An end to our vague play off hopes after this comprehensive defeat.
We started brightly and on the front foot. We pressed forward well from the first whistle and it wasn't long before we had our first chance. Danny was looking lively down the right and his decent cross found Billy who shot and it as deflected wide for a corner. From the set piece Cooper's header was wide. A few minutes later a long throw was nodded on by Cooper but Bennett's shot was saved. After a bright 15 minutes they started to come into it more. Their passing in the middle was controlled and they looked sharp up front. A good move put Lowe in the clear but Bart spread himself well to save his shot. They were not deterred and played some decent joined up football and pressed forward with intent. We defended well but they continued to threaten. We did get a breakaway and a great ball from Molly found Jed in space but the flag went up wrongly for offside. We just needed to see out the half with one added minute but we just couldn't manage it. There was a tussle for the ball in the middle with Dutch, Billy and their midfielder. They won it, moved it out swiftly to Ayew on the right who cut inside and hit a firm shot for 1-0. The ref blew for half time soon after.
It was a case of regrouping for the second half and we came out looking lively. A free kick was half cleared and played back in to Cooper who headed it across goal and it struck the far post. They regained control in the middle and pressed us back. We were trying to get another foothold in the game but they were having none of it. The best we could offer was a cross from Danny and a near post shot from Bennett which went wide. They looked threatening going forward and we were looking toothless in attack. It was time for fresh legs. Off went Bennett, Dutch and Pearce and we moved to four at the back. On came Romeo Ken and Mahoney. We tried hard to get back into it but little changed. A few minutes later on came Williams for Billy and Bod for Bennett. We pressed forward in search of an equaliser but they put it out of our reach with a decent goal from Lowe on the break. We had not given up hope and Romeo battled down the right and crossed for Molly to shoot but his effort was blocked. Another shot from Ken was heading for the top corner but their keeper saved well. They put the game to bed with a second goal from Lowe from inside the box and we huffed and puffed but couldn't really get close and the game ended with them on top.
Bart could do little about the three he conceded. Danny was lively and energetic but didn't get too much joy down the right. Murray was solid and so was Cooper and Pearce played better than he did against Stoke. Molly was lively down the left but didn't have to many forays down the left, especially when we went to four at the back. Billy was lively and aggressive in the middle but had little opportunity to shine and push the ball forward with any threat. Dutch looked solid and Evans battled hard but was contained. Jed ran hard to little effect and Bennett was likewise. Ken looked a little better upfront and had one good shot well saved. Mahoney did very little and Romeo looked OK when he replaced Danny. Bod ran around and looked busy and Williams played a few decent long passes.
In the end we were beaten by a better side. They were resilient in defence, solid in the middle but had a lot more venom in attack than we did. By comparison we were toothless. So, now we are playing for pride as a top six finish looks very very remote unless others go completely belly up..
We started brightly and on the front foot. We pressed forward well from the first whistle and it wasn't long before we had our first chance. Danny was looking lively down the right and his decent cross found Billy who shot and it as deflected wide for a corner. From the set piece Cooper's header was wide. A few minutes later a long throw was nodded on by Cooper but Bennett's shot was saved. After a bright 15 minutes they started to come into it more. Their passing in the middle was controlled and they looked sharp up front. A good move put Lowe in the clear but Bart spread himself well to save his shot. They were not deterred and played some decent joined up football and pressed forward with intent. We defended well but they continued to threaten. We did get a breakaway and a great ball from Molly found Jed in space but the flag went up wrongly for offside. We just needed to see out the half with one added minute but we just couldn't manage it. There was a tussle for the ball in the middle with Dutch, Billy and their midfielder. They won it, moved it out swiftly to Ayew on the right who cut inside and hit a firm shot for 1-0. The ref blew for half time soon after.
It was a case of regrouping for the second half and we came out looking lively. A free kick was half cleared and played back in to Cooper who headed it across goal and it struck the far post. They regained control in the middle and pressed us back. We were trying to get another foothold in the game but they were having none of it. The best we could offer was a cross from Danny and a near post shot from Bennett which went wide. They looked threatening going forward and we were looking toothless in attack. It was time for fresh legs. Off went Bennett, Dutch and Pearce and we moved to four at the back. On came Romeo Ken and Mahoney. We tried hard to get back into it but little changed. A few minutes later on came Williams for Billy and Bod for Bennett. We pressed forward in search of an equaliser but they put it out of our reach with a decent goal from Lowe on the break. We had not given up hope and Romeo battled down the right and crossed for Molly to shoot but his effort was blocked. Another shot from Ken was heading for the top corner but their keeper saved well. They put the game to bed with a second goal from Lowe from inside the box and we huffed and puffed but couldn't really get close and the game ended with them on top.
Bart could do little about the three he conceded. Danny was lively and energetic but didn't get too much joy down the right. Murray was solid and so was Cooper and Pearce played better than he did against Stoke. Molly was lively down the left but didn't have to many forays down the left, especially when we went to four at the back. Billy was lively and aggressive in the middle but had little opportunity to shine and push the ball forward with any threat. Dutch looked solid and Evans battled hard but was contained. Jed ran hard to little effect and Bennett was likewise. Ken looked a little better upfront and had one good shot well saved. Mahoney did very little and Romeo looked OK when he replaced Danny. Bod ran around and looked busy and Williams played a few decent long passes.
In the end we were beaten by a better side. They were resilient in defence, solid in the middle but had a lot more venom in attack than we did. By comparison we were toothless. So, now we are playing for pride as a top six finish looks very very remote unless others go completely belly up..