Met Police 1 Margate 3 - Site Updated

[SteveB]

All statistics (except attendances) updated.

 

Report and reaction to follow.

[DomBlueBoy]

A good result.

 

1) we played well. Not all long balls pumped forward but some passing going on

 

2) Met Police were really really bad

 

3) The players struggle to play at home due to pressure (possibly) and play better with more freedom away.

 

It must be one of these things, I'm going to say a mixture of all 3.

[Pridders]

Good result for the boys

I would have travelled up there, but filled in for Wayne W, doing the initial Wednesday evening Football in the Community coaching.

[DomBlueBoy]

A quick note - I meant these as 3 options as to why we got the result tonight and in no way represents a review of the actual performance as I was not there !!!

[Blue Banshee]

oh that was YOU!!!!! Nice to meet you boys enjoyed it tonight and will be back next week

[Ian_W]

What is it like to be in the top half

 

Seriously though - hope you can build upon a great start

 

[geoff pay]

Att. 138

[Eastside Urchin]

Still below us,big game in a couple of weeks at your gaff,was supposed to be working but may venture out for the night seeing as it's a big one.

Let's have it

[michael]

Absolutely delighted-and frankly staggered that we achieved that result tonight.

 

What did we do different tonight i wonder .

 

 

[Eastside Urchin]

It's simple,you won

[Coffin Ender]

Fully deserved that. Took the lead with a cracking goal, great cross from Bodkin and Bradbrook headed home. They equalised not long after, Pooley tried to head it back to Smelt but there seemed a mix-up and their forward lobbed Smelt. Things seemed a bit wobbly after this but we regained the lead before half-time, Kwasi tucking a loose ball in the box past the keeper.

Third goal not long after the interval effectively wrapped it up. Keeper parried a shot and Bodkin rammed home the rebound. After that we could have had a few more. Some great crosses from Bodkin. As at Horsham, we pressed the opposition and when Met Police won the ball they didn't keep it for very long. Curtis played a central midfield position instead of suspended Dan Stubbs, with Ball at right-back instead of Corneille.

[Eastside Urchin]

Ironically,I have just seen the Met Police manager at BP petrol station in upminster,with his met police tracksuit on

[Wellsie]

Match commentary highligths and reaction from Jake Leberl and Matt Bodkin available now on www.margate-fc.com.

[Wellsie]

Full match report also now available on www.margate-fc.com.

[st nichs lawman]

well the margate away team turned up last night! good pressing from the start and the ball kept on the ground.Appiah playing further forward to support bradbrook helps hold the ball up and gives the back four some breathing space.

 

I could see how Met Police won the south last season.i disagree that they were bad,. I thought they kept the ball on the ground and moved it well and quickly at times.The pitch was lovely and helped both teams.The surface as good as hastings but even flatter.

 

The changes were necessitated by suspension and injury and worked.Coleman did well to supply Bodkin first time for the first goal and Cloke was his normal self at the back.I thought bradbrook and Appiah were a handful all night and worked their back four really well.As stated it makes such a difference having them closer and actually up front!

 

Our goals were all taken well and well deserved.I thought Bodkin had his best game yet.He looked dangerous everytime he had the ball and worked hard up and down when he did not.He is clearly getting fitter and looking forward to seeing him improve more yet.i would say his support of the front two on the right was excetpional but a shame he was not used more often.Two or three times Appiah controlled and held the ball up really well only then to set off on a cross field run and get caught when there was a simple cross field outlet available in Bodkin.

 

Robinsons move into the centre of midfield worked really well.He challenged for everything and was constantly involved.I feel CK may want to leave him there as his physical presence helped enormously and he is a better player when always involved rather than stuck out on the left.He was my MOM. Avery ran him close.Nothing fancy and nothing flash, just always there with a head or a foot to challange for or win the ball.He does the ugly stuff for the team and in my view does not get the recognition although i am sure his team mates appreciate it.

 

Birchell coming on did himself some favours as he competed well and i thought his tracking of their fullback and right midfield was really good.A good shift put in by him for the team.

 

A word about their goal. All Poley fault? well yes save that i fear it showed uncertaiinty from him and the back four in the goalkeeper.He knows he should have put it in row Z if in doubt but seemed caught between heading it back to Smelt or getting rid.Hope he makes a note for the future that the latter is always the option.I did not hear anything from Smelt by way of instruction which should have been loud and clear. i could hear the other players.i feel a lack of communication comes from his lack of confidence after saturday but he has to and must talk to his back four.That having been said i feel Smelt should take confidence from the game as he produced two good saves , one in each half and his handling was good.he just needs to command his area and talk more.if it is his ball then bloody well let everyone including us know, jack!!

 

My concern is he will come out for ther game saturday and be instantly reminded by those who did not see last night what happened on saturday.He and the team does not need it.I agree with those who say we are a different team away .There is less pressure and all the shouting last night for the players was positive ( cant say the same for the ref who i swear was after some outstanding speeding tickets being sorted for him !!)

 

I saw and heard the team warming down afterwards and the banter was good.They enjoyed their night's work which i know a win helps but i dont see or feel the same re home matches.So those fans who are so quick to get on their backs at home , come away, keep your mouths shut and let them play without fear and then judge!!

 

Here endith the lesson! ! had to get it out !!

[Dutch_Mike]

Really good performance at times last night. Bit of a wobbly period after they equalised, but, unlike teams of the past, we stood firm, kept it at 1-1, and then took control again. Going forward, we were brilliant last night. The Met Police defence didn't really know how to cope with Bradbrook, Bodkin and Appiah. Bradbrook never stopped running, constantly hassling the defenders, putting them under pressure from setpieces, and he took his goal very well. Bodkin really was unplayable at times: beating defenders, getting to the byline, and whipping in some outstanding crosses.... Top-class wing play

 

Liked the combination of Avery and Curtis in the middle of midfield: neither take any prisoners, do the simple things well, win a lot in the air and generally made us look more solid. And, bar the shaky period in the first half, the defence looked more comfortable, particularly in the second half, dealing well with everything that a very limited Met Police team threw at us.

 

Small mention for Birchall as well, who, when he came on, fulfilled his reponsbilities very well of tracking back, but still managed to support the attack.

 

Again, the referee truly was atrocious, but I've given up expecting anything less at this level.

 

We are a very good team at times, and any talk post-Hendon game that we will struggle this year is just nonsense. The worst we will do is mid-table. A bit of luck along the way, and who knows what we could achieve? Let's build on this good performance and great result, and get a win on Saturday

[michael]

Thanks for the detailked and encouraging reports.

 

good stuff it seems.

 

Consistency is the key- but its almost impossible to obtain-and thats why the players play at this level and hopefully-we are at least mid table.

 

Not after miracles-but for me-consisterncy is simply winning more than one game at a time-lets not be greedy-and start with winning two games-by winning on saturday.

 

Again-encouraged by what you guys have posted-but not holding my breath after just one decent performance.

 

I've always said the key is win the midfield battle-and always rated Avery for the same reasons you post.

 

If Curtis can really play a role in central midiled-then add any one of stubbs,wilson or possibly colemann to those two-and it may just have cracked the midfield 'problem'

 

Up the 'Gate

[st nichs lawman]

thanks Dutch Mike for confirming i am not going mad and others are seeing the same games as me.

 

I agree we need consistency and i hope with encouragement we will find it as there is plenty of the season left. I did not hear a single shouted criticism of any individual player last night which contrasts with home games. It was refershing as was the team performance!!

[Coffin Ender]

Why are we so bad at home and so good away (four games unbeaten)? Is it the conditions, the wind in particular? Or are we just better when the onus is on the other team to attack?

[Roseyboy]

Thanks for report... I just get the rollercoaster feeling in my stomach for this year... But bar a few mini issues seems a good start to season.. Cud have been a lot worse... Onward n upwards