Match Report
Match Report - 09 Feb 2009, Wadhurst United Junior Football Club Team not current beat Hailsham united
With heavy snow, rain, wind, gales and every other feasible weather condition happening in the 7 days leading upto this fixture, it was a miracle it was still on.
I think a big thank you must go to the undersoil heating and groundstaff at the Stonegate Stadium, for ensuring it did - zzzzzzzzzzz , ah thats next season !!!
We're certainly at the business end of the season now, were every match must come with 3 points and a helping hand to the goal difference, a slip up now could pay big consequences in as much as letting East Peckham or Ashurst Wood pip us for promotion. So far, things are going according to plan - but the focus, effort and sheer determination must grow in every game, otherwise our seasons aim will crumble before us.
Sundays match, was against a team, who on paper, looked like we would walk all over, and smash a cricket score against, but that is the very battle we must win, our winning brings the squad great confidence, which is good, but the players must realise that to much confidence brings complacency and that showed itself on Sunday, which is our biggest downfall.
We played the 1st half, in total control of the game, with some neat and slick passing, good looking football, Callum Saker was again very controlled in the centre of the park, giving good reassurance to players both in front and behind of him, and this weekend he was duly helped with the visibly growing and influential play of James De Bene, it has taken a few games for James to realise his role and to show his true potential and today he did just that, some great footwork, passing and stronger in the challenge, all the things I expect from him and I knew where there and I was just waiting for them to shine - and today they shined, James put it down to his new gloves, I put it down to him being a great footballer on Sunday - James, you've set the mark now, every week please !
We played ourselves into a comfortable 4-0 lead at half-time, so tea and oranges always taste a bit better in that situation - BUT the curse of us potentially beaten ourselves as opposed to the opposition beating us raised it's ugly head again. We must must must play for the full 80 minutes to our full potential, the game is never over until the final whistle and one day when it really matters we will come a cropper !! read this and learn, we must give 110% effort and passion until the final minute.
The final score of 6-1, proved we did the job well and we did it comfortably, but believe me there will come a time when the complacency will bite us AGAIN. The 1st time was against Ashurst Wood - 3-1 up at half time and then defeated 3-6. Its Ashurst Wood this Sunday and we MUST NOT and WILL NOT let that happen again.
This is our biggest game of the season and could possibly decide what happens at the end of the season - every single squad member must be totally focused and ready to give their all.
Anyway, back to Sunday - we dont do the simple when it comes to goals, we were treated to 6 spectacular goals again - the rocket launcher, Toby Bunday hit 2 cracking goals, which has put him as the current top scorer for the club, Louis Mansfield chipped in with 2 beautifully worked goals - Dom Kent delivering in some supurbly weighted crosses, a real forwards dream and Lewis Santer chipping in with a customary goal, leaving 1 for the ever limping Mike McKernan to head in at the back post !!
A mention must go to the bustling right back Mark Hemsley, who grows in confidence with every game and showed us all that confidence when he took on half of the Hailsham team with a dribble from one end to the other of the pitch - If I was a betting man I would bet a quid on Mark getting a goal before the season's out.
Finally, its a first for me this week, as far as the Man of the Match award goes, its the first time that a player has come up to me at the end of the match and said "Im the M.O.T.M today wasnt I" but I would expect that from this player, I love his confidence and character he brings to the team, and I think we all agree that he was a worthy winner this week, so well done JAMES DE BENE this weeks MAN OF THE MATCH.
So, thats it for this weeks report, next week brings us our biggest challenge as a team and one we cannot afford to lose - so, lets do it !!!
Coach
Wadhurst United Junior Football Club Team not current 6 - 1 Hailsham united (6-1)