Oxford United Match

[Santa]

Well we could point to the fact that the equaliser came from a similar cross from the left as per Mansfield after Hawkins had replaced Ricketts but as someone has said we should have had the game sewn up by then. Nice to see Jamie Hand get more playing time thought he looked very good. 3 points Tuesday would ease the pain but we do need to start sticking the chances away.

[EUFC superb]

I know this is treading on dangerous ground, but, has anyone else noticed that Sacha has gone AWOL for both last minute goals this season?

[ebbsfleet is for life]

Originally Posted By: Alan W (GNFC)

Thought it was a Red Card - challenge looked to be made studs up & could easily have broken Stone's leg

lord chas called it straight away a sending off.shame about today but like everyone says lets move on it is only august long long way to go

[Stonebridge Red]

He was singing 'Youll Never Walk Alone' by the corner flag Seriously though, the defence seems to shut off at the end of matches lately, we can't afford too many late slip ups like Mansfield and Oxford if we want the play offs.

[Jeff]

Gutted. I hate last minute winners or equalisers. Repeat of the Woking match last season.

[ahsatan]

agree with the sasha comment, thought he was poor at Lewes too.

[Slartibartfast]

I thought the real problem was the ack of football that we played, especially against 10 men.

There where only two occassions that I can remember us keeping the ball for any length of time playing short passes on the ground to eventually find someone in space, the fiest resulted in a simple tap in for Gash and the second resulted in a scrambled goal line clearance.

The rest of the game we continually pumped random high balls forward, a lot of which Gash won the knock on, none of which saw any other Fleet player anticipating the knock on.

Against ten men we ought to have much better ball retention.

 

 

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Sometimes it feels like we are only playing 1 up when Moore partners Gash - Luke is doing sterling work this year, but he still often plays more like a midfielder than a forward - hence there's no-one there to feed off Gash's knockdowns.

[Red Neck]

A forgetable first half, except for the red card. Time and again, to much pace on the ball for Gash, Moore and Purcell. Second half, why didn't we bury it? Could of been three nil again. As the second half went on Oxford pushed us further and further back, as with the Mansfield game, you could see the goal coming. Disappointing.

[kmj]

I hate it when the players try to be "clever" and hold the ball up in the corner. Why not try and score again?? Plus we are absolutely rubbish at this crass tactic anyway and it cost us dearly today. Memo to Daish - drop this now! Anyone would think that it was the Fleet who were down to 10 men not Oxford. In fact the team looked collectively scared of taking responsibility to shoot in the last 10-15 minutes. It wasn't as if we didn't know how to. Gash's goal was a well worked effort. The manner in which we allowed the late equaliser to be scored made me feel as if we had lost the game - and I am sure many others felt this way too.

 

Down to 12th spot as a result.

 

Our next 3 games are against 3rd, 1st and 5th respectively. The extra points on the board going into these would have been useful.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Looks like the league will be a close fought affair this year, although its still early days.The points dropped today and against Mansfield could be costly come the end of the season (Indeed, we'd be top of the table tonight if we'd won both those games)

[BustaGut]

Maybe Two years ago I would have been pleased with this result. But today I am not, Luke Moore had two if not three easy chances to bury the game in the second half, and did not, I am not happy. I would say I am not the only one, which proves how much the club has moved on, as two years ago, a draw would have been looked upon as a good against a ex league side.

[Albie78]

It was a frustrating afternoon for all, stacey should of had a hat trick and so could of luke. We were all over them for the whole of the second half and then we [****!!****] it up in injury time. One of the pluses today was when jamie hand came on the midfield looked quality, nice little passes on the ground and great little runs especially the build up play for the goal PURE CLASS.

[KShep]

If I take a step back, I'm pleased that I'm disappointed with today's result. As Bustagut said, it does speak volumes about how far we've moved on, and from time to time, amidst the paranoia and uncertainty of the stadium, the finances, MyFC, it's refreshing to appreciate the steps we've taken in recent years.

 

I don't know why Ricketts was taken off for Hawkins. If Ricko was injured, then fair enough. But why take a pacey full-back who's got the pulse of the game off, for one who has to find the tempo, and his legs, against a desperate attack? He was found wanting in the same position against Mansfield and thus far has cost us four points, if that's how you choose to look at it.

 

I love Sacha Opinel, and he has been heralded as the best left-back in this league by our fans and many others. However, when we are 1-0 up on 90 minutes, his positioning must be his top priority, otherwise, when the ball breaks, the man at the far post is unchallenged and punishes us. I don't want to curb his passion, because that's what draws me and dozens of others to him, but I think Daish should take him asides, in a Ferguson to Rooney manner, and let him know that, especially in crucial moments of a game, he must exhibit self-discipline enough to stay back and track runners into the box.

 

That said, that goal shouldn't have been the equaliser. We had so many chances to kill the game off, that maybe on another day would have gone an inch one way or the other. We cannot rely on that, however. At home, dictating tempo, we must make possession count. We must make territorial advantage count. I thought the forwards all had good games today, but we needed someone to stamp their authority in the box, to collect a ball, and with precision and composure, tuck a loose ball away. I know the Akinde money should be used to ensure financial security, but I would like to see Daish use some of it to pick up a no-nonsense goal machine. Easier said than done though!

 

The foundations are in place. Pretty much everything is there in our squad except that extra few percent! A promising yet frustrating afternoon which reminded me once again that football is more important than anything ever.

[1 F in Fleet]

Think most of us agree the match took a turn for the better when Jamie came on - football on the deck , played from the middle . If Stoner's injury causes him to miss the Cambridge match I won't be downhearted - today proved there are times when an older , more experienced head is needed to drive us forward from the middle . Not knocking Stone - just don't understand the high ball from the back , relying on a knock down from Gash and hoping directionally it goes to a Fleet player . Too many times Luke and George weren't there ; both of them playing the opposite wings to what they're used to ( although I suppose they had their strongest foot to aim at goal with ) . When we first came into the old Alliance league ( as BSP was first branded ), we had two right wingers in Steve Brown and Brian Woolfe - both used to switch wings after 20-25 mins each half . Could be what's needed here if George plays ?

So my midfield for Tues would see Long Barrett Hand Moore - no knockdowns from Gash , no continual long punts ( unless for a breather ) cos we'd try and play it on the deck - and I would love to see Kezie get a start with Gash if Luke does drop to right wing .

[Stu M]

Ricketts seemed to be limping a bit when he came off, hence the substitution.

[1 F in Fleet]

May be a chance for a look at Mr Pooley then ?

[Jeff]

Yes 1 F. Pooley looked good the one time he has played.

 

The equaliser was a carbon copy of Mansfields equaliser.

[1 F in Fleet]

Sorted then .... another drink , anyone ?

[Stonebridge Red]

As we all know, playing with the ball at the corner flag at 1-0 is always dangerous, it's far safer to pass the ball about keeping it away from danger, it only takes the ball to go out for a goal kick and that gives the opposition 1 last chance to pump the ball forward, as was the case for yesterdays equaliser.