A really scrappy game which we literally threw away with ten to go.
We started well and there was good tempo to the game. We got into our stride well but never really looked a threat until 12 minutes had gone. A decent cross from Longman on the right which Honeyman tried to chest in. Him and Oba got in each other’s way and the keeper saved it. They huffed and puffed and were greatly aided by a Gale forced wind which blew the ball towards our goal and made goal kicks for us really challenging. We had the better of it but found it difficult to make it stick up front. Oba was running hard but often in the wrong direction, Flem was trying hard but Longman was like a chocolate fireguard. Our only threatening route to goal was from a set piece and we almost scored from a corner. It found its way to Tango and onto Oba who tried a scissor kick which went wide. There was a strong shout for a penalty as it struck a hand but with our luck we couldn’t win a game of tiddlywinks!. They were driven on by the strong wind and almost took the lead approaching half time. A shot from the left was well parried by Shark but it fell kindly for their man steaming in from the wing. As he was about to pull the trigger Leonard threw himself into the challenge and blocked it for a corner. It was a goal saving block and the half ended goalless.
No subs after the break but we struggled to make an impact. They took the game to us but were not really a threat. There was a good steal from Honeyman on the right and Flem took it on but it came to nothing. A few minutes later there was a hurried clearance from a cross which fell kindly for Leonard but his shot sailed over. It was clearly a time for fresh legs and on 68 off came Billy and a cream crackered Oba for BNC and Casper. We really struggled to have any impact with Longman as the main striker. He was useless. It was time to bring on Emakhu but there was no movement on the bench. They pressed forward with wide balls, long throws and some threat. Shark made a good save to keep them out but they scored with one to go. A corner was saved by Shark but his push away fell straight to an attackers head and he gleefully knocked it in for 1-0. We were gobsmacked. Hutch had come on one minute before for Longman and after conceding we took off Tango and Danny for Mayor and Esse but it was all to no avail. We are bang in trouble!
Shark made some good saves but should have either caught the ball which led to their goal or pushed it hard over the bar. Leonard was solid and Tango was similar. Cooper was OK but not really at his best. Danny was feisty on the left. Sav ran very hard but Billy was busy but had little threat. Honeyman was aggressive but showed little threat. Flem had a few moments and Oba had even less but he was a focal point with his running and aggression. When he went off we were like ten men. BNC tried hard to rally the troops and Casper was busy but had little impact. Hutch hardly had time to break sweat and I don’t think Mayor or Esse even touched the ball. It was really disappointing as we knew exactly what we had to do but we simply could not do it. Our forward line was powder puff and after Oba went off it was non existent. We could do no worse than starting Leahy or Emakhu or both as we looked zero threat going forward. Leicester will watch the highlights and think as long as they pull their shirts on then Tuesday will be a stroll in the park. Barring a miracle they may well be right!
We started well and there was good tempo to the game. We got into our stride well but never really looked a threat until 12 minutes had gone. A decent cross from Longman on the right which Honeyman tried to chest in. Him and Oba got in each other’s way and the keeper saved it. They huffed and puffed and were greatly aided by a Gale forced wind which blew the ball towards our goal and made goal kicks for us really challenging. We had the better of it but found it difficult to make it stick up front. Oba was running hard but often in the wrong direction, Flem was trying hard but Longman was like a chocolate fireguard. Our only threatening route to goal was from a set piece and we almost scored from a corner. It found its way to Tango and onto Oba who tried a scissor kick which went wide. There was a strong shout for a penalty as it struck a hand but with our luck we couldn’t win a game of tiddlywinks!. They were driven on by the strong wind and almost took the lead approaching half time. A shot from the left was well parried by Shark but it fell kindly for their man steaming in from the wing. As he was about to pull the trigger Leonard threw himself into the challenge and blocked it for a corner. It was a goal saving block and the half ended goalless.
No subs after the break but we struggled to make an impact. They took the game to us but were not really a threat. There was a good steal from Honeyman on the right and Flem took it on but it came to nothing. A few minutes later there was a hurried clearance from a cross which fell kindly for Leonard but his shot sailed over. It was clearly a time for fresh legs and on 68 off came Billy and a cream crackered Oba for BNC and Casper. We really struggled to have any impact with Longman as the main striker. He was useless. It was time to bring on Emakhu but there was no movement on the bench. They pressed forward with wide balls, long throws and some threat. Shark made a good save to keep them out but they scored with one to go. A corner was saved by Shark but his push away fell straight to an attackers head and he gleefully knocked it in for 1-0. We were gobsmacked. Hutch had come on one minute before for Longman and after conceding we took off Tango and Danny for Mayor and Esse but it was all to no avail. We are bang in trouble!
Shark made some good saves but should have either caught the ball which led to their goal or pushed it hard over the bar. Leonard was solid and Tango was similar. Cooper was OK but not really at his best. Danny was feisty on the left. Sav ran very hard but Billy was busy but had little threat. Honeyman was aggressive but showed little threat. Flem had a few moments and Oba had even less but he was a focal point with his running and aggression. When he went off we were like ten men. BNC tried hard to rally the troops and Casper was busy but had little impact. Hutch hardly had time to break sweat and I don’t think Mayor or Esse even touched the ball. It was really disappointing as we knew exactly what we had to do but we simply could not do it. Our forward line was powder puff and after Oba went off it was non existent. We could do no worse than starting Leahy or Emakhu or both as we looked zero threat going forward. Leicester will watch the highlights and think as long as they pull their shirts on then Tuesday will be a stroll in the park. Barring a miracle they may well be right!
