Hampton & Richmond Boro 2-2 Slough Town

[Matt]

Metcalfe and Hodges rescue a point against the cloggers of Hampton. Another brilliant, and vital, penalty save from Whincup at 1-0 down.

[Ian]

In the last two away games we've been behind on three occasions, twice within a few minutes of full time, and conceded a penalty and we've come back to avoid defeat in both. Without analysing the specific incidents of who had what chances, that's got to be a good thing bearing in mind our propensity to lose games like this over the last two seasons.

[Guest]

Good performence, 3 points on sat should put us up there in the table! Daley again was faultless, Winky made some good saves along with a magnificent penalty stop! [color:"blue"] [/color] [color:"black"] [/color]

[Matt]

Wouldn't say it was a good performance at all - I thought it was very shoddy. Ball lost too easily, and when we had it, hardly anything was created. Hampton's team of duffers didn't give us time on the ball, and used both fair means and foul to their advantage. Seedel again had a 'mare, and I don't mean to sound like Radders here - but why wasn't Ryan Spencer used? Glad to get a point though, I'd have been upset to say the least if we'd lost. Let's hope that lessons are being learnt and a better showing on Monday.

[Robbie Johnson's Boots]

What seemed to be missing was a link from the midfield to the strikers. Hodgey and Seedel were isolated too many times and the only pass that was on was the long ball over the top which their defence dealt with quite easily. We seem to look at our best at the moment when Haddow has the ball but obviously he has defensive duties as well and we need another outlet. I think what was missing was the extra space that Veli always seems to find for himself. Still, on the bright side this was the sort of game we were losing last season and with 2 wins out of 2 at home and getting draws away from home it's just the sort of start we needed. Looking forward to Monday already.

[Ted]

I thought the team fought hard, and didn't let their heads drop when we went behind. Good penalty save, and credit to Hodges who while still not at his best scored one and was instrumental in the other.

 

That aside, I agree with Matt. Lost the ball too easily especially when coming out of defence which meant we spent too much time in our own half.

[Radders]

I have no specific problem with Seedel, although he did have a poor game overall today, but he played 80 minutes on Tuesday, 90 minutes on Wednesday and 90 minutes today. To me that is too much for a man who wasn't fully fit at the start of the season. Teams are allowed 5 substitutes on the bench, using 3. However, we only ever seem to use substitutes when injuries occur. Even if we do make tactical changes they seem to be made after they were needed. For example bringing fresh legs on today to replace Metcalfe after their 2nd goal. If we had made some changes earlier then our fresh legs could have pushed us on for a win. Instead their No 12 substitute ran our defence ragged in the latter stages. With players of the quality of Spencer and Steer on the bench I can't understand why Eddie seems so reluctant to use them.

 

On todays game I thought there were periods where we played really well and other periods where we were really crap. Harris didn't really get involved enough for my liking and as already mentioned Seedel was below par leaving Hodges to fight a battle on his own against 'The Thug', Jamie Jarvis. If we can get the good parts all together on Monday then we should be OK, especially with our recent home record (am I right in thinking we haven't lost in the league at Stag Meadow since Windsor on Boxing Day).

[Nathan]

I though Seedel had a poor game, I don't think he can cut it at this level just yet, I would have played Steer ahead of him.

 

Thought that that was the best second-half I've seen the team play for a while, although it was one of the worst first-halves.

 

Why Eddie didn't bring Spencer on is beyond me, we need someomne like him, creative and is able to hold the ball up and do something with it.

[Guest]

what was the team?

[Guest]

With the greatest respect chaps I really can't see it as one way traffic. Slough gave as good as they got and were more than happy to get physical and push the boundries of of the laws of the game. Daly was more than happy to kick Fontana up in the air and dominate him physically in the way Jarvo does. In the end both teams are more than happy to get physical and a draw was probably a fair result.

 

We ain't no angels but if you chaps think butter wouldn't melt in your mouth your living in a fantasy world this is a physical league... [color:"red"] [/color] wait till you play the Essex lot, you aint seen nothing yet!

[Ian]

The difference is that we try and play football and have to respond to that sort of approach whereas Devonshire sets his team up to batter the opposition from the outset. That was his way at Maidenhead and continues to be at Hampton. No reason to expect it'll change if he goes anywhere else either.

[Martin]

There are some huge plus points to take from this game. Firstly, Whincup has been excellent. He has loads of confidence and that penalty save was brilliant particularly when he got up to save the rebound.

 

Secondly, the spirit of the team, both at tonbridge and hampton when we have been behind they have continued to fight and show a desire to get level and in both games in the final minutes we have looked most likely to win it.

 

Obviously there are some concerns, as the forwards have looked a bit isolated and we still have a tendancy to defend too deep. But whilst we are getting results we have time to put these things right.

 

Let's hope we can get some more points on the board today. Come on Rebels.

[Nathan]

Very good points Martin. I would like to see Spencer replacing Haddow or Harris and to see Hodges playing down the centre again.