Dover 3 -1 Slough

[Tuffley Rebel]

What happened, I wasn't there to see.

On the Dover forum 'arfafan' thinks the scoreline flatters them and that we definately ran the game during the first half.

Is this the start of a difficult season, or just a minor blip.

[Tom]

Just remember this is the first game of the season, takes a bit of time for teams to work out the type of teams there playing against

[Guest]

Looks like being a long and hard season after that game. slough were very poor, and maybe the odds 40-1 to win the league were correct.

[Guest]

I thought you were a shade unfortunate. First half you played all the football but we had a couple of good efforts and scored in the 44th minute. Second half was a different matter though and once the second goal went in your lads seemed to fade a bit. Not much you could do about the third - a screamer. Hodges scored your goal about ten minutes from time - he looked useful. As I said your lads played some nice football in midfield without ever looking particularly dangerous. Defensively, however, you didn't look up to much. Still early days - we haven't got a clue what we're up against (no knowledge of hardly any of the opposition). Hope your fans have a good trip back (and hope they enjoyed their visit - if not the result) - they were pretty vocal and gave support to your lads all afternoon. If you have a squint at the Dover website later this evening there will probably be highlights of the game (if you want to watch them). Good luck for the rest of the season - Riverend White

[Ian]

I think that's a fair summary really. We controlled the first half in terms of possession with Veli and Mets outstanding in the middle without capitalising when we should have done. All too often we tried to be too intricate or seemed keen to walk the ball in when several times a dig at goal would have been welcome. We also dithered at times, allowing defenders to recover when we should have sharper in front of goal.

 

Dover hit us with the typical sucker punch right on half time with only their second shot on target although it was poor defending leaving Josias with two forwards to mark. The second half was different with Dover playing better and happy to hit us on the break, particularly as we tired quite badly. Not brilliant defending allowed them to get a couple more although the third finish was brilliant, curling it from distance into the top corner. Hodgey got one back from a corner beating the keeper to the ball to head in.

 

Miller looked useful but needs to start scoring, Hodgey was Hodgey and the two already mentioned did well in the middle. Saulsbury looked good but got caught for their third and the keeper did ok despite a major Foster-esque misjudgement of a cross in the first half.

 

A very nice ground which is clearly conference standard and a bowling green like playing surface, if a little sloped. Over eficious stewarding though moaning about our flags covering the advertising boards. They won't win too many friends at this level being so pedantic.

 

If we play like that this season and be a little more clinical in front of goal, we'll do ok.

[Guest]

Role of the stewards - to look after the safety of the crowed or keep flags off advertising - maybe the Ryman should make thier mind up.

 

Ian - the pitch is so flat because they use the steward to roll it!

[Chris]

One word - SHOOT!!!!

 

Blimey, first-half we were in control of the game but tried to walk the ball into the net. We put some lovely moves together, but only Carbon and Miller had any shots on goal.

 

As the Dover manager said on the Radio, they weathered the storm in the opening twenty when we were all over them, but they took their chances and we did not.

 

Saying that we never deserevd to be 3-0 down at one point - 3-2 would have been a fairer reflection on the game and some maybe would argue a draw. We can take a lot of positives out of the game though and have nothing to fear in this division. Well done to Dover, they took their chances and we did not.

[Ted]

We had most of the possession , but still didn't create very much apart from lots of failed attempts to walk the ball into the net. I agree with the "shoot" comment until I look at the team---not many of them can shoot. Look at our line up 7-11 (Wilkinson, Hakki, Hodges, Miller, Metcalfe), and ask yourself how many goals they,ve scored from 20 yards?

 

I really don't think that Hodges and Miller works. All that said, it was our defence that let us down today.

 

I saw few pluses today, and wonder if it could be a long hard season.

[Guest]

Well yes....back to real football today and some lessons to learn, however we will play as good today and win some matches don't fret....we were good for a point today ! Yes a point...! and I agree with TED we have several chances to shoot today all from some good distances and we did not ! We played some very good football and we had a few hick ups...Great Support from the Travelling Rebels... You did not give up supporting your team ! and Slough kept on trying which is what we want...

 

Ok the result was not what we wanted but good prrospects....Keep it up Rebels....

 

chris s <img src="/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Quote:

Ian said:
Over eficious stewarding though moaning about our flags covering the advertising boards. They won't win too many friends at this level being so pedantic.

Thanks for the warning, we took 5 flags to Hampton, no probs.

28th August we go to Dover, I was looking forward to it, now expecting run in with the stewards. Great

[Nathan]

In my opinion, Hodges was playing out of position seeing is is not a winger, he can't cross the ball and wasn't himself today. Hope Eddie puts him back down the centre where he belongs.

 

Typical Slough, hog the possssion, do bugger all with it and conced an silly goal right before half-time. When Dover scored their second we lost all confidence.

 

Couple of questions: 1) Has Saulsbury signed a contract and 2) why wasn't spencer playing today?

[Robbie Johnson's Boots]

Surprised at some of the negative comments today - I sometimes wonder if I am at the same game. I thought we were excellent in the first half with Veli and Josias looking very sharp. Admittedly we did seem to be looking for the million dollar pass but Dover weren't really in it. Unfortunately they got the lucky break with the first goal, although we probably should have stopped the initial cross coming in and poor defending let them in for the second. First game of the season against a team that were two levels above us last season - I left disappointed with the result but positive about the coming weeks. Maybe Matt should have claimed the goal from the drop ball??

 

Comedy moment from the linesman telling our bench they had to roll the water bottles on, not throw them!! A new UEFA directive maybe??

 

 

[Russ_Rebel]

i thought although we lost we played a bloody great game even though we lost, to come out on the first day of the season and play well against a team like dover it just shows that we can play good football, there are a few minor problems which appeared today like sloppy defending and poor finishes, but the team kept on trying throughout the entire game most teams would have just given up but we kept going, up the rebels lets get three points next game.

[Ian]

Quote:

Mark (Flag) Braintree said:

Thanks for the warning, we took 5 flags to Hampton, no probs.

28th August we go to Dover, I was looking forward to it, now expecting run in with the stewards. Great

To be fair, the Secretary, or whatever capacity he was in, did come over and explain that it was a breach of their contract with sponsors for boards to be covered. I just thought it was a bit petty considering nobody had actually complained and I did point out that the area marked "Sponsors" in their stand was completely empty!

I also took exception that the stewards seemed far more concerned about our flags than the poor Slough lady who had just been knocked clean off her feet and almost unconscious by a stray football. Still, I don't suppose that contravenes any of their ground regulations does it?

I thought it was extremely cowardly for them to ask Martyn Deaner (our Chairman) to come over and tell us to take them down which Martyn himself thought was highly amusing!

Anyone know who the lady was and how she is?

[Mark (Flag) Braintree]

Ian, was this both ends behind the goal, that they stopped you putting your flags up at, or just one particular end?

 

Did that mean your flags did not go up at all?

Or just somewhere else?

[Ian]

In the first half my flag was draped over the barrier on the terrace. At the start of the second, mine and several others were over the hoardings which is when the stewards and secretary asked them to be moved. He did suggest hanging them at the back of the stand although didn't offer to provide the scaffolding necessary for me to do so! Nor did he ask one of his ballboys to move who was standing in front of the same boards throughout the second half.

 

I can see their point but still think at this level it's a bit silly to insist on such rules. One of the reasons I choose to watch football at this level and not football league now is because of ridiculous regulations like this.

[Ian]

Having seen the Dover video highlights (well worth the 12mb option even with 56k modem) I can reassess my earlier comments.

 

Despite the fact that Josias was left with two attackers, he missed a simple header which had he connected would have negated the fact that someone else had gone awol. For the second, Moller (I think) was totally to blame allowing the ball to reach the attacker at the back post when it had no right to.

 

Great video which starts with the Rebels entering the pitch to a rousing chorus of "Eddie Denton's Rebel Army"!

[Nathan]

Quote:

Nathan said:
Couple of questions: 1) Has Saulsbury signed a contract and 2) why wasn't spencer playing today?

Ignore my second question, i've just looked at the teamsheet and discovered that spencer was on the bench. My mistake...

[Matt]

Quote:

Ian said:
Great video which starts with the Rebels entering the pitch to a rousing chorus of "Eddie Denton's Rebel Army"!

And the 'BOOOSHPIG!!' at the goal kick just before the end came across pretty well ! <img src="/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

[Ian]

Yes, I noticed that too! Well done BFR <img src="/images/graemlins/top.gif" alt="" />