans who looked as if his head was somewhere else. They had a couple of efforts which we managed to block but they had the bit between their teeth and they were not going to take their foot off the pedal. Eventually the pressure told. A move down the right was passed across the edge of the box, Evans did not press and their midfielder curled it off the far post for 1-0. GR was doing his nut on the line and we finally showed some pressure and made some chances. A good move involving Molly, Danny and Romeo saw his shot blocked for a corner. From the set piece Cooper headed it inside to Bennett but his shot hit the side netting. The we had our best move with a good ball to Jed from Romeo and the cross was back heeled by Bradshaw but hit the far post with the keeper beaten. Then Billy played a good ball to Bennett but his shot was blocked. We continued to press forward and a cross from Jed was headed over from Bennett. We thought if we could just hold on until half time then we could come again in the second half. They had other ideas and we helped them by pressing the self destruct button. A pass from Bart to Woods put him under prressure so he hit it back to Bart. It got caught under his feet and scuffed it off for a corner. When the set piece was swung in their CB was goal side of Evans, swung his boot at it and it hit the ground and found the corner for 2-0. Changes were needed and GR must have been very disappointed by our poor first half display.
He made three changes at the restart bringing off Bennett, Danny and Mitchell and sending on Mahoney Dutch and Williams who took over the captaincy from Jake. This was surely a sign the this was Williams' swan song. We had the better of the early stages of the second half and looked brighter. A good ball down the line from Williams found Molly and he hit a great cross which their CB diverted into his own net. Bradshaw was waiting to pounce if he had missed it. They were not to be denied though. A ball into the box was blocked by Dutch but it fell kindly to their attacker who tapped it in for 3-1. They poured forward and a good through ball skimmed off Cooper's head, fell to their attacker who crossed it into the box. Romeo slipped at the vital moment and their attacker hit it home for 4-1. Off went Bradshaw for Burey who forgot to take his magic wand on the field to spark a revival. They had the wind in their sails and cross squirmed across the goal for another tap in for 5-1. Woods came off for Ben who also forgot his magic wand to effect a miracle. From a corner it was swung in and hit their attacked on the thigh for 6-1. We were completely massacred and the ref took pity on us by adding no injury time even though there were several subs in the second hald. I am sure he spotted all the blood on the pitch and spared us any further embarrassment.
Bart tried but did not play well. Those in front of him did not help his cause. Danny was lively but caused less threat than normal. Evans was really poor, Mahlon tried but showed that he is not really a CB and Cooper was only really 90%. Molly looked lively and moved forward well but did not defend solidly. Mitchell came and went and so did Woods. Jed was lively but faded badly, Bennett was similar and Bradshaw just got muscled out most of the time. Dutch was really no better then the one he replaced, Mahoney swanned around but showed little threat and Williams showed why it is time to hang up his boots. Burey had no impact and Ben hardly broke sweat.
We lacked urgency all around the pitch, our hearts and minds were on the beach and I am sure they have all got their tickets for two weeks in Portugal starting Monday. And....it showed! Our capitulation was a real embarrassment and a very difficult game to watch. Thanks goodness for the close season!
hope we don't start next season like that dire show