- At fear of sounding like a broken record Archived Message
Posted by Stranded Hatter
on 11/1/2020, 6:07 pm
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Good god that was frustrating. We should have won that game at a canter but failing to gamble on near post balls and putting away chances we do get cost us again. First half a few corners (good deliveries from Jackson) got to Palmer at the back post but he just couldn’t find the finish. Osborne had a few shots on target but they were fairly comfortable saves for their keeper. They had a penalty shout towards the end that I thought was going to get given but hard to tell from the opposite end of the pitch a few steps up. Ref thought it was a dive. We should have gone in easily in front but weren’t for County reasons. Second half we started as we played most of the first half with them getting rare forays to our end but doing nothing with the ball in the final third. I never really felt particularly worried that they’d score and when we did get our goal I thought we were going to go and run away with it. They do a bit of passing between the defenders and goalkeeper and keeper passes straight to Thomas. Thomas goes to go round him and seems to take forever to make a difference. A square ball to Bell is the sensible option as Bell would have a simple tap in from the edge of the six yard box but it felt like Thomas just didn’t trust him. Eventually he shots near post side the it goes easily past their keeper. A goal greeted with relief more than anything else. They then had their best chance of the game so far when a tame shot is comfortably stopped by Hinchliffe but not held. Their player is quickest to the rebound but he scuffs his shot at Hinchliffe’s legs and then it’s cleared easily. Shortly after that and they equalise. I missed the build up but it looked to me like the sort of goal we concede a lot, looping cross to the back post and their man just has all the time in the world to finish. I was a touch distracted at the time so I might be completely wrong with how it went there. After their equaliser we still looked the more likely to score but frankly the writing was on the wall for a 1-1. We had more chances but just couldn’t take them. Adam Thomas was our man of the match for me. Not just for the goal but first half in particular he was popping up all over the shop in the final third terrorising their defenders and getting good balls in the box. I’ve been a fan of his since first signing and for me he’s just getting better. Not flashy but mister dependable and really should be more of a fan’s favourite than he is. Minihan did well linking up with him as well but it was a quieter game by his standards (still good though). Nyal Bell did well for me breaking past their defenders a few times but he’s still just a toe away from scoring at times. He sums the team up right now. So very nearly a very good player and side, but just not quite there. They liked to play out from their goalkeeper (it’s like their manager plays FIFA a lot) but he did not look comfortable on the ball when put under pressure. Our goal was directly as a result of it and it could have easily lead to another one or two on another day. We really should beat these on Tuesday but it’s a cup competition, anything could happen. Officials were weird. The liner in the half we were attacking first half gave several things our way that should have gone theirs. While the ref gave everything he could get away with to them bar a penalty shout where he booked their player for diving. Thomas was the worst victim who was getting pushed and shoved all over the place and then penalised for backing in when their defender was all over him. On the upside there were a couple of people in Sutton gear near me in the second half (might have been scouting) and they didn’t sound confident about next Saturday. Obviously glad it’s gone to a replay though. |