The Sunday’s proceedings started off in predictable away game fashion which inevitably includes Jade in some form or another.
This week’s scribe – beware referees, wrong decisions make Don angry!
The gaffer’s late show made us a bit anxious about whether the match was actually going to happen, but fortunately for us with 20mins to spare Jade came to the rescue. Does he lack a sense of direction? Does he think he knows a better shortcut? Or is it that he just can’t read a map? We will never know.
At the back of our minds we knew we had an important game to win. It had been a hard fought win the week before, so we knew we needed the right mentality and another good performance to keep the run going.
In previous games we have tended to concede early goals despite our domination. Now it was now time for us to wake up, knuckle down and really start to take our opportunities.
This said we had a short warm up and the team’s starting line-up was a surprising 4-1-3-2 formation consisting of Aleks (in goal) Duncan, Stew, Barny, Will, Simon (Dave role) Jindy, Ralph, Nick E, Steve and Johnny (be good) upfront. With Myles, James O’b and Don (on the bench).
Not knowing the opposition, our plan was to play our game, pass, pressurise and use possession.
Whistle went with both teams immediately feeling out each other, it soon became apparent especially from the side-lines that we were not mentally or physically there – which you could tell from the misplaced passes, frustration, failure to win the second balls and not enough communication. Poplar FC could tell and their annoying keeper saying “they have nothing but height†which seemed to spur them on, and a lack of concentration at the back eventually led to Poplar scoring.
Their two wingers had a bit of pace and trickery but no-one else really dominant in their team.
Saying that we had a few chances, a Johnny shot which just went wide, and also I recall a shot from Ralph which also went wide.
We looked dangerous on set pieces throughout. We won a free kick at the edge of the box. Nick took the free kick and it was a great cross. With the ball being deflected goal wards and in by Ralph, fortunately for us the referee never saw it.
1-1Â Â Â Â Â Â Halftime
At half time, despite the equalizer we knew we had a mountain to climb to get through to the next round of the Surrey cup. We looked disappointed from that first half display of football, a lack of belief and purpose.
An encouraging talk from the gaffer and captain and an instant reaction making a sub, with Don starting the second half playing on the right and changing personnel  in goal with Will going in for Aleks.
From kick off it seemed things had sunk in, we were trying to play the better football with more movement and just playing better. We definitely had more possession in the second half, but Poplar did try to apply some pressure by making a few changes midway through the half. There was a great display in goal keeping from Will, reminiscent of Fabien Barthez.
Later on our better play made a difference, and gave their midfielders problems. Albion were closing down with a bit of determination and a few hard tackles with the ref letting play go on.
Anyway with us trying for another goal, myself winning a battle edge of box for Alek to pass to Johnny, who was then was man handled in the area for the ref to finally give a right decision.
As to some confusion to who was to take the penalty? Johnny took it upon himself to take it he previously missed a few chances earlier on, to finally despatch the penalty with the keeper going the wrong way, a scream of relief and joy from Johnny. Eeeeuuurrrggggghhhh.
We held on for the win, not too good a performance, but a better second half and something to take into next week’s game with Westminster – however, we need to be consistent to get anything from this season.
1-2 Fulltime – Win