1st Team Results
1st Team 2 - 8 Old Manorians
Venue: Home
Referee:
We were 'bent right over' yesterday - a shocking loss!
Started with a makeshift team and a stand-in keeper and it got worse.
Clear instructions were given before the game about the pitch conditions and the wind and the direct nature of this side. Within the first 15 minutes we were 3 nil down....
Our defence had a 'bad day at the office' and were simply not good enough yesterday. We went in at half-time 6 nil down.
The 2nd half was very different with greater commitment, some fortune and resolute defending from Old Manorians saw us scoring two and conceding a further weak two goals. The game ended 8-2. Th biggest defeat I've suffered in my entire playing/managing career and i'm angry and hurting. Some of the players feel the same way too I'm sure.
We lacked composure particularly at the back and failed to clear our lines sufficiently which resulted in turnover of possession and increased pressure on our defence. They played in behind our full backs, used the channels and bypassed the midfield regularly. Their full backs were a significant part of their armoury. Not the the best style of football and quiet old school/Rymans style - but they did it well. Sam Allardyce would have been proud of them. That said they had a few ball players to so i cannot be too churlish either.
Our wing play was not very penetrative and we often ran down cul de sacs and failed to recycle the ball in those areas. We turned over possession and guess what.......a 30-40yrd ball into the channels from their full back saw us get into all sorts of trouble time and time again.
Old Manorians are a good fit, organised and very direct side - even more than when we played them last season. They had a 6ft 6in striker that was playing conference football last year and he on his own had our defence on their toes to say the least.
This is quite sad - i know - but i awoke in the early hours of the morning reliving this horror show. It took me 2 hours to get back to sleep....yes I do need to get a life. But this match was an awful experience which i will not forget in a hurry. I congratulated the team privately after the game and wished them well and hope that they go on to win the league. They are really a senior side and playing too low down in the league structure from what I saw. It was not too long ago that we were a senior side holding our own, getting promotions and reaching semi-finals...
The return leg will be very different for sure!
ps. I've re-written sections of this email a few times - to ensure that i come across as constructive as possible. But the East London in me feels 'mugged right off''.
Team:
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