Aylesbury 3-2 Billericay

[Simon BTFC]

First hour good, last half hour bad.

 

With Justin, JJ, Andy Jones, Baulckham and Ritchie all out, we sent out a very young side - Penn was the oldest player out there for us at 25 making the entire side younger than me!

 

Took the lead midway through the half when the Ducks keeper and full back decided they weren't talking to each other allowing Danny Hockton to nip in and score. Hockton then doubled the lead a few minutes into the second half. We then started going backwards a bit, Scarborough gave away a pen which Ready smashed home. After that there was really only 1 team in it, Aylesbury getting the 2 goals they needed for the win. Hunter and Morris both had good headers at goal, Hunters tipped over Morris just wide.

 

The team lined up

Howard

Henty Scarborough Penn Taylor

S.Jones Hunter Dormer Patterson

Ansell Hockton

 

Subs

Morris for Dormer

Ajadin for Ansell

[Rod]

Thought both defences and keepers looked dodgy so no suprise that there were five goals. Individual errors cost us the goals but the last quarter of the game Aylesbury were just running at our defence and it appeared to be just a question of time before they scored.

 

Hockton looks a class act though.

[Simon BTFC]

On reflection there were a fair few positives to take out of the game - Hockton showed he can score goals in this league, Patterson and Steve Jones had decent debuts, Dormer and Hunter passed the ball well in the centre of the park. We could be struggling for strikers on tuesday though as Ansell picked up a knock - injured fingers - although Ajadin showed some good touches when he came on. Certainly can't fault the effort or commitment from the boys.

[GazzaBTFC]

Okay, here we go. First thing, having read the NL paper you would've thought that Aylesbury were all over us but I suppose that is the way of these reports.

 

Second - Even tho we didn't comand the game as a whole when we pushed up we look dangerous everytime and to be honest, I don't really think that when we sort ourselves out there will be may teams that will be able to live with us on the field of play.

 

Injuries aside...Our defence does look a bit suspect and Russell was all over the back four line. I'm not knocking him 'cos he looked as if he wanted to take responsibility for everything that woz thrown at our defence but leadership demands delegation to leave his partners in defence to support him and do their job. Russell is an intelligent lad and will learn that this is so. Also, in his defence, the team looked to attack at every possible moment and Gary Henty was looking to support the attack when we were pushing up down the right hand side. This obviously leaves us short at the back, which again, with his determination and effort, Russ tried to plug the gaps when GH was pushing forward and we got caught. I would like to say here that I am not knocking Russ, his leadership and effort when on the field is an example to all players, especially those who will remain nameless in previous seasons!!!

 

It was nice to see some passing going on out there as well. All the players wanted to pass the ball, mainly too feet, when the opportunity arose. Some of it came off, some off it didn't. We played the long ball when we needed too. Leon Hunter, Marlon Patterson (Brilliant in the first half), Gary Ansell, Danny Hockton were all looking to play some nice, controlled passing football. I would suspect that a "want" to do well for themselves, the club and us supporters added to the first game of the season nerves.

 

[Guest]

Although I agree that the NLP report did make it look like there was only one team in it (maybe for minutes 55 to 90, but the rest of it was about even), I'll have to disagree with your comment "Hockton showed he can score goals in this league".

 

"Hockton showed he can score goals only if they are handed to him on a plate" would be more accurate, as apart from those two gifts, he missed every chance he had - and that was a fair few.

 

If he was up against a team with a functioning defence and a keeper that wasn't incredibly nervous (that was Wheeler's first game back after missing virtually all last season with a dislocated shoulder), I don't think he'd have got anything.

 

I think both our teams are going to have to do a lot of work defensively to get in the top 13 come the end of the season.

[Ryan.c]

Well you've only seen him play once and he knocked in 2 goals past your lot. Don't matter how they come and don't forget he also hit the post.

 

All in all there many positives. I thought we always looked like scoring even at 3-2 down we had a couple of decent chances. Played some good football (espcially in first half) which was superior to aylesburys. The last 20 minutes was a bit worrying as to the way we capitulated, I think if we had old head in there then we might have coped better. Still, there's a lesson in there somewhere, one we hope the players will learn from.

[Nitetime Neil]

...and a word of praise for the Ricay faithful who turned out in good numbers for a long trip on a hot day! Good to hear hear the ovation the lads got at the end after trying their inexperienced best. I can think of many times in the past when watching us throw away a two goal lead to lose 3-2 would have brought a chorus of choice language and calls for the manager's head! Nice to see we, as fans, have grasped the reality of our situation and appreciated the effort put in earlier in the game. I for one came away with a good feeling, despite the result, and am gutted I will be missing Tuesday due to my regular quiz night at the 'grim!!!

[paulc27]

I agree with most things said so far, especially Gazza's comments about Russ at the back. He determination is not in question he just needs to hold his own ground. Having said that I didnt think Henty played well in his defensive role. Going forward he did ok but his defending was poor which may explain why all three goals conceeded came from their left sided players running at henty. this was forcing Russ to come out of position. I thought hockton did well with his two goals. He chased two potential lost causes and got himself two goals. Im sure he will score better goals but you got to in the right positions to score in the first place.

Going forward I have no concerns about the lads, at the back, which was our saviour last season, we need to makes sure we dont slip up again like we did on sat. I think its fair to say Justin may have given them a roasting as his body language at full time was not that of a happy man.

never nice to lose the first game, but i also think the desire to do well may have contributed in making for some nervous players. I think we need JJ and Justin out there to give the young heads some reassurance.

All in all i was gutted we lost but saw enough to not panic. Fair play to Aylesbury who never gave up. Also lets hope we can maintain the level of support we showed on sat.

[peter foster]

Interesting that "Nitetime Neil" regards a trip to Aylesbury as "long". In our league we would regard such a trip as a local derby....

 

Peter Foster - Chelmsford City.

[CANV EFM]

get in the ryman then.. its like the essex senior league but a bit more senior and few exciting trips to teams in other counties thrown in, like bishops stortford

[GazzaBTFC]

And remember when visiting Canvey Island bring passport, bucket and spade

[Little Miss Urchin]

...Protective suit...

[Simon BTFC]

Innoculation against rabies........

 

 

Interesting comments re the contest between their left winger and Henty. Am pretty sure the left winger in question was none other than Alvin Bubb - ex (briefly) player of ours! Obviously he's quick as, we knew that from his time with us. Hitchin I think we'll be a different kettle of fish, don't recall them having anybody of Bubb's kind of pace.

[YELLOW]

Quote:

Little Miss Urchin said:
...Protective suit...

Yeah! Just to protect yourself from me!! <img src="/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[GazzaBTFC]

Oh yeuck!!! He isn't called "Yellow" Army for just his support of Canvey

[YELLOW]

Cheeky Gazza! Very cheeky!

[Little Miss Urchin]

Blimey O'Reilly, I seem to 'ave 'em fighting over li'l old me. <img src="/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />

 

<img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> ( <img src="/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />)

[YELLOW]

No it's not blimey O'Reilly. It's Alex O' Reilly!!

Used to play in goal for Purfleet, ex West Ham youth.