Billericay 3 Waltham Abbey 2

[GazzaBTFC]

Okay, not the best game in the World but how many times in previous seasons have we done this? Quite a few, if memory serves. IMO the problem wasn't the midfield (Dormer & Hunter), who worked very hard on a sticky surface but (some) the players up front.

 

We looked very disjointed in attack and I think that problem is down to certain players believing that they (and only they) can beat the oppo defence single handed. Individual skill may look exciting and pretty but in the end, those players are in a team and instead of twisting and turning (like a twisty turny thing), trying to beat defenders not once but twice (and for good measure, lets go back and try to beat them again), try passing. If there is no way forward, there should be a supporting player coming from behind, pass it back. If there is an opportunity to put a player in, then do so.

 

There is also the question of Waltham Abbey's two goals. Their first a penalty. Ashley Dumas was wrong sided and clipped the player in the box. Their second wasn't so much a mistake as us being caught (then again, there is an arguement that all goals scored against could be considered "a mistake").

 

And Joe...Joe, Joe, Joe...how many times did you get caught offside. Fair enough, some of the decisions could be argued against (the lino on the other side was a bit "trigger happy" at times, IMO). And, the ball could've been released faster (see my earlier point) but he still didn't "run the line" at all well at times. Maybe, over eagerness to make a good impression and confirm his first team place, could be blamed...

 

I know some will consider last nights performance poor and to a degree, yes, you could argue that but in the first half (with the exception of their penalty), we were moving the ball quite well to the front players, it's just the final product (and pass) was lacking. This created a bit of frustration in the second half, which does no one any favours and the players performance starts to suffer as a result.

 

Credit to Billy Bricknall who scored our equalising goal and our winner but even he had to fight for the ball. Some players IMO, need to be reminded that they are a "integral" part of the team, they are not the "whole" team and by the same we win and lose as a team.

 

Credit to Waltham Abbey who gave us a game and some of their players certainly looked the part. Also well done to those that got the pitch ready. A day's work well rewarded (in the end).