ETFC 1 Romford 2

[Gonzo]

Romford deserved their win and could've had more. Town didn't seem up for it at all. At this rate I can't see us finishing in the top 2.

 

Left back is still a problem position for us with Negus being unavailable. Jim stated some weeks ago that he was going to find a replacement - he hasn't managed to do this and we have a succession of players playing out of position and changing the system around.

 

The top sides have clearly worked out how to play against us. They sit back and then try to catch us on the counter-attack. Basildon, Concord & Romford all did this. We just looked like we completely ran out of ideas - even with 4+ strikers on at the end. Sure, the pitch is awful, but it's awful for both sides. MIM is right, we haven't beaten the top sides this season. We've got loads of strikers now, but none who can do what Clarkee did for us - making goals out of nothing.

 

Anyway, well done to Romford. They came with a plan and went away with 3 points. It was nice to see some away fans for a change!

 

This makes the Basildon game even more important now.

[Anfield Towner]

I don't think we should get too down-hearted. At least Jim's job in getting the players motivated for Basildon next week should be easy - have faith in him, I'm sure he'll have us back to our best!

 

We didn't play well and the pitch was awful but fair play to Romford - they got the tactics right and deserved the win.

[Pavagrotti]

We had a minutes Silence before the match in Rememberance of our armed forces (which was also as it turns out appropriate for what was to follow). We will not want to remember the result!

 

It was a bad day at the office for Town who were comprehensively beaten by a last minute makeshift team from Romford FC. Beanstock caught town on the break and scored on 17 minutes and Romford went in at half time looking far the better side (It hurts to say it - But they were better).

 

Second half they came out and continued where they left off with another breakaway goal from Clark. 2 – 0.

 

On the 70th minute Town pulled one back with the first real quality town attack of the match and a header from Billy Cove 1 - 2.

 

Town never really got the ball to the strikers and out of first gear and Romford were clearly up for it. Romford were the best team to play Town this season, certainly better than Basildon, Concord and Ilford.

 

Officials were not what we would have wished for but even with different officials, any other result would have been unjust.

 

Was David Allen really fit? He uncharacteristically lost the ball a lot, was lost for pace on a number of occasions.

 

In the cold windy conditions we played the high ball and Romford played it along the ground.

 

The less said the better the beer!

 

 

Gate 325.

 

[Southport - TOWNER]

Well done Romford, you came, we swore, you conquered!

 

Not sure what gaem ETFC thought they were playing today, but on that performance we shall be enjoying trips around Essex for a long time to come. As we seemed short of any creativity

 

Did the Romford keeper have 2 saves to make... err no.

Well defended, and good breaks.

 

Basildon next week.....

[Guest]

Ilford 3 Basildon 0.

 

Cancord draw Looks like ilford are clear at the top.

 

By the way Danny clarke scored another 2 looks like enfield are really missing him.

 

 

[Pavagrotti]

Daniel will no doubt be crowing on a hot mobile tonight. Ah well!

[Guest]

if you boys dont beat basildon you should give up football. They were useless and shouldn't not have been on the same pitch as ilford

[SOS]

Well done to Romford. They got the result they deserved today. They came with a plan and took the three points. Perhaps if Romford were as motivated for every game they play they might be challenging for the title?

 

Town were awful and never looked like getting anything from the game; the passing today was appalling. However, the league championship is still there for the taking. Concord dropped two points today. Things have to change though if we want to win this league. I don't feel we have the personel to play 5-3-2 and should revert to 4-4-2. Romford had far too much space today and I think this is partly down to the formation. With 4-4-2 you can go man for man.

 

Bring on the Basildon!

[Two Fat Feet]

What a refreshing change to see supporters of a high-flying team so magnanimous in embarrassing, crushing, humiliating defeat.

 

I think if Romford were playing a top three side every week we'd pick up more points than we would normally! With Brentwood and Bowers at home in our next two games we'd better not go into anti-climax territory. I'd rather be playing Concord next week.

 

Not a bad result without a first choice goalkeeper, centre back, central midfielder and striker. Good job it's a wide pitch.

 

Also, unless anyone else knows differently, this was the first Essex Senior League fixture to be played using electronic flags.

[Two Fat Feet]

So have Basildon given up the ghost now the money's not there?

 

Makes our result last week look a bit ordinary. Glad we won today to stop the illusion being shattered.

 

Money? Who needs it? Pah!

[Touchline]

We were pleased with our win today, especially as we were several players short. The players were certainly up for it, but they did miss a string of chances, although your keeper made at least two excellent saves. It is nice to visit a club with friendly fans, and your programme is excellent.

[lovely stuff]

I thought Romford deseved the win,their longer-passing game was much more suited to the poor surface.

 

Town should have switched Brotheron to defence second half,and brought on Ridout and Gerharty.

 

Danny Benstock seems to have kept himself fit and showed more than a few touches of old,although he was 3 yards offside for the first goal....saying that, he did take it well.

 

 

 

Finally...even though Romford competed and tackled fairly,i felt their yobbish/loutish

demeanour throughout the match and especially after the final whistle,let them down somewhat.......maybe a case of: 'you can take the boy out of Essex,but you can't take the Essex out of the boy'.

 

Having said that,the Romford fans were first-class.

[MbrunoB]

well done romford you gave us what we deserved but you showed your lack of ambition by being one up early and time wasting against a team playing so bad you could have had a hatfull

[ETFC Neil]

>>>their yobbish/loutish demeanour throughout the match and especially after the final whistle,let them down somewhat.......<<<

 

If I had been shouted out throughout the match I would have reacted the same way at the end. I was a little surprised to be faced by a player who shouted 'come and have a go then', then he run off!

[lovely stuff]

Up until the time of Romfords first goal the crowd had been very quiet.....I think you'll find it was their over-the-top celebating of that goal,that got the home fans backs-up.

 

To me,Romford seemed to start the game with a chip on thier shoulders.

 

Having said that,i'm not criticising their footballing display...which was well organised and effective.

[Steph]

I also believe that the problem was playing 3 in midfield. There is also no point in playing a winger who is so wide that he is off the pitch for 50% of the game.

 

Still Romford were the better side but there is no point playing 3 forwards if they do not get the ball from midfield.

 

 

[lovely stuff]

I still dont beleive in playing 5 at the back at this level,especially if you don't have a specialist left/wing-back.....I don't think Baldwin is suited to the job and neither is playing a forward in that position.

 

I would have Allen as right-back,Gant as left-back,and a choice of Brotherton, Snowden,Hall for the two centre-back roles...with Baldwin as cover for any of those positions.

 

This would mean we could still play 3 up-front without being over-run in midfield.

[andyetfc]

I think we were very lucky not to have lost the game by a far wider margin. Romford looked as though they were going to score every time they attacked, which was very worrying. All credit to their game plan.

 

Don't let's talk about the pitch being poor, let's talk about the game. ETFC's performance was completely different to last week so let's hope that next week's will be completely different again.

[lovely stuff]

Do you think the reason we played great last week,could have something to do with the fact that Burnham have the best playing surface in the league......and the reason we played crap yesturday was because we have the worst surface in the league.

 

 

Even though it rained heavily last week....it has been dry this week,which translated to a very sticky,bumpy pitch.

 

 

It proved impossible to lay a few passes together without the ball bobbling everywhere,or it getting stuck under the players feet.....that,combined with Romford shutting play down quickly,resulted in a very difficult game.

 

 

Town's style of play works best on a flat skiddy surface.

 

[BOROMAN]

What yobbish loutish behaviour, we wern't guilty of any of that, where do you watch you football every week, in a bloody monastrey.

 

Really don't know what you are talking about. It wasn't a dirty game, nor real friction between players, Both sides played football.

 

Just don't know where you are coming from.

 

Dont try to analyis what is not there to be analyised. If we did over celebrate it was because of our respect for your club and were so over the moon in acheiving what we did.