A tight first half, two errors from Cresswell in the second and a comprehensive defeat.
We started brightly and had the better of the first twenty minutes. An early free kick from Honeyman came to nothing but we continued to press. A good cross from Danny found Honeyman but his shot was blocked for a corner. The set piece bobbled around in the box and Cooper shot from close in but the keeper saved it. We had a deep corner and then a free kick but all came to nothing. Then came a good chance. A long goal kick from our keeper found Bradshaw who get the better of their defender. The keeper was stranded, Tom headed it over his head towards goal but another defender cleared it. Then they came back into it with a some good pressing and a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions. We weathered the storm and came back into it for the last ten minutes. There was a good overlap from Danny and his cross found Zian but his shot was blocked. Then came a golden chance. Their keep made a hash of a clearance which fell to Zian fifteen yards out. He shot first time but it just went the wrong side of the post and the half ended goalless.
They started brighter in the second half and just had the edge. We tried hard to match them but they had other ideas. A ball out to their left was our downfall. Cresswell took a heavy touch which was picked up by Pritchard. He ran into space and hit a cross to the far post and their attacker was on hand at the far post to tap it home for 1-0. We tried hard to get back into it and a corner found Flem but his header was cleared off the line. From the second corner it bobbled to Cresswell who hit it wide. They pressed forward and a cross from their right found Pritchard who shot through a crowd of legs and it found the back of the net for 2-0. Long should have got a stronger hand to it. It was time for fresh legs. Bennett, Shack and Styles replaced Sav, Honeyman and Vogi. We pressed forward with more energy and a Flem cross was tipped over. More fresh legs came on with Molly and Evans replacing Danny and Murray. We were going for it but another Cresswell error gifted them a third goal. He headed it on and their Sims rounded Long for their third. Despite some huffing and puffing and five added minutes we were a beaten side.
Long could have done better with their second but played OK. Danny was solid and the same could be said for Cooper and Murray. Cresswell made two errors for two goals and has dropped off my Christmas Card list. Billy and Sav were solid, Honeyman was busy and Vogi had his moments. Flem came and went and Bradshaw was busy but rarely a threat. Bennett had his moments and so did Styles and Shack looked busy without really causing a threat. Molly pressed hard from the left and Evans looked calm but never really a threat.
All in all a disappointment. A bad miss by Flem in the first half and two errors from Cresswell sealed our fate. Time to dust ourselves down and put it all right when Wigan come next week.
We started brightly and had the better of the first twenty minutes. An early free kick from Honeyman came to nothing but we continued to press. A good cross from Danny found Honeyman but his shot was blocked for a corner. The set piece bobbled around in the box and Cooper shot from close in but the keeper saved it. We had a deep corner and then a free kick but all came to nothing. Then came a good chance. A long goal kick from our keeper found Bradshaw who get the better of their defender. The keeper was stranded, Tom headed it over his head towards goal but another defender cleared it. Then they came back into it with a some good pressing and a couple of free kicks in dangerous positions. We weathered the storm and came back into it for the last ten minutes. There was a good overlap from Danny and his cross found Zian but his shot was blocked. Then came a golden chance. Their keep made a hash of a clearance which fell to Zian fifteen yards out. He shot first time but it just went the wrong side of the post and the half ended goalless.
They started brighter in the second half and just had the edge. We tried hard to match them but they had other ideas. A ball out to their left was our downfall. Cresswell took a heavy touch which was picked up by Pritchard. He ran into space and hit a cross to the far post and their attacker was on hand at the far post to tap it home for 1-0. We tried hard to get back into it and a corner found Flem but his header was cleared off the line. From the second corner it bobbled to Cresswell who hit it wide. They pressed forward and a cross from their right found Pritchard who shot through a crowd of legs and it found the back of the net for 2-0. Long should have got a stronger hand to it. It was time for fresh legs. Bennett, Shack and Styles replaced Sav, Honeyman and Vogi. We pressed forward with more energy and a Flem cross was tipped over. More fresh legs came on with Molly and Evans replacing Danny and Murray. We were going for it but another Cresswell error gifted them a third goal. He headed it on and their Sims rounded Long for their third. Despite some huffing and puffing and five added minutes we were a beaten side.
Long could have done better with their second but played OK. Danny was solid and the same could be said for Cooper and Murray. Cresswell made two errors for two goals and has dropped off my Christmas Card list. Billy and Sav were solid, Honeyman was busy and Vogi had his moments. Flem came and went and Bradshaw was busy but rarely a threat. Bennett had his moments and so did Styles and Shack looked busy without really causing a threat. Molly pressed hard from the left and Evans looked calm but never really a threat.
All in all a disappointment. A bad miss by Flem in the first half and two errors from Cresswell sealed our fate. Time to dust ourselves down and put it all right when Wigan come next week.
