St Albans 29/01/2022

[SloughFlyer]

Excellent to see an addition to the squad in the form of Edon Pruti. Seen him play a few times this season and looks a good addition to the team. After all of the off the field things in the last couple of weeks, well done to Neil and Jon getting this one completed?.

Tomorrow will be a tough game and we'll need to work at 100% to get anything out of the game, but with neither side in great form and how close the game earlier in the season was (decided on a pen that was never a pen), hopefully we can push them all the way and work something out of the game.

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, SloughFlyer said:

Excellent to see an addition to the squad in the form of Edon Pruti. Seen him play a few times this season and looks a good addition to the team. After all of the off the field things in the last couple of weeks, well done to Neil and Jon getting this one completed?.

Tomorrow will be a tough game and we'll need to work at 100% to get anything out of the game, but with neither side in great form and how close the game earlier in the season was (decided on a pen that was never a pen), hopefully we can push them all the way and work something out of the game.

It's good news that you've seen him play SF and that you rate him as a good signing.

[Irishadrian]

10 hours ago, Reading Rebel said:

It's good news that you've seen him play SF and that you rate him as a good signing.

Yes  On the scoresheet a couple of weeks ago as Hanwell beat Staines.

[SloughFlyer]

I think I got on the score sheet that night???.

Was an amazing game to witness live though!!!!

[Reading Rebel]

1 hour ago, SloughFlyer said:

I think I got on the score sheet that night???.

Was an amazing game to witness live though!!!!

I was about to say, every man and his dog got on the score sheet that night ?

[GlenSTFC]

6 hours ago, Irishadrian said:

Yes  On the scoresheet a couple of weeks ago as Hanwell beat Staines.

To be fair I think everyone scored in that game! ?

[Irishadrian]

2 hours ago, GlenSTFC said:

To be fair I think everyone scored in that game! ?

Even the guy on the turnstile!

[Guest Wycombe Rebel]

Much like Billericay, couldn’t care less about the result, the lads gave their all and proud of the way Bakes was supported by all… RIP Keith Baker, another one who will be looked after by the Rebels in the sky x

[Reading Rebel]

Anyone neutral looking at the scoreline would think it was closely fought game but in truth it was the complete opposite.

We were second best in most areas all afternoon and only some terrific first half saves from Jonathan North stopped us from being 2 or 3 nil down at the break.

The closest we came to scoring all game was an Aaron Kuhl long range effort that i'm reliably told was going in until the wind diverted the ball wide of the goal.

No one can fault the players for their efforts and in the circumstances put in a credible effort but on the day St Albans were much the better side.

MOTM for us by a distance was Jon North.  

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[PaxtonLee]

Agree with the above although from the other end it looked to me like North should have done better with the goal. 

[Reading Rebel]

2 hours ago, PaxtonLee said:

Agree with the above although from the other end it looked to me like North should have done better with the goal. 

I think Northy got a hand to it but it was far too easy for the oppo player to get into a dangerous position and to get his shot off.

Edited January 30, 2022 by Reading Rebel

[Bernie Gogan]

They had a couple of breakaways in the second half, one that produced the goal the other which ended up hitting the bar. despite our spirited pressing and possession thereafter, overall they were comfortable and we didn't look like we had a goal in us. Their team of giants easily out muscled our young forwards. Even when Edon Pruti came on we still didn't have anyone to match their height, especially that of the #5 who played in midfield. 

Having seen Maidenhead a couple of times recently, size/height at the next level and in the upper reaches of our league seems to be a thing.

 

 

[Reading Rebel]

19 hours ago, Bernie Gogan said:

They had a couple of breakaways in the second half, one that produced the goal the other which ended up hitting the bar. despite our spirited pressing and possession thereafter, overall they were comfortable and we didn't look like we had a goal in us. Their team of giants easily out muscled our young forwards. Even when Edon Pruti came on we still didn't have anyone to match their height, especially that of the #5 who played in midfield. 

Having seen Maidenhead a couple of times recently, size/height at the next level and in the upper reaches of our league seems to be a thing.

 

 

The swirling wind and surface certainly made things more difficult to play the sort of football that we like to play at Arbour Park.

St Albans not only had the size and physique to out muscle us they just seemed a lot quicker than us winning most first and second balls.

Of course we didn't help ourselves by giving the ball away too often after we did well to win it in the first place.

Agree that teams in the National League do seem to have a blend of 6 ft plus players in key areas like at the back and up front along with some smaller mobile/skillful players in midfield.

Edited January 31, 2022 by Reading Rebel