Town v Weymouth

[The Crowing Cockerel]

Probably best to get the reality check out of the way first up: Weymouth were almost certainly the worst side we have played this season. That being said, they probably should've claimed a draw late on when we were well and truly under the cosh.

Positives: starting with two up front. Remarkably that meant that we final had an outlet when we had to clear our lines. It gave the opposition defence something to think about. Some nice touches from Jake Hutchinson, but he has a way to go to prove himself having been declared surplus to requirements at Worthing. Alfie Tuck is a proper quarterback-type midfielder - give him time and space and he will pick a pass to an on-rushing forward. I get the feeling that he will get better and better the more he plays in a Town shirt. Definitely a lot of positives - not least the 3 points. Lennon Peake offered the ability to beat a man (or two), but needs a little more end product - as do most of the forward line.

'Green shoots'...?

[wilson]

Great result. Definitely a six pointer in my books. Good crowd too. Congratulations to all from down under.

[Raingod]

Wow -- still buzzing from yesterday's game! 

I think the first half was the best 45 we have played all season ... was shocked to see the line up - with 5 changes and 2 up front - no Tanner/Mensah/Leshabella in the squad ... bold decisions by Gavin and credit to him as it worked!

We really went for it early on - and with 2 decent forwards were a real handful for them, especially at set pieces, but more importantly we kept the ball in their half .. Sam was unlucky with a bullet header that hit the bar and away, within minutes Peake hit the post, and it bounced off the keeper and away. and then Hutchinson had a one on one saved .. but a great through ball ..

We had various other chances - Mickey and Harry both went for the same ball on a dangerous cross, plenty of attacks - and we fought to win the ball back - we should have been out of sight by HT.

 

2nd half was more of a level game and I was concerned we had lost the momentum - Gav made 2 changes, and RBR with the breakthrough - he controlled it well and placed it perfectly - I could see straight away it was in as would have hit me in the face were the net not there!

We immediately took off Sam for the more defensive Jack, and my only challenge was we did appear to sit back - allowing them back into the game - they could have got an equaliser in the last 5, but as with us at Torquay on the opening day, it would not have been fair - we absolutely deserved this.

Didn't hear the MOM announcement (though I absolutely clear on the winning raffle numbers!!) but it could have gone to any number of the players - a real team performance!!

So 2 wins from 3 and 2 clean sheets from 3 - and we are only in the bottom 4 on goal difference !! We need a point a game plus a bit to stay up and 9 from 11 feels a lot better than 3 weeks ago .. 

The Weymouth forum, as have many this season, described Enfield negatively, "the poorest team we have played this season", etc - well who cares if we can play like that,  beat the teams around us we can absolutely stay up.

Gavin has been ruthless in team selection, ins and outs, has changed the formation, and used subs effectively (something I don't think he always did last season)   so full credit to him for the work he and his team are putting in.

Impressed with all the new players - Tuck adds some real creativity, whilst Hutchinson will be a handful up top, and Benjamin made a couple of really good challenges - am I right in saying he is only 20?

And what a day to do it - on a day when lots of potential new fans came as part of Whole Club Day - hopefully some will return for our next home 6 pointer vs Aveley!

Can't wait to see the highlights!

#inGavwetrust

 

[Father Jack]

Mom was Alfie Tuck.  I usually phone Andy the announcer to tell him, but he wouldn't  answer his phone!

[No bull Towner]

The win is made even more special after seeing both manager's interviews. Weymouth's gaffer couldn't even give lip service to a 'congratulations to Enfield, they took their chances and we didn't etc' things that are normally a common courtesy between clubs. They obviously think they are way above us in stature and thought they would beat us and by not doing so he has to say it's because they played so poorly. Yes, maybe they weren't at their best but also we played better than we have been of late and maybe it caught them by surprise a bit! Future looks brighter if we keep playing like that. No miracles expected at Farnborough but don't want to go back to sitting defensively as Farnborough will break us down, so we need to be giving as good as we get up the other end and maybe we could get an unexpected draw or dare I dream of more. COYT

[Barney]

Very important win, which keeps us up there with the sides just outside the relegation zone. The first half was without doubt the best we've played in the 3 games I've seen, we were on the front foot, controlled the ball and had a lot more energy and drive than I've seen all season (admittedly this is only my 3rd game). Tuck is clearly a very good footballer, and looks to put his foot on the ball and retain possession in pretty much every situation, and this is what we've been lacking this season (with the exception of Leshebela). Weymouth seemed to afford us a lot of time and space in the first half, so it'll be interesting to see how we go against sides that deny us that. Two upfront was a positive move as well, Ottaway got himself into good positions and led the line well, but looks a little way off of full sharpness - hopefully this comes with time if he can remain injury free and manage his game time/workload. Hutchinson worked hard and is very mobile, so potentially a good foil to Ottaway, at least we had a couple of outlets for most of the game, either a ball over the top (we played some very nice diagonal balls first half), or to feet, and certainly gave the Weymouth defence something to think about. I was impressed with Peake first half, his ball into Youngs for the header that hit the bar was perfect, and at the time I thought Sam should have done better, but having watched the highlights, he actually had quite a bit to do still. Every time we had a set piece in the first half, we seemed to cause them problems, Payne's long throw proving a very useful asset - there were a couple of instances of pinball in their box, which on another day might have fallen to a white shirt. Coupled with us hitting the woodwork twice, I think we can feel unlucky not to have been leading by one or two at half time.

Second half was much more even, with Weymouth getting a lot more of the ball, and Tuck being nullified to an extent - although the first 25 or so was very flat, with few chances for either side, we did still work hard to stay in the game, and when we went ahead on 75, it was deserved as much for the first half performance as anything. A decent ball into the box from Mills, which was only partially cleared to RBR, who finished emphatically after a first touch to shift it out of his feet. I like RBR, he's one of the best finishers we have from what I've seen, and maybe is best as an impact sub, who can come on and potentially sniff out a chance or two when the game is more open and defenders tire. After we scored, we went into our shell somewhat, and invited Weymouth on - whilst we defended OK, they still managed to carve out two chances where they should have done better, and will rightly be frustrated with not getting anything from the game. I lost track of all their substitutions, but they seemed to become a lot more direct as the game went on, and we struggled to deal with their height effectively - I'd have got Nembhard on sooner, as he's probably the biggest aerial presence we have, to at least be more competitive in attacking those first balls.

On balance, we were worth the win over 90 in my view, the first half was very impressive, and we did everything but score. Weymouth shaded the second, but didn't have as much of it as we did in the first. Was very glad to hear the final whistle and really pleased for Gavin and the team for putting in such a massive effort to bounce back from the reverse at Hampton. Some observations I had were that I like that back 3, in Payne we have a left centre back who is left footed, and relatively comfortable on the ball - he's more a centre back than a wing back, and when we're in possession gives us a better chance of ball retention, and of hitting decent passes down the line. He linked well with Mills too, and they were both busy and energetic down that side of the pitch. Benjamin again looks like a very good addition, was impressed with his pace and recovery, and positionally looked good all game. What worries me the most is that with that 3, we could get bullied by more physical and direct sides, as we're lacking a real aerial presence there. Much of it is how well we defend to stop crosses, and manage the game further up the pitch to ensure that we keep the ball and deny opponents time and space to deliver decent balls, but that's certainly a worry - a couple more inches of height for all 3 centre backs would be lovely . In my mind, we look a bit more settled now - Mills and Dylan as wing backs, a back 3 and options up front to play 2 strikers or 1 (I guess depending on the opponents). We also have players on the bench who can affect the game - RBR obviously, but the likes of Leonard coming on can give us another dimension too (he's unlucky not to get a start). Midfield is where I think games will be won or lost, and whilst Tuck looks a very good option in the short term whilst he's with us (and not playing for Wales), I do worry about us getting overrun and not having the legs or ability to retain the ball to live with the better sides who will be sharp and first to everything (e.g. how Maidstone were). Hoping Smith gains more fitness and proves to be that mobile midfielder who can break things up and also play a bit, and I think Leshebela could still be a good option - I'd love to see him and Tuck in there from a footballing perspective, but we might lack a bit of steel if we did that.

Still, 3 important points - clearly we need to scrap for every point we can, but we've shown that we can compete effectively at least against the sides in and around the bottom of the table, so we have half a chance of extricating ourselves from the bottom 4, especially if we play more like we did in the first 45 today, rather than the second.

[Father Jack]

Good post Barney. Think I liked Chapter Three best!

[Barney]

3 hours ago, Father Jack said:

Good post Barney. Think I liked Chapter Three best!

I'm not one for short posts, in my defence, that's one of my more succinct efforts

[lovely stuff]

One point from safety but just as important we are now 4 points in front of the bottom 3. 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

1 hour ago, lovely stuff said:

One point from safety but just as important we are now 4 points in front of the bottom 3. 

3 wins off the play-offs and 4 off top!😲