Saturday 12 September vs Brentwood (Friendly)

Alright lads

We had our first friendly competition on Saturday at Market Road against Jonesy and Woody's Old Brentwood's team. Unfortunately, we lost 5-2 against a good passing side, although it could have been a closer result had we put away some of our chances, of which there were plenty, especially in the first half.

We had a lot of the possession during the game, we did some good moves ourselves and came close a number of times. We were unlucky to go in after the first half 2-0 nil down and could have even went ahead had we converted the chances. I could have put those 2 headers away in the 1st half, Ross nearly scored (with his first touch) running in to the box on the end of a ball in, Hudson put one over the bar after a brilliant ball in to the box by Dan and Dan himself had a header cleared off the line in the second half. So add them up as well as the 2 goals we got (one own goal and one great strike by Dan curling it around the defender in to the bottom corner from the edge of the box) and we should have won 7-5! Yeah, alright Coyley

We started really well and I saw enough to think we'll improve this season. There was some good link up play between myself and guy and the mid fielders at times and we had chances. The defence worked hard throughout and even though 5 goals were conceeded the blame doesn't just lie with the back line. I think the defence benefits with someone sitting in front and being disciplined enough to stay in that postion in order to allow the other mid fielders to push on and support the front line. We seem to suit 5 in the middle and this worked the second half of last season. Dan ended up in the anchor role quite alot and they ended up having quite alot of space in the middle. Sometimes our attacks broke down and they broke away fast and at times we only had one defender back. We shouldn't just leave one at the back, especially when we've won corners.

But that games gone now so we look to the next one against Scott Wilson on Wednesday night. We can have another crack at Jonesy's Brentwood's next season. This is another friendly game but it's important that everyone turns out for it so we can get used to playing together again, get used to passing it around, keeping possession, getting your touch back and doing some running.