WEFC 1 - AFC Hayes 0

[dansilk]

An ugly win is better than none. Think that was about the right result, really: I don't think we played well, in fact that looked one of our poorest displays all season, but for all that we made plentiful chances and especially in the second half were stopped only by some brilliant keeping and very good defending.

 

not sure about Seeds' sending off, there was certainly a lot of jostling going on, and I thought he had an elbow up to try and free himself from the player behind him: but it didn't look to me as though he'd made any particular contact - certainly not a blockbuster knockout which would fell the guy like he'd been shot...

Seeds didn't think he'd done anything to justify straight red, that's for sure! We were standing behind the home dugout and I could hear his boots hit the changing room wall from there...

 

Highlight has to be that cracking strike from Chenns, what a beautiful shot! Perfectly placed and so needed. And so we go 14 points clear, having played four more...

[Rother]

Marcus is a supersub, not a starter.

 

My boy got some decent footage of the goal and a few other pieces of goalmouth action - I'll see if I can get it up on YouTube later.

[dansilk]

Marcus is a supersub, not a starter.

...

 

I tend to agree, and he was tired after two full matches played on the trot. I guess Scotty had his reasons but if resting Chenns I'd have preferred to see Gavin and Nathan starting (and Nathan also looked weary, he certainly wasn't running as fast as previous matches). We looked a little tired all round, in fact, less sharp than usual: and although I thought Pearce played well we missed Joe and especially Jake on the wings.

[Fuzzy Royal]

I have to agree with Woody (and my previous post about Jake) he is quality and creates so much in midfield. We just don't operate as well in midfield without Jake, and to be fair, Joe. Joe gives us width and options that we don't always get with other players.

The pitch looked awful, ready to take a player by surprise at any moment and leave him slap bang on his backside without a word of warning. I personally thought wee looked better and deserved the win, we had a few good chances in both halves,but to be fair so did they. I didn't think they were that poor, they defended well and the keeper was very good (MOM - He did very little wrong and didn't lose his cool when it kicked off, also saved a pen) Chenns could have had one just after he came on and Rico should have had a few as well.

 

But how good did Chenns look when he came on, sharp, fast and keen and what a STRIKE!!

 

as for Rico, I thought he looked good, he tired near the end but gave everything he had and looked a lot fitter than I have seen him look before. I would also say the ptch must have been serious hard work, especially for the large or heavier players.

 

Did we fill the wings adequateley with Pearce and Kristen, as an interim, and considering we replaced both wingers, I would say yes we did. But how do we replace Seeds, is it moving Butts into that role andd play with three at the back, I can't see who else can play that role, unless Rico can do it; he has a good touch and distribution, is strong on the ball and has played at a high level to understand the role and knwo what is required of him. I guess we'll find out Tuesday at VTFC, great timing!!!

 

As for the ref, didn't think he was any worse than most we get down there, if he thought it was a raised hand to the face by Seeds the laws say he goes. But our first league red card I believe, and still undefeated going into Feb, are the two connected....?

 

Finally, decent crowd again and loads of children, kept my little girl entertained playing with the other kids, so win win!!

[mal316]

But how do we replace Seeds, is it moving Butts into that role andd play with three at the back, I can't see who else can play that role, unless Rico can do it; he has a good touch and distribution, is strong on the ball and has played at a high level to understand the role and knwo what is required of him. I guess we'll find out Tuesday at VTFC, great timing!!!

 

Fuzzy, surely the replacement would be Adam Dickens. And I guess we will find out in two weeks when the suspension kicks in.

[Woody SUFC]

Yellow yes, red no.

 

What a goal. What a bloody goal.

 

All sections of the ground was pretty loud when that went in! One of the best finishes of the season.

 

Although i only made the end of it due to work the Race Morning and the darts comp afterwards was a great idea and meant the bar was being used from 10.30am til well after 6 excellent work and a decent money spinner. Really looking forward to the day at the races. BIG well done to Matt Stevens even if he did set his kids on me as soon as i got in the door and then took money off of me!

 

Bunch of us went out for a meal after such is the real community sprit at the moment. It's all gravey.

 

Did i meantion it was a great strike?

 

Seen the slough forum? some hints of moaning about not being at WEFC anymore as SYCOB seem to have a worse pitch. Doesnt take mastermind to work that one out. Yes ours was shocking but we invested and its paying off now...even if it is looking abit rough after the last month and a half but thats to be expected with 2 sides on it.

 

 

AFC Totton have 5 more games to fit in, what with their county cup, than us. Excellent. Lets hope they suffer a iffy sending off like we did or two. They got our backs up and we're now enjoying the rumours coming out of that place.

 

 

Rother get that video on as soon as you can. I want to relive that goal over and over. Amazing

 

Amazing!

[Fuzzy Royal]

Woody, missed you at the Harvester, could you not find us?

 

I agree the unity in the club is superb, and although i couldn't make it the race night was a superb idea and is great for the club.

 

Yes, superb strike, although I thought he had flashed it across the goal and was about to bemoan him for shooting from there until I realised it was Chenns, terrific goal. Didn't look too injured to me and his dad commented after the game "must have been dropped for the game". Lets see what the VT game brings.

[dansilk]

But how do we replace Seeds, is it moving Butts into that role andd play with three at the back, I can't see who else can play that role, unless Rico can do it; he has a good touch and distribution, is strong on the ball and has played at a high level to understand the role and knwo what is required of him. I guess we'll find out Tuesday at VTFC, great timing!!!

 

Fuzzy, surely the replacement would be Adam Dickens. And I guess we will find out in two weeks when the suspension kicks in.

 

We are looking a bit light, actually - I see the squad page has been updated, and now only 16 outfield players doesn't leave much cover. (Although the newly removed players don't appear in the former players' list, either...).

I do think 3-4-3 has been one of our most effective formations, and Butts has been coming forward more (like today) so maybe we might do that at least for the games where we're more confident with attacking (maybe not VTFC). I agree Rico could make a very effective attacking midfielder, Dickens may be the 'purist' replacement but Rico certainly has good presence on the pitch so is better cover for Seeds that way:- although I don't know if he's got the stamina, because although he may have improved Seeds is really putting in mileage these days. Or we could even play a 4-3-3, if that wouldn't leave us too exposed in midfield...

 

One other thing - despite Jake's absence (enjoying his pints!) Ryan looked *really* impressive today, lots of breaks forward as well as doing the usual fine defensive work. Don't suppose there are any more Parsons brothers we can recruit?

[The Hovis Kid]

Scrappy game...

 

Hayes did not come to lose, performing like they did it made me wonder why they are so close to the bottom! Well done to their keeper, had a great game!

 

Happy with the result, how could you not be, 1 goal, 3 points. It was a fantastic finish!

 

As for the red card, I was stood on the Punto Stand... it was not a read card! Seeds had to Hayes players on him, he is looking for a way out, the hayes player held his face and jumped to the ground. The lino didn't flag for it. The ref should have confirmed with the lino before reaching for his pocket.

[Rother]

The keeper said during the game that their manager was so desperate for a result from the game that he had promised the players a meal in Windsor on him if they got one.

 

After the goal went in he was pacing his area muttering "Gutted, f***ing gutted..."

 

I have to say that I have been pretty impressed with the quality of opposition 'keepers this season. Is it just my impression or do they all seem to have good games against us!?

[Mrs_Cat]

Phew that the was close. It was beginning to look like we would never score. First reaction when I saw Chenns was going to shoot was "don't shoot from there"; however I should have known he would know exactly what he was doing.

 

Not sure how Hayes are where they are in the table. We've played much worse sides than them this season. In fact I thought given the conditions they knocked the ball about really well.

 

Another good display by the opposition keeper. I'm not sure if the keepers we come up against are getting better I just think we have more efforts on goal than we have done in past seasons which gives them more opportunity to showcase their talents.

[Woody SUFC]

Woody, missed you at the Harvester, could you not find us?

 

 

We ended up at the Viceroy and very nice it was too. I made the judgement call to switch to cokes at that stage and i think it was a fine idea dispite some stick!

 

AFC Hayes have been a bit of a bogey side for us so to get 6 points off them is very pleasing. Those of us who went to the away game wont forget the celebrations in a hurry!!

 

Great to see we had one of the higher crowds in the league today. With crowds down only 3% on last season and that gap getting smaller all the time it's signs of great work by the team and those who've done some great PR work. You've got to remember we dont have the travelling million from Slough this season so proof our own fanbase is growing.

 

Cant wait for tuesday now. Every game is like a cup final. Lets not forget if Totton win their games in hand they are only 2 points behind. We cant lose sight of that.

[Rother]

Here are the video links as promised - courtesy of my 10yo. Not a bad start to his photography career considering it's done on a mobile phone!!

 

Penalty Miss (Not exactly freeze frame photography but the film doesn't exactly do Seedel any favours for his afters challenge I'm afraid. If that is what it looks like he could have got a red card there and then...)

 

Shot saved

 

Another Shot saved

 

- GOAL!!!

 

And a couple from the Hungerford game. He was still getting used to the technique!

 

Rico's Goal (1st or 2nd? Can't remember)

 

Double save Edited January 31, 2010 by Rother

[Woody SUFC]

Great Videos. I know Rob Stevens is planning on recording a few games as part of a uni project with a number of cameras dotted around the ground. That would be excellent. Totton did something like that, but on a smaller scale, when we played them last season.

 

It certainly is nice to be able to look back on the games.

[Rother]

Cheers.

 

Oops, just remembered - he was 11 on Friday!!

[Fuzzy Royal]

With the Seeds pen (and it was a soft pen to give and really badly taken) but Seeds completely misses the guy when he slides in and hes clutching his face at one point. Obviously has the same coach as the number 3.

 

Great vids, really is so little video of us playing its so good to see us playing well and scoring. Some really good catches on vid, not bad quality for a phone either, keep up the good work. Maybe if we win the league we could have a montage of the best vids at the season end party on a big screen?

[Rother]

Take another look. Thing is, if you look carefully at the last split second, as the 2 were in a heap, it looks as if Seedel might have given him an almighty whack on the back of the head with his elbow. Purely accidental as he was trying to gain leverage to get up I'm sure.

 

I do hope not and apologise if my interpretation of the vid is misleading but the 'keeper did look pretty groggy for a minute or so.

Edited January 31, 2010 by Rother

[Fuzzy Royal]

I did wonder if that is what happened, I saw what you saw but looked more on the back than the head. I hope you are wrong as well as not a very nice thing to do, but if he did do that then maybe the red card was justified over the 90 mins, one way or another.

 

As our first league red of the season that is a good stat, and pretty low yellow cards as well from memory, so not an overly nasty team. From that i would say we can give Seeds the benefit of the doubt, although I am sure he would have killed that number 3 if a number of players hadn't held him back. Not too impressed with the sending off I believe.

 

But the vids do give us a chance to review some contentious decisions, Joels photos show Seeds nowhere near the keeper and incriminate the keeper, so two different points of view giving two diffferent opinions, great stuff!!

[sparksy]

I was\standing just to right of goal and seedal clearly elbowed goalkeeper after penalty. stupid thing to do! and something we dont need on run in is players needlessly getting sent off! Most of you guys have probably seen more games than me but having watched most home games over the last two seasons and a few away games i think matt seedal has looked slow and laboured and is also a liability! Will be intrested to see who plays centre mid in his absence and see if they play any better. What about little Scott Thomas filling the role? i've been really impressed with him and although i know his more of wide player i think he could do a decent job in the middle.

[Woody SUFC]

Whilst Seeds hasnt been at his best recently to call him a liability is a bit harsh! I'm guessing we'll move to a 3-4-3 with ryan Wharton moving into midfeild? Could even go to a 3-5-2 mind you! Good to have so many options to choose from