billericay 2-o slough

[btfc 4 ever]

we done well to get the points. i think we missed dormer the most, because we didnt have a left footer on the pitch.

best thing is that we have got 3 more points and still going strong

[Guest]

Slough looked a half decent team and with a reshuffled line up it was a good result. Quite impressed with the work Wareham and Elder did off the ball and Elder was well rewarded with his goal. Must admit I was disappointed to see Cousins stuck out on the left after his recent scoring run. I know we had to allow for Dormers absence but I would have preferred to see Kerrigan and Henty on the left similar to the way Bridge and cole play for England with Stephens coming in at Right Back, with Cuz up front.

Thought Game and Forbes did well in Midfield as well.

[Simon BTFC]

To lose 1 key player before kickoff would have been unlucky, to lose 3 is the stuff of nightmares frankly.

 

For those of you unawares the rundown is:

Jamie Dormer - At a funeral after a family bereavement

Leon Hunter - Flu, wouldn't have played if Forbes hadn't suffered a pull

Robin Trott - Stuck in Kent due to the closure of the A20

 

And don't forget we're still without Hockers....on to one crutch now as recovery continues <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

 

Both halves followed a similar pattern, Slough quick out of the blocks and dominant for 25 minutes. Slough then start to tire and Billericay finish the stronger and score after 30 mins of the half then dominant for the rest of the half.

 

Fair play to Slough, midfield looked particularly strong (although with Dorms and Hunter missing we were heavily weakened) and with more cutting edge up front could have got something from the game.

 

Thought our back 4 did well, and Nathan up front did v well. Slightly disappointed that Forbse, as our senior outfield player, didn't get stuck in as much as might be desired. Occasionally looked like he lost the ball. Game did OK on his return from injury, and got a good 90 mins under his belt.

[extaffyjim]

Awful game to watch, clear cut chances were at a premium. All that matters is the result though, so i went home happy.

Wouldnt like to criticise the performance too much, as we were obviously a bit shaken up by the loss of players. I thought Captain Fantastic was especially missed, but assuming he'll be back for next week if it was just a one off.

I dont like to be hard on youngsters, but i thought the two up front looked a bit out of their depth last night, and i would have been much happier with cuz partnering one of them up top. Having said that, they ran their socks off, and they had to make do with some pretty average service, as there was far too much hit and hope. Nathan was duly rewarded for his efforts with a rather odd goal, after which noone was quite sure whether to celebrate or not, but they all count. Same applies for the first goal. Would have loved to see Ross get a goal, but he had to good efforts late on, one just wide, the other just over. Never mind, it will come for him soon.

In the end i can say all i want about the performance, but we still won, and i dont think undeservedly so, and some people might say that the sign of a very good side is winnign when your not at your best, and i think that applies here. It wasnt easy for the boys last night, good oppo, not nice playing conditiions, and a hastily repatched team, and all in all they coped well.

Excellent crowd last night (440), presumably aided by the school holidays. Slough brought a few along, but that still leaves 400 odd Ricay fans, which for a freezing cold midweek game is very pleasing, and a reward for the boys excellent efforts on the pitch. Atmosphere was also good, plenty of vocal support. Last word goes to Sloughs keeper (Sharon) for providing the biggest cheer of the night, when he actually got a goal kick to get more than 2 feet off the ground.

[paulc27]

this result proved that winning is a habbit as we really were not on top form. There has been lots of games lately so no surprise if we looked a little jaded at times plus the enforced changes couldnt have helped.

I thought for the most part everyone worked hard, I think kerrigan left his first touch in the changing rooms last night, he certainly didnt play to his best. Ross ran and ran as we now expect him to. We really missed dorms and hunter i feel, they really make things tick for us.

well done lads, bring on chelmsford!!

[extaffyjim]

By the way, less importantly than going second, we also now head the form table with 16pts and +10 goal difference from the last six games. Very impressive!

[Martin]

I think that is a pretty fair assessment of the game. We played quite well at the start of each half but were a bit lacking in the final third. Felt we should have had a penalty either that or our wing back should have been booked for diving.

 

Anyhow what was the deal with your second goal? Hard to tell from our end and the celebrations were strange to say the least.

[GazzaBTFC]

I think what last night proved is that we haven't got that much depth in the squad. The first teamers are top notch but the youngsters, even though they battled gamely and did their best, experience is what counts and I would agree with cardiffbtfc, they looked out of their depth. I can only hope we will be looking to strengthen the squad in the New Year.

 

Still, we're second with games in hand, so it will be a Blue and White Christmas!!!

[timo]

coming back to something that was spoken of a few weeks back about how people were getting on the backs of players after only a few minutes of the game. Well last night before we scored there were countless times when I heard shouts of 'rubbish' or 'useless' simply because a pass missed its man or something similar. The players were generally trying hard and it seems unfair to have a go at them just because they make one mistake. whatever happened to saying well done for trying and better luck next time

[GazzaBTFC]

...and on top of it, we won!!!

[jl]

I think this was an excellent result against a decent team. We had three senior players missing and still got the win. I understand to a degree what people are saying about the youngsters but the way they improve is by playing and what is the alternative? some journeyman striker who is only interested in his wage packet. (ring any bells?). the youngsters in particular need the crowd's encouragement. second in the league at crimbo is hardly catastrophic.

 

In response to Martin our fans who were close to the "penalty" incident reckoned that the decision to give a free kick was the correct one as contact occurred outside the box although the player went down inside. Pat seems to have a dive-in a game. He needs to cut that out. I believe with our second goal your useless goalie caught the ball then ran into Nathan and spilled the ball into the net although naturally Nathan is claiming the faintest of touches....

 

Roll on Monday...

[Ryan.c]

Lets look at the facts. We had Dorms, Trott and Hunter who are dead certs to start, all out. Kerrigan and Game were making thier first starts for ages. Up front we had 2 teenagers with our regular striker forced to play left midfield. We had our right back playing centre-half with Sappleton and Forbes looking (in my opinion) if they were carrying knocks. Forbes then comes off to let flu victim Hunter on! To get a 2-0 victory, against probably one of the better sides, would suggest that the youngsters on view are more than capable.

[GazzaBTFC]

In retropect, can't argue with that!!!

 

I wasn't knocking...by the way. Just observing

[Keith.P]

The game last night was imo a major major result..As said earlier we were without 3 normal starters and clearly others were carrying knocks..

I for one thank the players who put in a very good team effort..It shows the hunger is there!!

WELL DONE LADS....

[The Town Crier]

Quote:

I think this was an excellent result against a decent team. We had three senior players missing and still got the win. I understand to a degree what people are saying about the youngsters but the way they improve is by playing and what is the alternative? some journeyman striker who is only interested in his wage packet. (ring any bells?). the youngsters in particular need the crowd's encouragement. second in the league at crimbo is hardly catastrophic.

I agree with jl's quote completely, it WAS an excellent result, and we DO have strength in depth, If you include, Danny we were missing 4.
we won 2-0 against a very strong, hard working side. I've not seen any team work harder this season.
Our squad IS strong, our younger players ARE good, and lets not forget we are building for the future. In a few years lets hope our current youngsters are still with us and have become our senior players.

It's clear to see our Team are coached well, and they learn. They work hard, win games and play good football.

If we can hold it all together, who knows where we will be in 2 or 3 years.


So Far this Season;

Second at Christmas
1St round FA cup
A tie against Exeter FAT 3rd round to come.
Come on guys, that’s something to be proud of, forget the fault finding for a while.

To all the Football Staff: <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/excited.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/excited.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/excited.gif" alt="" />
Well done!


Almost forgot, I thought the officials had a good game last night, pity they weren’t at Dover

[GazzaBTFC]

...Maybe it was 'cos I was watching the game through a "fog" of flu...

 

What the game did show up was our fitness is certainly a winning aspect.

[Martin]

Quote:

.
In response to Martin our fans who were close to the "penalty" incident reckoned that the decision to give a free kick was the correct one as contact occurred outside the box although the player went down inside. Pat seems to have a dive-in a game. He needs to cut that out. I believe with our second goal your useless goalie caught the ball then ran into Nathan and spilled the ball into the net although naturally Nathan is claiming the faintest of touches....

Thanks for that. With the penalty I know it is not conclusive proof but our players all pointed to the skid mark and divot where they felt contact was made and it was a good foot or so inside the area. I concede that he could have stretched out of the area before contact was made in which case obviously a free kick was the right decision. But we are obviously going to say it was a pen.

As for your second goal, that is what I have now heard from one of the regulars who stand on the touchline. Shaun did not have his best of games yesterday I think the fact that his kicking was so shocking got to him - he had been sensational on crosses and shot stopping in previous games.

[GazzaBTFC]

Well for the second goal, there were a few "grey beards" around the ground who had a tear in their eye when the ball went in...Striker clatters into goalkeeper, goalkeeper drops ball in net, goal!!! A real 50's football moment!!!

[Martin]

Ah, in which case we were robbed. A certain pen and you should have a goal disallowed. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

[GazzaBTFC]

Quote:

Ah, in which case we were robbed. A certain pen and you should have a goal disallowed. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Well, the "grey beards" were only viewing the 2nd goal from the half way line...even with glassess, they can't see as far a the centre circle!!! So I doubt it.