Close Encounter

With us up against one of the strongest teams in the league with some good proven performers in their line up it was important we built on last weeks fight back and stepped forward again. With an average age of 20 the team really is a proper development team,this week we had a nice spread of players that could play many positions so for the first time this season maybe just a bit more fluidity. You could tell from the off we a bit more on it today,some good intention to take the game to the more experienced Sileby team was noted by all as the first massive step forward. With plenty of movement from the young frontline and backed up well by only the fraction older midfield chances were being created but just that bit of footy know how by the Sileby stopped us going ahead early on. It as clear that Silebys approach was to knock us off the ball and try and influence our young team by their physical presence rather than their skill and with a Ref who was about as poor as you will ever see at this level just happy to do nothing it was going to be a long day. The game could of gone either way in the first 30 minutes but then a scramble in the box and some pushing and pulling by Sileby players seemed to put us out of sink and we seem to stop and watch as the Big Sileby striker put them 1 up. Within 5 minutes it was 2 as a slight confusion in the box that allowed the same player to head in again when getting in between defender and keeper. As much as our heads were slightly down great credit must go to the guys as for the final 10 minutes of the half we pushed to get something back and only some last ditch tackles and plenty of shirt pulling and late tackles saved Sileby. A slight alteration at half time by keeping our front 3 right on the Sileby back line paid dividends immediately when a ball forward was played across and put in the path of our striker to get the goal we deserved. Sileby were rattled and began to sit back and however physical they were earlier it went up a notch,every time we strung anything together they would break the play up with a pull back or deliberate foul just to slow the game down and it was just a shame that the Ref couldn't see the intent of it all and do anything about it. We had now started to limit Sileby just to counter attack to catch us out as we pushed forward in numbers but again that final elusive touch just evaded us. A free kick skimmed the outside of the post,another just pushed wide by the keeper and several times we broke the back line only to see the linesman find 6 out of 6 offsides!!!!! At the other end we looked so much more composed even though we had 3 16 yr olds at the back defending as we allowed out our 2 centre halves to push forward. It was not to be however,we tried in vain to the last minute but Sileby held on for the points. A really good performance today guys,5 minutes of confusion cost us points we deserved. The performances throughout the team were committed and we had that real touch of quality at times. We have a few more experienced players in the team who really helped the young clutch of players along without berating them if they got the odd thing wrong and that is what development is all about. It is no good having young players if we can't trust the older heads to teach them the trade in the heat of battle and that was the best thing to take from today,we didn't once hear a moan or a groan just a let's forget it and move on,that is music to any coaches ears so well done fellas. 3 points lost today but a massive step forward and you all did yourselves proud.