Enfield Town vs Salisbury

[symptomless]

Positive first half, fairly even but the defence is looking comfortable (kiss of death?). Confident on the ball, covering for each other and apart from a long distance short that whizzed over the bar not a lot to feel troubled about.

The new midfielder looks a real presence, but you can see why he picks up cards. 

Is take 0-0 at this stage, not a lot of action up front. Peake had a good run and their keeper made a good save. 

Hoping for more.

[Tally Ho]

Adjei-Hersey replaced Oyenuga on the hour mark.

[Tally Ho]

Whittaker replaced Hutchinson on 68 minutes.

[Tally Ho]

Beckles-Richards replaced Leonard on 73 minutes.

[Tally Ho]

Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaas.

Goaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal.

[Tally Ho]

Thompson with the goal.

7 minutes of added time to be played.

Smith replaced Peake.

[Tally Ho]

 

[Tally Ho]

Not again.

UNBELIEVABLE.

[ETFC2001]

Every week, the same thing. Boring now

[No bull Towner]

Well that was tough to take at the death!! If I'm being totally honest a draw was a fair result if we couldn't win it as we didn't deserve to lose. It was a very evenly matched game with neither team being able to finish their chances and both goals came from goal mouth scrambles. God we need a strike force as most of our shots were more like conversions in rugby. A much improved performance defensively and in midfield so if we can get a nice loanee strikee or two I'll be happy. 

[4wembleyfinals]

Two weeks rest and they still cannot concentrate for more than 90mins.

Also if Gavin can't find an out and out striker then soon he should try converting one from within the squad. The one who comes to mind is Micky Parcell. He has pace and shooting ability.  Or perhaps he would be better serve if he paid a specialist fitness trainer and put them all through their passes. As it is obviously one is missing from his management team!!!

As E2 said above its more than  "boring" it's becoming unacceptable.  

 

Edited November 9 by 4wembleyfinals

[ETFC2001]

We start winning the game and we start booting the ball away for them to have. I don’t get if they are being told by Gavin or they’re doing it at their own will but it’s costing us. We’re trying to timewaste in a complete wrong way. If you want to timewaste get the ball in the corner not start booting it into their possession!

Overall, we have nothing upfront, defense looks solid now but we just can’t create anything. The loanees and Thompson are just on a different class to everyone else on the pitch.

Once again, three points converted into one because lack of concentration.

I’ll stay positive because it’s not like we got battered, we was arguably a better team for most of it but we look lost whenever we take a lead with 10/15 minutes to go.

Edited November 9 by ETFC2001

[TULACH ARD]

1 hour ago, Tally Ho said:

Thompson with the goal.

7 minutes of added time to be played.

Smith replaced Peake.

What I'd like to know is...where the flying f**k did the ref get 7 minutes?

🤬🤬🤬

[ETFC2001]

7 minutes ago, Kent Towner said:

What I'd like to know is...where the flying f**k did the ref get 7 minutes?

🤬🤬🤬

Have to agree mate. We had 4 minutes added in the first half when there was a big stoppage with Rhys going down, then there was 6 in the second when there was no stoppages? The refs in this league are a joke

[djwilf]

30 seconds per sub....but we still need to learn how to manage games!!

[andyetfc]

12 minutes ago, djwilf said:

30 seconds per sub....but we still need to learn how to manage games!!

Need to learn how to shoot as well.

[Raingod]

The euphoria of what I thought was a last minute winner followed by the agony of an injury time equaliser for them - no way was 7 mins added time reasonable - although ref generally managed the game well. Felt like a defeat but in reality positives to take.

Defence looked solid - - I don't remember Rhys having a shot to save that was anything other than straightforward. I watched the game from the side and there was good communication, and attempts to play around. Thompson looks to be a real coup and exactly the sort of signing we needed!

Christian looked a revelation in midfield - some enterprising link up play as well as some key challenges when we were defending - yes he lost it a few times but a welcome addition. Midfield overall looks improving, Tuck having some lovely touches once again.

The negatives/areas for improvement - forward wise - Hutchinson seems to lack confidence - and not leading the line to the standard we need so far .. from the match report Gav says he is looking for another striker ... Reece should have been on far earlier.

I counted 5 times in the 2nd half when we shot from way out and smashed the ball well over - with other options to pass to - better decision making or more shooting practice needed.

And although we did pass the ball around more to keep possession, we still went aimlessly long too many times, especially in the first half  - we don't have the height up top and give the ball back to them.

The loanees all look good - but the risk is they get recalled at any time leaving us in the lurch - credit to Joe Payne for a solid performance back at wing back after losing his place to Mills (who was unused sub for Peterborough - why not give him a few mins when they were smashing Cambridge ... OR let him play for us a bit more!!) .. perhaps we should try and get the whole of the welsh u18 side together??!!

So small margins - we could be 5 pts better off had we held on vs Chesham and yesterday, and would only be in the relegation zone on Goal Difference. 

Gav continues to work hard to rebuild the squad, the performances are improving. 

The bottom teams don't seem to want to pick up points either and looks like a mini league of 7 trying to avoid the 4 slots - if we beat Hornchurch end November we may drag them into it  .. we now have a tough set of fixtures so need to hope that we get a lucky break or 2 ...

 

[The Crowing Cockerel]

At least we didn't lose! That was my over-riding thought as I wandered away from The Dave Bryant. 1-1 was an entirely fair score. Finally - yes, finally - it feels as if we are beginning to compete in this league! Granted, its taken us until mid-November, but there we go!

Christian Scott was excellent - precisely what we have been missing - a ball-winner - who at 19yo should only get better. Adam Thompson wins headers and talks to those around him - plus he's a threat in the box as well. Cox looks as if he'll develop into a decent defender too. I'm sure the understanding between Scott and Tuck will grow should they continue to play together.

As we've been saying for many weeks now, its up front where we're really lacking. It may be that Hutchinson is lacking confidence, but I'm not convinced he's got the attributes to succeed at this level - no real pace, not great in the air... I would much much MUCH rather RBR got a start. With the defence and midfield beginning to look better, its a shame that we don't have the two strikers from the start of the season (Kasimu and Folivi), because they'd probably be getting a little more service now! We are still crying out for a Mo Faal or Marcus Wyllie - or failing that, an experienced old pro in the mould of Scott McGleish would be more than useful.

[ETFC2001]

Hutchinson just doesn’t do anything. Doesn’t run, doesn’t compete with any of the second balls, has barely any pace, and has no confidence infront of goal. Think Whittaker, the winger from Hemel was alright when he came on too to be fair. Looked way more lively with his pace and also when RBR came on. But again, definitely didn’t have our shooting boots on.

Edit: As someone pointed out, Gavin did mention in the match report he is trying for a striker which gives me a bit of faith that we should have a striker soon hopefully instead of Hutchinson.

Edited November 10 by ETFC2001

[The Crowing Cockerel]

I was actually a bit disappointed with Whittaker when he came on. The very least I'd expect from a late sub would be that they run themselves into the ground in the 20mins they have on the pitch. Not really convinced that he did that.