Winchmore 1s vs West Wickham 1s
SAL Div 1
02 November
Comments: Learning Curve
After 2 back to back wins we welcomed the undefeated current league champions to The Paulin. We had a confidence about us and realised that a good result here would send a message to the league about how far we’ve come since the Notts / Alleyns fiascoes.
It’s important to start games like this well and we kind of did, but never really got going until around 10 minutes in. It wasn’t until we fashioned a couple of half chances that we really believed there was something to take from the game.
Setting up in a 4-4-2 it was noticeably harder against a very experience midfield three that Wickham had in play. With no Barrel or Barney to lead the line the responsibility fell to Tom King (NOT TomMY K) and Jamie Doyle. Whilst industrious, we never took advantage of their better pace in good areas and seemed always to collect the ball in the corners, much wider than we’d like a centre forward to do so.
We weren’t without chances in the first half. Trying to drive the team forwards and using Rory’s tricky feet, Teeks and Doyle were able to get some half chances but our goal came from applying some pressure and forcing a mistake.
A mis-controlled ball from the Wickham centre half was pounced on by Doyle and he fired home from 18 yards past the helpless keeper. 10 minutes to go to the half and we looked to keep it tight and extend our lead, desperately wanting to take something from this game.
There were no more goals before half time and we came in motivated by the momentum we had fashioned. We knew we needed more goals and knew that we couldn’t’ afford to take our foot off the gas.
The second half was more hard work from The Hill. We controlled the game well. Lewis and Bex in the middle found their groove and started breaking up more and more play. When we defended, we did it well – the ball being cleared into neutral areas.
Some of our best chances of the second half came from set pieces. Lewis’s delivery deserved more than to end up being just flashes across the goal. Something to be worked on so we can capitalise on these going forwards.
As the game became more stretched there were spaces opening up across the pitch. Will Deamer was called upon again to make some fine saves and The Hill stood resolute from some dangerous set pieces.
Neither side could take advantage of their possession and the second half finished without any additional goals.
A high spirited performance against top of the league for most of the game. We showed what we can do when we stay focused, organised and commit ourselves to working hard. The old boys bar, often the hardest critics, commented after about the progress we’ve made over the last few games and the strength of performance we put in and how deserving we were to get our goal.
The problem – we were 3-0 down before we ever got going. Wickham twice flashing a ball cross the box to be agonisingly steered into bottom corners and a sloppy set piece converted, unmarked, at the far post.
We’ve been 3-0 down 3 times this season. Twice we ended up with a thrashing. Against the best side in the league we suddenly woke up, competed, and won the last 83 minutes 1-0.
The result didn’t go our way but still plenty to take from this game if we’re prepared to learn what we’re capable of. We can’t wait to feel like there’s ‘nothing more to lose’ before we go at teams.
Another week off whilst TK, Lew and Will Deamer join the rep side on Saturday. Our next fixture is on the 16th away to Parks. Huge fixture in the context of where we are now in the season.
MOM – Bex.
DOD – Branners. Harsh.