Billericay 2 Tooting 1

[Onthesidelines]

We took the lead through a Joe Flack penalty and after we missed a number of further chances, Tooting equalized with a well taken goal just before half time.

In the second half Tooting took more control of the mid field but there were few goal scoring opportunities by either side until Billy Bricknell struck in the closing minutes. Gate. 409.

[Localfan]

Good win, but you need to sort that back line out before you meet the big boys in the league. Looks pretty good going forward, and its a pity the superstar Dave Wareham didn't have his shooting boots on otherwise it would have been more!

 

Great run by Dave Wareham, straight through the Tooting midfield and defence only to blast it wide. Agian the back line were abit shakey in the second half.

 

Crowd a bit poor and very quiet, considering how noisey the 14 or so Tooting supporters were behind the goal. I didn't really get the song 'lets have a disco' neither did the fans around me who found it amusing.

 

 

[Keith.P]

3 points is obviously well received, and Dave Wareham is already staking a claim for player of month? with Steve Ferguson. Cracking goal from Billy Bricknell who also ran the front line well withJoey Flack who cooly slotted in the pen. However, we need to sort the defensive side of play as it is far from confidence boosting (imo).

 

If we play the ball on the floor then i have seen enuff glimpses of what CAN be achieved, but we gotta keep it on the FLOOR !

 

I for one am Well happy with 3 points and that is what any manager would like early doors, but as much as we can score goals we need to sort the defending out, (again, just "my" opinion) and throw it open to opinion.

 

Anyway, well done lads....OFF and running !

 

Cmon The Blues !

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Rick the Dick]

For half an hour in the first half we were class, and looked like contenders. But after the break we failed to regain the momentum. Billy's goal, although well taken, was a bonus as I thought the missed chances in the first 45 were going to cost us dear.

 

Is the problem in defence? Or is it that we're not holding onto it in mid-field & consequently putting the back four under too much pressure? A player of JD's quality will obviously be missed; let's hope he's back soon.

 

No BWG tonight? What's the story there?

 

Hope Coles injury isn't too serious.

 

 

 

 

[Simon BTFC]

Important to get the first win under our belts, particularly given how nervous we looked in the second half. Created some excellent chances (again) but didn't capitalise (again).

 

Defence did OK given that we lost Heffer before the game and Cole after 10 minutes - special mentions to Clarey and Semanshia who both stepped in and did well I thought. Attack we looked good when we got the ball down. Can we please stop launching high balls towards Flackie now.

 

Thought Bricknell was excellent, never stopped running and really deserved the goal.

 

Team

Worster, McSweeney, Dumas, Clarey, Cole (Brickenll), Shave, Semanshia, Hunter, Flack (Burbridge), Ferguson, Wareham

SNU: Marron, Chattin, Buckfield

 

[GazzaBTFC]

Could've been 4 nil up in the first half...could've and then the pressure would've off the defence and we would've looked at the performance a a stepping stone to being contenders...

 

...as it was, we bagged 2 goals (and the three points - I might add), had a few nervey moments with the back four looking shakey at times. Sometimes, it's good to have those moments to see where the problems are so we can put them right and I would agree with Keith P concerning the defense that it needs needs a little more work. Then again (and I'm sure this'll be the arguement) ...we have only shipped in one goal in open play (jl would say "you can't argue with the stats"). I thought Clarey was a revellation. Quick to react, cool under pressure - not bad for a defender who is only 20 years old...Maybe some players need a little more time to aclimatize to the way we play? Or maybe they are lacking in confiedence which will only come in time? Who knows but having seen both games, the defensive performace was better.

 

Again, I would agree with Keith, if we're going to use Flackie and Fergie together, we need to keep the ball on the ground. Both these players are lightening fast with their feet and lumping the ball in the air is just going to gift the ball to the centre backs...Paul Shave cannot be everywhere on the pitch (altho, he does try). If we're going route one, then IMO, lets play Fergie on the right and partner Flackie or Bricknell with Rikkie Burbridge...but I don't think that's the way our managers want us to play if they can help it. We have enough quality ball players to keep it tight, shorten it up and play through teams on the ground.

 

Overall, from what I've seen from the two games, we've suffered for the larger part, from nerves. Altho, I can't guess what we should be nervous about...We have one of the quickest front line in the league, our midfield aren't exactly unknown to each other, the only "new" unit is the defence (ahhhhh....perhaps that is it then) but we have enough experience there to settle things down.

 

But and I'm in danger here of not appreciating the performance to win the three points...and guys, I do. It was a relief to see the winning goal go in (I think the whole ground gave a "sigh" as well as a cheer), Billy Bricknell ran the front line well as did Joe Flack. For me, two players stood out. Dave Wareham, who ran the line and delivered some great balls into the forwards. His stregnth is the additioanl "string to his bow" from when he was with us last season. The other, Paul Shave. As well as being a "pain in the backside" to Tooting by the way he puts himself about, he put together some good passes to set Dave Wareham off as well as some tireless running to help out with defensive duties.

 

We have our first three points of the season, lets all push on for the next three this Saturday!!!

 

One last point...the Tooting and Mitcham supperters are a great bunch of guys...friendly and well mannered, a credit to their club.

 

 

 

 

[Sticks]

Going forward looked excellent in the first half and could and should have been at least two up before they equalised imo.

 

Second half was disappointing with too many high balls launched forward, rather than the passing of the first half. Really well taken goal for the winner just as it looked as if it was going to happen.

 

 

[jl]

I thought we deserved to win as we created far and away more chances.

 

I agree we looked a bit nervy at various times, I couldn't believe some of the chances we missed, hopefully now we've got some points on the board we can settle down and we can relax a bit more on the ball and in front of goal.

 

I didn't think we looked bad in defence. We had two experienced defenders missing seeing as Cole only lasted ten minutes and Heffer was injured. I thought Marc Clarey had a fine game and Macca did well also. Wayne looked OK too. Dumas had a shocker though, he seems a bit low on confidence, I don't know why, perhaps he needs reminding just how keen we were to bring him here, I've seen him play some blinding games for East Thurrock. I won't bore everyone with my lecture on the benefits of an experienced keeper.

 

With the forward options we've got you always fancy us to score a few and now we've had a bit of practice. I'm hoping for a bit more target and a bit less trees on Saturday.

 

It's always good to get that first win under your belt and I'm sure we can move forward from here.

 

Come on you blues!!!