vs Biggleswade

[staines_rebel_Jr]

finished 3-3 though we were 2-0 up at half time and needed a last minute goal to equalise after being 3-2 down.

 

Ed Smith with a hat trick.

 

Sounds like Dobbo went off injured, not sure how bad but he would have been suspended for the next match anyway so will have a chance to recover.

[Hammer_rebel]

Well done ed hatrick and saved the day! But wtf were we doing.... Long balls didn't work kicking to no one! We were lucky to get a draw. Was so frustrating we were slipping every where! We need to get our heads screwed back on was not great to watch

[GlenSTFC]

Wasn't there but very disapointed to draw after the position we were in. But great to see Ed bang in form, is that 6 in 3 now? (not including Saturday's game). We need to improve our results against the sides below us.

[Ian]

Although I was pleased to see the third go in, I didn't celebrate as there was no way we should have come away with just a point. Having been clinical in the first half we came out at the start of the second and played as though we'd already finished the job.

 

We gave the ball away so cheaply that it was inevitable it would cost us eventually. Once they got their first it was no surprise to see them get more. Was very disappointing that we had no real quality after Dobbo was injured. Definitely 2 points dropped in my opinion.

[Chris]

Totally agree Ian. I was the same when the third went in.

 

We were in total control at half-time and I'm not too sure what happened. We seem to have some moments in games when were outstanding then suddenly all of a sudden look like a Sunday league side!

 

Yes, they introduced Craig Daniel who helped change the game and is a good player, but without Dobbo's width we started kicking the ball up in the air and giving it away far too cheaply.

 

IMO we need more width in the squad than we currently have.

[Neil Baker]

Will have a little response here, why do we expect to win any game when 2-0 up??? yes you would hope that we can close the game out, however how many times have we come back from 2 goals down this season?? it is a tough league, with teams who have plenty of quality, and we have no divine right to win any game.

Biggleswade are a very good side going forward, and whilst I agree we gave the ball away cheaply, we were the away side playing against a side who were going for it, as they had nothing to lose at that point.

It was a tough evening as we had a tough journey there, with Clurgy and Ben Ed getting to the ground at 7.15pm, and Reece and Parso getting there at 7.33pm... Jake Parsons called in sick this morning, Ben then pulls his adductor in the warm up meaning 2 fit subs.

Then Dobbo gets injured early and we have to change the team around, meaning Searsy who has not played since Arlesey had to do a 90 when in reality he would have only done a 60 or so.

Fair play to the lads getting into that excellent position by being 2 up when you consider the journey up etc (after a day at work), and yes disappointed we went 3-2 down, but the lads kept going and got what could be a valuable point.

We have (if you include Banbury) played 18 league games this season, 11 of them away, that is a tough start yet we are still mid table, 5 points off the play offs.

Granted I am sticking up for the lads, and there are a few excuses in there, but they still worked their socks off, I think Glen says we should be doing better against sides below us in the league, well this is a Biggleswade side who finished 9th in the league last year, and are a year further on from us after promotion, and who are also a side who never gives up.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Neil Baker

[Chris]

OK fair enough Bakes & totally respect what you are saying and hugely respect the players & the travelling they (and the management/staff) do and commitments they make, but where I'm thinking about was from about 50 mins on when we had a couple of chances to add more to our 0-2 score line and were in control - well after the players had arrived and had done so well to get us into a great position as you say.

 

From onwards of 50 mins they just seemed to take over from nowhere until they made it 2-2 and you could see them clawing it back even before they made it 1-2.

 

I thought it just took a few of our more experienced players to try and keep the ball better (which we were not doing) and try to encourage others to keep it better, as to me the way we were giving it away so early in the second-half I could see us being punished, because as you quite rightly suggest Biggleswade are a decent side.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Chris

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Will have a little response here, why do we expect to win any game when 2-0 up??? yes you would hope that we can close the game out, however how many times have we come back from 2 goals down this season?? it is a tough league, with teams who have plenty of quality, and we have no divine right to win any game.

Biggleswade are a very good side going forward, and whilst I agree we gave the ball away cheaply, we were the away side playing against a side who were going for it, as they had nothing to lose at that point.

It was a tough evening as we had a tough journey there, with Clurgy and Ben Ed getting to the ground at 7.15pm, and Reece and Parso getting there at 7.33pm... Jake Parsons called in sick this morning, Ben then pulls his adductor in the warm up meaning 2 fit subs.

Then Dobbo gets injured early and we have to change the team around, meaning Searsy who has not played since Arlesey had to do a 90 when in reality he would have only done a 60 or so.

Fair play to the lads getting into that excellent position by being 2 up when you consider the journey up etc (after a day at work), and yes disappointed we went 3-2 down, but the lads kept going and got what could be a valuable point.

We have (if you include Banbury) played 18 league games this season, 11 of them away, that is a tough start yet we are still mid table, 5 points off the play offs.

Granted I am sticking up for the lads, and there are a few excuses in there, but they still worked their socks off, I think Glen says we should be doing better against sides below us in the league, well this is a Biggleswade side who finished 9th in the league last year, and are a year further on from us after promotion, and who are also a side who never gives up.

 

I think before the match started most people would have been happy to come away with a point. we all know that Biggleswade are a good team.

 

we now have 4 home league games (ignoring the trip to margate for fa trophy) against team who atm are either around us or below. if we can get 9 points from those games that would be pretty good, obviously 12/12 would be great but as we have seen so far this season no game can be taken for granted and not everything goes your way all the time.

[Ian]

I'd expect you to defend the lads, Bakes, but is it unreasonable to think we should go on and win from 2-0 up? Surely the fact that we have managed to come back a couple of times should have alerted us to the potential dangers?

 

The frustration is that I think we contributed to our own downfall by being so cavalier when in possession. You could see them grow in confidence as a result but we kept doing it. No disrespect to Clurgy as he's a great leader but last night in my mind I could hear Wooz bellowing " keep the f*****g ball".

 

One positive from last night I overlooked was the performance of Sean Fraser who I thought stepped up fantastically after Dobbo's injury.

[Jon Underwood]

Ian I can assure you we were all well aware of the potential dangers and spoke about this at half time. The 2nd half game plan was absolutely not to go out and give the ball away nearly every time we won it back but for some reason that is what we did. It would be easy for me and Bakes to come on here and criticise the lads for that but that's not our style and we've chosen to back them instead and praise Biggleswade for their 2nd half performance which was very good.

 

Agree Sean did very well last night as did Searsy. Thought the front two were excellent in the 1st half in particular.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Jon Underwood

[Jon Underwood]

I should add that I have no problem with anyone being critical of our 2nd half performance last night. It was a very frustrating 45 mins for all of us and this is a forum where you are supposed to give your views! As managers we will save our criticism for the changing room, that's all I am saying.

 

Just need everyone to stay positive. If we get the points we deserve from Banbury we'll be 9th which I think is a position most people would have been delighted with at the start of the season. As some have said we have the chance now with 4 home games in a row to continue the form we showed vs Hereford and put ourselves in an even more positive position. And I firmly believe we will do that.

Edited October 29, 2014 by Jon Underwood

[GlenSTFC]

Yes before the game a draw would be an ok result, but I don't think it's wrong to say a lot of fans at half time would have thought at 2-0 a win was pretty safe. Of course it's not guaranteed but by the sounds of it our play deteriorated in the second half and in the end you have to be relieved to grab a draw.

[Ian]

I'm certainly not negative, Jon. The team have performed way beyond expectations this season, especially as for most of the time we've only had half a team! The problem with setting such high standards as I think the players have is it's disappointing when they dip below them. Last night we saw two entirely different performances in one game!

 

As the table stands we are one point behind Chesham and one ahead of Hitchin. If you'd have offered me that at the start of the season to be around those two I'd have taken it like a shot.

[Hammer_rebel]

I have every faith In the lads and am always on their side but sometimes it's frustrating ESP when we are losing the ball so easily gotta take the praise and the Critisim on board and move on

[Jon Underwood]

Ian/HR, I think I'm agreeing with both of you!

[Hammer_rebel]

You better be!

[Sue]

Dont think I agree with you Glenn, even at 2 0 up I wasnt over confident. I happen to think Biggleswade are a good side.  In fact at home I think they are one of the few teams that  actually came to play football and not act like dying swans !!

 

Anyway one of the highlights for us was when the No 16 came on for them and was relaying the managers orders and was told by No 15 " Shhhh dont shout, whisper", and as we told him "Its too late we heard him", have to say he was a good sport along with their keeper.

 

And as for not celebrating Chris and Ian you didnt need to, the BIggleswade bench did enough of that for everyone when the third goal went in !!! (of course we would never of done that).

[epicrebel]

I notice the crowd was given as 145. There must of been 75+ Slough so not a good turnout by Biggleswade.

[GlenSTFC]

Great turnout if true for a long midweek match. With the crowd given as 380 (50% above their average) on Saturday there must have been at least 120 from Slough.

[GarySTFC]

Considering there was a meagre 18 behind the goal in the second half, I think 35 is a more realistic estimate.