Slough 4-3 Northwood

[hitchin_chris]

Well done on getting the points yesterday. It was never going to be easy after putting so much into beating Daventry,

 

Unlike us after putting so much into beating Arlesey, your lads got the job done in the next game. Now there's Arlesey for you on Tuesday evening - there will probably be at least 20-30 Hitchin there to cheer you on. Your team does have a knack of pulling out the stops on the big games - crossing fingers they can do so on Tuesday.

 

Our win yesterday means that we have something to play for - home advantage. We all but accept that Arlesey will win the League, which IMHO is terrible for non-league football, but if we do have to face you, I hope this time it will be in the Final at Top Field where a decent pitch would make for a great game between the best two footballing teams in the Division.

 

See you all at Arlesey on Tuesday!!

 

P.S. Do you know that Biggleswade's Paul Barnes is out for the rest of the season - broken ankle.

[Mark44]

richierebel.

 

You have a point that we may want to keep the momentum going, however I do not want us to get into a situation like last year where we put everything into Romulus because we had to win by a large margin. Then we put everything again into the hitchin game and so by the Chesham game we looked tired and fatigued and had nothing left.

[Mark44]

Hi Hitchin_Chris

 

I think you guys can win the league still. If we get at least a draw tomorrow then could come down to last game of season and if you win could win the league.

 

Dont give up hope yet

[Mr Rebel]

i know we have to still qualify for the playoffs but its an interesting problem about whether you play strongest lineups in games that have little meaning before the actual playoffs. i think resting here and there makes sense if you could get to the situation of having next to no one playing twice in that last week probably would be a good thing BUT its a pointless discussion till we get there

[Mark44]

Mr Rebel

 

Have you not just spoken about it

[Matt]

richierebel.

 

You have a point that we may want to keep the momentum going, however I do not want us to get into a situation like last year where we put everything into Romulus because we had to win by a large margin. Then we put everything again into the hitchin game and so by the Chesham game we looked tired and fatigued and had nothing left.

 

I don't think that was necessarily the case. In that playoff final we went behind after about 2 minutes and were overran by a very good Chesham side (flying high in the league above now) who had already beaten us three or four times already in the same season. They never looked back after getting the second and third and kept the ball well, so it was hard work getting it back.

 

I'd like to go into the playoff game, should we qualify, on the back of a string of good results and good performances, so I wouldn't change the team too much personally.

[Windsor Rebel]

Again, easily the better side and could have won by more but for a bit of bad luck (i.e. the woodwork). I thought Northwood were a lot better than when we played

them earlier in the season, so all credit to them for turning in a better performance. Saying that, their defence did look like they had only played a few games together

(the no, 5 looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights at times).As for our defence, poor goals to give away, but I am sure we will be aware of that and

tighten up against Arlesey. Almost there guys, only 4 points needed from 5 games, and my play off prediction will be realised!

Edited April 11, 2011 by Windsor Rebel

[readingrebel]

richierebel.

 

You have a point that we may want to keep the momentum going, however I do not want us to get into a situation like last year where we put everything into Romulus because we had to win by a large margin. Then we put everything again into the hitchin game and so by the Chesham game we looked tired and fatigued and had nothing left.

 

I don't think that was necessarily the case. In that playoff final we went behind after about 2 minutes and were overran by a very good Chesham side (flying high in the league above now) who had already beaten us three or four times already in the same season. They never looked back after getting the second and third and kept the ball well, so it was hard work getting it back.

 

I'd like to go into the playoff game, should we qualify, on the back of a string of good results and good performances, so I wouldn't change the team too much personally.

 

 

I think it was necessarily the case.

 

In the games where we played Chesham prior to the play-off final there was not a lot between us. In the play-off final we looked jaded and tired and were never in the game. Chesham coasted into the play-final and it showed.

 

IMO getting the 4 points required before the Biggleswade game allowing us to rest certain players, especially on the Monday before the semi-final, will be crucial, allowing us the ideal preparation rather than scrapping for points on the Saturday and Monday.

[Mark44]

Yep im with Reading on this.

 

The games before were all close and even this pre seasons game was close.

 

Was only the once where we were well beaten and I believe fatigue had set in. I would hope we could take it easy in the last two games and be fresh and ready for the playoffs

[Mr Rebel]

the early goal caught us cold but we had a lot of the play before it was 2-0 and had chances at 2-0 to get back in it. dont think 4-0 was ever a fair reflection really but as said we had put in so much for the Sutton Coldfield and Hitchin games so yes probably a factor. once it was 3-0 its 100% impossible and heads will drop inevitably

 

saying that was we not 3-0 down at home to Chesham last season after about 20 minutes. believe it was the game Simon Martin missed a late penalty to get back to 3-3 but the final was nothing new if we was 3-0 down in a matter of minutes previously. no game is same as the other anyway lots of factors

 

avoiding BIG games to get into the playoffs is ideal but as long as we make it nobody will have too much complaints surely

[Chris]

First of all we still need to get to the play-off's - still a bit of work to do.

 

Main thing for me is the management need to make sure Sincs is fully fit if we get there, plus they need to do a bit of mathamatics with the Paul Coyne situation. Need to work out when a booking (if he were to get one) would run into next season rather than this with the play-off's in mind. Still think he's a booking away from a 2 match ban, so need to make sure he's avaliable for the semi-final and final should we get there.

[Ian]

There's an advantage to resting a few players. Firstly, those players will be fresh for when the playoff games come around and also, those that would be on the bench would be more upto match fitness if they get a couple of games in beforehand.

 

Let's worry about tomorrow night first however. I'd love to win that one!

[Nathan]

I think we need to be wary of taking our foot of the pedal if/when we make it into the play-offs. It can be quite hard to simply put it back on when need be. In some ways it can be good to keep the momentum going, but we will just have to wait and see what happens.

[hitchin_chris]

All valid points.

 

We have a similar dilemma - if the title is cut and dried by the time we play Arlesey last game, do we play our strongest team and still try to put one over on them and keep any momentum we have going, or do we rest key players to avoid them having lumps kicked out of them prior to the play-offs.It won't be a game for the faint-hearted, that's for sure.

 

To have any chance of playing for the title last game, we need to win our other remaining games, we need you to beat them tomorrow evening and even then, we need one out of AFC Hayes, North Greenford Utd. or Uxbridge to take a point off them. Uxbridge is the best bet.

 

It wouldn't be so bad if any other team won the title - but not them! See some of you tomorrow - at least a dozen of us going, possibly more.

[GarySTFC]

they need to do a bit of mathamatics with the Paul Coyne situation. Need to work out when a booking (if he were to get one) would run into next season rather than this with the play-off's in mind. Still think he's a booking away from a 2 match ban, so need to make sure he's avaliable for the semi-final and final should we get there.

 

No need to worry about tenth booking as of second sunday in April (yesterday)

[readingrebel]

they need to do a bit of mathamatics with the Paul Coyne situation. Need to work out when a booking (if he were to get one) would run into next season rather than this with the play-off's in mind. Still think he's a booking away from a 2 match ban, so need to make sure he's avaliable for the semi-final and final should we get there.

 

No need to worry about tenth booking as of second sunday in April (yesterday)

 

 

Yes, SB said on Saturday that it was now up to 15 bookings before a ban was due.