A tight and scrappy game where they scored with their only shot on goal.
We started well and there were three chances in the first 5 minutes. A cross from Jed was headed over, a long range effort from Evans on the half way line did not catch out their retreating keeper and a header from Cooper following a corner. We looked up for it but they looked like spoilers in the middle. There was a lot of scrappy play where we moved the ball well but they gave us no space to develop our attacks. Jed looked lively, Danny made some good runs down the right and Molly got forward at every opportunity. We just didn't look enough of a threat in the final third to score a goal. At times it looked promising but it fell apart when we got close. Dutch was having a tight game in the middle, Saville was trying hard to create a chance but Evans looked off the pace and really never improved throughout the game. The game was not helped by a ref who missed all the obvious stuff and let the game flow but pulled it back when there was not need. It all ended up being stop start and frustration was growing in the crowd. Surely GR could see the weakness in the middle and correct it at the break as the half finished goalless.
There were no changes for us at the break but they made a change. The second half needed a decent pass or a chance in front of goal but we had to wait a while before it eventually came. A surprising cross field pass from Ballard found Molly in space on the left. He hit his cross first time and Jed stole in on the right to side foot it home. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. The Den erupted but there was no music! We continued to press forward in search of a second but never really created a decent chance. Smith came on for Benik and Leonard came on for Saville but it really should have been Evans going off. There was a firm challenge on their right which didn't really look a foul but the ref gave it. The free kick was flat and hit with pace and their Brereton glanced it home. Bart stood no chance. It was their only shot on goal. Mitchell came on for Evans near the death but forgot his magic wand to turn the game. They had a man down for ages near the end and you would have thought he had broken both legs. After extensive treatment with the magic sponge he struggled to get up but was running around like a greyhound in thirty seconds. We piled on the pressure at the death but to not avail and the game ended all square.
Bart had little to do and could do little to stop their goal as it was right in the corner. Danny had a decent game was aggressive and made some good runs down the right. Murray was solid in the middle and Cooper tried so hard to score from set pieces but the MOM was Ballard. He never missed anything and his cross field pass to set up the goal was excellent. Dutch was busy and full of hustle and bustle, Saville had his moments but Evans was average at best. Jed was busy, took his goal well and Benik had some good movement and touches. Smith was his normal one dimensional self, Leonard added some bite in the middle and Mitchell hardly broke sweat.
All in all a scrappy game which we had the better of but just couldn't turn our advantage into a a second goal and they were very lucky to come away with a point. They have had the Indian sign over us for far too long so, at least with a draw we have stemmed the tide a little. The atmosphere was magic and it was good to be back to live league football.
We started well and there were three chances in the first 5 minutes. A cross from Jed was headed over, a long range effort from Evans on the half way line did not catch out their retreating keeper and a header from Cooper following a corner. We looked up for it but they looked like spoilers in the middle. There was a lot of scrappy play where we moved the ball well but they gave us no space to develop our attacks. Jed looked lively, Danny made some good runs down the right and Molly got forward at every opportunity. We just didn't look enough of a threat in the final third to score a goal. At times it looked promising but it fell apart when we got close. Dutch was having a tight game in the middle, Saville was trying hard to create a chance but Evans looked off the pace and really never improved throughout the game. The game was not helped by a ref who missed all the obvious stuff and let the game flow but pulled it back when there was not need. It all ended up being stop start and frustration was growing in the crowd. Surely GR could see the weakness in the middle and correct it at the break as the half finished goalless.
There were no changes for us at the break but they made a change. The second half needed a decent pass or a chance in front of goal but we had to wait a while before it eventually came. A surprising cross field pass from Ballard found Molly in space on the left. He hit his cross first time and Jed stole in on the right to side foot it home. It was a goal worthy of winning any game. The Den erupted but there was no music! We continued to press forward in search of a second but never really created a decent chance. Smith came on for Benik and Leonard came on for Saville but it really should have been Evans going off. There was a firm challenge on their right which didn't really look a foul but the ref gave it. The free kick was flat and hit with pace and their Brereton glanced it home. Bart stood no chance. It was their only shot on goal. Mitchell came on for Evans near the death but forgot his magic wand to turn the game. They had a man down for ages near the end and you would have thought he had broken both legs. After extensive treatment with the magic sponge he struggled to get up but was running around like a greyhound in thirty seconds. We piled on the pressure at the death but to not avail and the game ended all square.
Bart had little to do and could do little to stop their goal as it was right in the corner. Danny had a decent game was aggressive and made some good runs down the right. Murray was solid in the middle and Cooper tried so hard to score from set pieces but the MOM was Ballard. He never missed anything and his cross field pass to set up the goal was excellent. Dutch was busy and full of hustle and bustle, Saville had his moments but Evans was average at best. Jed was busy, took his goal well and Benik had some good movement and touches. Smith was his normal one dimensional self, Leonard added some bite in the middle and Mitchell hardly broke sweat.
All in all a scrappy game which we had the better of but just couldn't turn our advantage into a a second goal and they were very lucky to come away with a point. They have had the Indian sign over us for far too long so, at least with a draw we have stemmed the tide a little. The atmosphere was magic and it was good to be back to live league football.
was in block 10 and happy to be back at the Den ,good crowd in. Thought Benik played well and agree with Obe the ref was atrocious 
