Kettering a

[A Rebel and a Saint]

The coach to this game is now full (yes you read that right).

[David Carpenter]

I refuse to travel on the roof! COYR!!

[staines_rebel_Jr]

lost 3-0

 

Hitchin 1-3 Chippenham

Leamington 0-0 Kings Langley

St Neots 2-3 Merthyr

Cinderford 1-2 Banbury

 

 

We stay in 4th.

[GlenSTFC]

Only positive is Hitchin losing today. Frustrating as had we won we could have been 3 points clear of Hitchin and 3 behind Leamington (still would have been tough to catch but a slim chance nonetheless). Our away form has been poor for our position and we finish 4th playing away is going to be difficult for us. Let's hope with 2 of the last 3 at home we can at least get 2 wins although saying that Cirencester next will be tough one with them fighting to stay up.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

Cinderford are now relegated and the league website have prematurely announced Chippenham as champions. They need to get their calculators out, 8 points ahead with 9 points to play for.

[RebelDelaney]

Will not talk about the game very disappointing but the Singing on the Coach coming home 10 out of 10.

 

Heads up COYREBELS

[David Carpenter]

The spirit behind the singing was great but without sounding too much of an old codger I hope please please don't give up your day jobs! It was all as flat as today's performance! Well done and COYR!!

[HorshamRebel]

Match photos

 

https://www.flickr.com/photos/horshamrebel/albums/72157682357676645

[Reading Rebel]

Another disappointing away defeat on a poor surface.

 

Without being too negative it does seem like we've become a bit of a soft touch on anything other than a good surface. 

 

With the away game at Chesham on Bank Holiday Monday coming up anything other than a win against a Cirencester team that are fighting for their lives doesn't bear thinking about.

Edited April 8, 2017 by Reading Rebel

[Stan]

We seem to describe any pitch that is not billiard table smooth , as "poor" . The pitch today was an average end of season non-league surface. Dry underneath and bobbly on top. Not great but no excuse for that 2nd half performance. It's the type of surface our players have spent most of their lives playing on. Sure it's much more fun playing at AP but we need to address this mental block we have developed away from home that leaves us in a blind funk when we see a worm cast on a pitch.

[rebelade]

For me there's a couple of things. Firstly, when we play really well it's hard to choose a MOTM but it's also the same when we play poorly, today no one had a good game, they were all poor. Secondly, we miss Manny Williams, his pace, his intelligence, his trickery but most importantly his ability on poor pitches to create space for others. Lastly, as Radders said behind goal, second half we didn't string 2 passes together until 3 down, the question is why can't we keep the ball better on bobbly pitches? and why do we always go long ball.

Enjoyed the day, if not the result, roll on Friday COYR

[Neil Baker]

For me there's a couple of things. Firstly, when we play really well it's hard to choose a MOTM but it's also the same when we play poorly, today no one had a good game, they were all poor. Secondly, we miss Manny Williams, his pace, his intelligence, his trickery but most importantly his ability on poor pitches to create space for others. Lastly, as Radders said behind goal, second half we didn't string 2 passes together until 3 down, the question is why can't we keep the ball better on bobbly pitches? and why do we always go long ball.

Enjoyed the day, if not the result, roll on Friday COYR

Only thing I will say on that Ade is how did Kettering play??? All they did was turn us round by smashing 50/60 yard balls into space, occasionally they would pass it, and why is that, because you can't pass the ball on those pitches without it bobbling up round your knees etc, few times we tried to play in and around their box, and every time we end up losing the ball because of the surface.... only way to win those games is being direct and taking your chances... could have been two or three up at half time, in which case we would not be having this conversation.....

 

Stan is right we have to cleat this mental block as soon as we can, we have to get in front in these games, however we haven't.... just look recently, Biggleswade, Frome, Cinderford, Kettering... can you honestly say we have deserved to lose all those games ?

 

Anyway three games to go and we need to try and get 7 points from them which I believe will give us third place.

[David Carpenter]

Having commented about the flat singing (and I have to say I am pretty crap in that direction) nevertheless it was great to see the short videos and the enthusiasm and spirit displayed therein. I think that for one or two their alcoholic grins displayed the fact that spirit (or at least ale) may have assisted with lubricating the voices (such as they were)but fair play to your all. Let's carry this into the remaining games. COYR!

[redwine rebel]

Yep drunk or not we were all still behind the team 100%, and it was one of the best and funniest coach journey home

 

As Dean said to me at the game we were one of the bookies favourites to go down at the beginning of the season so if anyone had said to us then that we'd be in the position we are now we would of jumped at it, so yes we were all still happy.

[kirk]

Unfortunately we need to get our act together pretty quickly,we have to assume Cirencester is 3 points and Banbury have a couple of tough games that could go either way.

 

The other point that bugs me is why when we loose its usually the poor pitch, has no away team ever won on these pitches then ?

[RebelDelaney]

Two other games that stand out for me where we should of been in front in the 1st half was home to Chippenham and our next opponents Chesham both took there one chance in the 2nd and won.

But what about the games where we have been 1 or 2 goals behind and got points from.

Its all about ifs and buts what a great season we are having with ifs and buts.

 

Heads up COYREBELS

[Manor Park Rebel]

I thought it was jolly decent of us to give the Kettering goalkeeper the afternoon off. If he hadn't bothered to come out and stand between the sticks, I don't think it would have made any difference to the result.

 

I still think it has been a terrific season whatever happens in the next couple of weeks. To be involved at the top of the table at this stage with the last few games meaning so much is far preferable to mid table mediocrity or far worse of course, a relegation struggle.

[Guest route104]

truly a game to forget,Slough just did not turn up today not one effort on goal,it was if we had nothing to play for at the end of the season at least our supporters never stopped singing

[rebelbrewer]

Only thing I will say on that Ade is how did Kettering play??? All they did was turn us round by smashing 50/60 yard balls into space, occasionally they would pass it, and why is that, because you can't pass the ball on those pitches without it bobbling up round your knees etc, few times we tried to play in and around their box, and every time we end up losing the ball because of the surface.... only way to win those games is being direct and taking your chances... could have been two or three up at half time, in which case we would not be having this conversation.....

 

Stan is right we have to cleat this mental block as soon as we can, we have to get in front in these games, however we haven't.... just look recently, Biggleswade, Frome, Cinderford, Kettering... can you honestly say we have deserved to lose all those games ?

 

Anyway three games to go and we need to try and get 7 points from them which I believe will give us third place.

That's exactly what I think Neil - at least that will make Hitchin have to win all 3 including away at Banbury and Basingstoke. We're still in a great position.

[Irishadrian]

rebelbrewer

Hitchin dont have to win all 3 If we get 7 pts that could be enough for them also given their 4 goal GD advantage We need not to just win but to maximise those wins Our next game is against Cirencester one of the bottom and with the second worst away record and over 90 goals conceded We need to start clawing back Hitchins GD advantage starting with this game I dont agree we should be aiming for 7 pts from the last 3 games Why arent we aiming for 9? Redditch have disappointed and underperformed all season and Cheshams recent problems are well reflected in their recent results