16 Mar 2014 - Malmesbury Youth (H)

With a bright afternoon we headed into the match looking to extend our excellent 6 game League winning run & further consolidating our 3rd place in the table. We also knew that Malmesbury have become a bogey side for us & after beating them 10-0 last season we've failed to beat them in 3 matches including the recent 2-4 Cup quarter-final defeat so we would have to be on top form.

Going into the game we were already missing George who was away on band duty & we were further hampered going into the game when Ed pulled up in the warm up with a recurrence of his hamstring injury. The strength of the team is the flexibility we have when all the boys are available & this was something that was going to cost us today with the 2 players missing. Malmesbury started the game very well & had 2 corners in the opening 3 minutes that we defended well & they came to nothing.

We won our first corner of the game in the 6th minute & an excellent corner from Callum was met by the head of Dan inside the 6 yard box to give us the lead with his 5th goal of the season. This gave us a lift & we then controlled the game albeit our defence of Zak, Josh, Dan & Ben had to be aware of the danger of Malmesbury on the break & they were providing a solid guard in front of Conor who was also on top form with his positional play.

Another good cross from Callum just eluded Tom at the far post in the 12th minute. Both teams then battled each other until we were awarded a free kick on 19 minutes from 10 yards inside our half. Callum with the slight wind behind him hit the ball sweetly & his cross/shot was helped into the net by the goalie for his 8th goal of the season & to put us 2-0 up rather luckily.

The great strength of this Malmesbury team is how they refuse to just give up & backed by their fans on the sidelines we needed a superb double save from Conor after 20 minutes to stop them scoring. A good move involving Jamie & Callum saw Lewis C direct a header wide from 8 yards after 24 minutes as we enjoyed a good period of play. In fact the next 6 minutes saw Charlie just to far away from a Callum cross & then a shot from Jamie was well saved by the goalie. As the half came to an end we missed 2 easy chances to clear the ball down our right hand side & it wasn't until the ball was level with the 18 yard box that we finally put it out for a throw. Malmesbury as we told the lads before the game have lads who have long throws so it was important to clear the ball as high up the pitch as we could.Once the throw in came in we failed to head the ball away & the right midfielder nipped in front of Ben to put away a good finish on the half volley giving conor no chance.

With the referee's whistle in his mouth another cross from Callum saw Joe with a great chance at the far post but his finish went wide. The lads should've been going into the half time drinks with a much clearer lead than we had & once again our habit of conceding a goal just before half time was going to be crucial as Malmesbury now sensed they were back in the game.

The second half started very evenly & a shot wide by Callum after good work by Josh & Zak on 5 minutes nearly restored our 2 goal lead. Charlie was then denied by a good save by the goalie at the base of his right hand post on 6 minutes before he was just to far away from getting a touch to a Callum cross after 13 minutes. A great run by Tom was only ended when he was brought down inside the box but his willingness to try & stay on his feet only saw a goal kick awarded when a penalty should have. Malmesbury were very much on the attack now & we were trying to catch them on the break, which nearly worked after 15 minutes when Joe lobbed the ball over the on-rushing goalie from out on the left but it drifted wide of the far post.

Conor had to show good hands from a longe range free-kick on 17 minutes before a challenge from Dan & Josh on 19 minutes was deemed a foul & Malmesbury converted the penalty to make it 2-2. With the game now up for grabs it was Malmesbury who pressed forward & they took the lead on 25 minutes when for the 3rd time this season a cross from way out on the right just sailed into the top corner giving nobody any chance from both teams of getting a touch.

To our boys credit we then finally showed some heart & Joe should've levelled the match on 27 minutes when he shot at the back of the goalie when through on goal who had turned away & the ball trickled out for a corner. Dan shot wide from the resulting corner. The last 5 minutes saw both teams have chances as Conor had to sweep up well to a ball over the top as we went with 3 at the back & then a superb tackle on the edge of the Malmesbury area denied Lewis C when he was through on goal. Malmesbury had a shot go wide after 33 minutes & the best chance we had to level was when Jamie made a good run to the front post & connected with Tom's cross but his shot went into the side netting. Final score 2-3

Player of the match- Josh Curtis. With Ed injured Josh once again showed his versatility with an outstanding performance as sweeper to edge out Conor & his fellow defenders Dan & Zak. Coaches analysis: This really should've been another win & whilst Malmesbury's winner was fortunate so was our 2nd goal. In the 7 games we've played the other top 7 teams in the league we have won 1, drawn 1 & lost 5 & we have to look at why that is the case.Yes we seem to concede a goal when we make the slightest error in those games but we also miss to many chances & you simply don't get away with it vs. the good teams. The absence of Ed & George was also crucial as we were short of options as the game developed but all credit to Malmesbury who have a workrate & desire to never give up & that was what got them their victory. Gary Player the golfer once said "The harder I work, the luckier I get" & the boys have to remember that in our last 5 games as there's still plenty to play for but we will have to work harder to achieve results. Squad- Conor, Zak, Dan, Josh, Ben, Tom, Euan, Jamie(Capt), Callum, Lewis G, Lewis C, Joe, Charlie & Ed(Injured).

Last modified on Monday 22nd June 2015 at 23:39