Slough Town 5-1 Banstead

[GarySTFC]

Never really got out of second gear. First half strikes from Hodge and two from Harris were followed by an early second half strike from Haddow before they pulled one back. Spencer weighed in with the fifth.

 

Scoreline flattered us and a meagre lifeless crowd of 216 will have gone home happy, but far from impressed.

[Ted]

A difficult match to describe, we were the better side, but the scoreline was mostly down to their keeper, who had a shocker, and their forwards, who missed some sitters in the 2nd half. That said, if we weren't 5-1 up we probably wouldn't have giveb them much space. 2 good goals from Harris who then disappeared from the game. My MOM was Hodges, though Haddow and Spencer had good games too.

[Barry Scott]

thought harris kept trying to the end, hodges workrate was phenomenal, and spencer played well on the right

[Guest]

More mobility in the back four with S Daly out, 'though not put under pressure in the air. Howard out of position- his place is on the right.

Daren W had a good game.

Looking good for Sun.

 

[Nathan]

But what is wrong with our defence? We gave away the softest of goals when their player launched a gigantic great throw into the area, it eluded everyone until their player got on the end of it and tapped it into the net with his head. When will we learn?

[GarySTFC]

Thought Howard actually looked quite comfortable playing as a sweeper in the middle of three centre backs. Hodge did well leading the line upfront, Miller again looked ineffective upfront, Spencer again disappointing on the right (perhaps I'm being harsh here, but I'm always seeing his negatives and rarely his positives)

 

Thought Haddow worked hard and created a bit as well and was probably my MOTM amongst a poor bunch.

[Nathan]

I also fing it ironic that as soon as Banstead Athletic scored their goal, some of our fans started slagging the team off!

[Barry Scott]

well they did seem to be coasting after the fourth went in which isn't a good sign for sunday. taking your mind off the job when playing opposition from above will be costly

[GarySTFC]

Mind you though, when you have a four goal lead against, let's face it, poor quality opposition you can take your foot off the pedal, but we let them come back into it. I thought we'd have learnt from Saturday about what teams can potentially do for comebacks...

 

Anyway, Stortford got a 1-1 draw last night in their game at Kingstonian after the game didn't kick off until 9.15 after the Stortford coach broke down on the Dartford tunnel making the players late.

[Ted]

Quote:

Gary-STFC said:
Spencer again disappointing on the right

He had a good game---the cross for the 4th was sublime. <img src="/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

[Guest]

I thought Spencer was pretty woeful first-half but good second half. Hodges again impressed and Matt Miller looks a little out of form. Thought Barras looked a lot more comfortable at left-back and Ant Howard really should play on the right for me - wasted as an attacking force at centre back. Down to the bare bones though.

[GarySTFC]

Quote:

Down to the bare bones though.

Think that just about sums up the squad at the moment though. Two injuries/absentees (Hyatt & Daly) and the squad looks very limited. I'm sure Eddie is trying to find the right sort of players to come into the squad and Murphy's versatility will come in useful with him being comfortable in the centre of midfield or defence, but certainly at the moment we continue to look threadbare.

Ted, missed the build up to the fourth, only saw Haddow slam the ball home from round by the bar after helping Emma clear up. Spence probably does all his good stuff whilst I'm not watching!

It's not that he's not a good player, he certainly is, there are just points about his game that really annoy me. I think he is a quality crosser of the ball and proved last night he can finish when he broke well for the fifth. The problem I do have with him is the petulance when he loses the ball and his lack of effort to try and win the ball back. He just stops, moans a bit and then starts to jog back everytime he loses the ball it seems. Seems a bit easy to fly off the handle as well (recalling a moment at Croydon Ath where Spence thought he'd been fouled, ref didn't give it, Spence then promptly runs around like a madman and chops the bloke down). He offers more quality than anyone else on the right, but I feel like a kick up the backside could do him well and return him to the form we know he's capable of.

[Nathan]

I though Spencer had a shocking game last nght, I hardly saw him other than the goal.

[Guest]

I thought we did well! i admit the defence at times was shocking but, Hodgy is class! Anyone know what happened to Gyoury? i saw him go off but does anyone know if he's injured, bad news if both centre backs are out

[Guest]

I know I've said it before but it still disappoints me that we only get a gate of 216, even if it is a midweek game, and we're not playing in Slough (this may sound hypocritical of me when I say that I wasn't there last night, but I will be on Sunday). Where have the 125 or so missing people gone??

[St Leonard]

Good job Eddie took off Wilko, dont want our star man picking up any injuries for the big game on Sunday!

 

Hate to say it but felt a bit more confident with the defence without Daly, Adrian Browne is god like!

[Burnham Lad]

The mixed views on Spencer are interesting - but that probably reflects his play. One minute as Ted says, he produces a superb pass and there were a few of them, but the next he gives the ball away in a tackle he should have evaded with his level of skill. One minute he produces a superb run, the next doesn't run at all!

 

I think people get irritated with him because basically it is 10/10 for skill, and 5/10 for application.

 

I also thought Adrian Brown looked good when he came on and I must admit I always wonder why he is not up for a regular place. I know there are those who like to see Barras in midfield, but I felt much more secure with him at left back -and he turned in some sterling performances there last season.

 

The problem is the central defence. Gyoury won a much smaller percentages of balls in the air, compared to Daly and he does not appear to be any quicker on the ground, so that is a problem. But we do need some height in the defence.

 

I can understand Eddie's problem. This team has potential, but they do need to produce greater consistency at the level we know they can play at and try to eliminate silly mistakes, like the Banstead goal.

 

And as usual Wilko added some bite - let's hope he can avoid injury!

 

 

[GarySTFC]

Personally, I think it should only be one of Daly and Gyoury in the side. They should bring in someone with pace to mop up and balls that beat the aerially dominant centre half.

 

Agree totally about Spencer. He's probably got the most potential individually of the whole squad yet only gives us glimpses of what he really can do.

 

I actually feel much more secure with us playing with 3 centre backs though with Howard playing as a sweeper. Only problem with that is finding a place for Spencer in midfield. His workrate isn't high enough, certainly at present, on a consistent basis to play in the centre, and it shows up even more playing him as a right wing back. Mind you, he had that great run in the second half where he beat two men for pace & skill and got the ball into the box. More of that please Ryan!

 

Barras looks much more comfortable these days playing on the left either as wingback or full back. Haven't been convinced at all when he's played in central midfield this season.

 

I've spoken to Adie Browne on a number of occassions, and he's desperate to get his chance again in the first team. He's training hard, and having just got over injury, I hope for him that he can put in some good performances in the reserves and stake his claim for a first team place. Certainly has the right build for a 'proper' centre back, although as with Daly & Gyoury, I have my concerns about his distribution from the back.

 

I'm still convinced Eddie & Gilkesy will get it right and bring in some more players suitable to the budget and right for the squad.

[Chris]

Maybe we should be giving the lads a bit more credit - Banstead drew 1-1 away at Aylesbury today!