Bath City

[YELLOW]

Not the greatest of performances but a convincing victory nevertheless. Two goals by Ollie and a goal from Lee Boylan (can't comment on Lee's goal as I was still in the bar!!) gave us a safe passage through to round four on a real quagmire of a pitch.

 

It was not a fantastic performance in fact both sides were awful in the first 40 minutes but once Ollie latched on to an effort by Lee that was saved by the goalie to poke home just before half time we never looked back.

 

Lee looked very sharp and was unlucky nort to score more. Tom Williamson came in and passed the ball well and got stuck in. Defence kept a clean sheet but still made some silly errors. A better side than Bath would have punished these. I expected a bit more from Bath but once we went ahead we looked comfortable. A decent result as this was a potential banana skin but still a few problems that need to be ironed out but at least we are in Monday's draw.

[YELLOW]

I assume we have signed Mario after his trial as he was on the bench today.

[Guest]

Lee's Goal was not a superb goal for his first coming back from injury coz it was a poor clearence from the goalie which the boylan from 30 yards curled it in... and we all thought it was going out until we actually looked... come Canvey!!!

[Guest]

Boylans goal was great, in that in little time, he made a class choice and executed that choice with great skill!!

[Merv]

Lee's contribution yesterday was much greater than the opportunistic goal that he took, making his long, curled shot look so easy. He does make a difference to the team since he is one of the few players who can stand with his back to goal, receive a ball on his chest, control it, turn and keep possession. This ability to collect and hold onto even the most difficult balls makes a real difference and gives the opportunity to build an attack, rather than the 'lump it and hope' scenario that we have experienced on so many occasions over recent weeks.

 

The problem is to create a pairing that will feed off each other; Lee and one other. Junior doesn't do it for me and Ollie, although bounding with enthusiasm and commitment, sometimes demonstrates a lack of creativity that others can benefit from. Lee's best partner would seem to be Neil Gregory but when he is playing all the forward balls seem to be airborne and that is rarely the way Canvey play best. Interesting yesterday that without the big fella up front, we played the ball forward on the deck; much our best way of playing.

 

Games like the one yesterday serve to build confidence within the team and that is as good as a one goal start at the moment. It may not have been the best game of football ever but it was a potential banana skin that Canvey dealt with effectively and soundly. Bath were well beaten and never looked as if they could get the better of he Gulls.

 

BTW Bath made us very welcome. The stewards were friendly and helpful, the fans I spoke to were polite and the bar staff were very welcoming. Food over the bar was very good (egg, chips and bacon - delicious) and there was a good atmosphere.

[YELLOW]

Didn't sample any of the food but it did look rather good. Found the Bath fans,officials, bar staff very friendly.

[A Non E Mouse]

Good to go away from home and get a result in a game quite a few neutrals may have picked out as a possible upset. It was a professional display, although a little poor at times on a rather heavy looking pitch.

 

I previously posted a comment from the Bath forum about a 4-5-1 formation and thats what it looked like yesterday. They got behind the ball in numbers in the first twenty minutes and we struggled to get to grips initially. Bath seemed to rely on the big number 10 and a big punt down field for him or someone else to run onto. After the first twenty minutes we seemed to settle and started to open them up a little with some good passing and players getting the ball into the danger area which caused them problems. Felt comfortable after the first goal and certainly after the second. Overall we could have had a couple more and we seemed to take our foot off the pedal towards the end - although this may have been down to the substitutions.

 

Lee had a very good game. As Merv says his control, running off the ball etc. is something he is not always given credit for. In fact his control of the ball under pressure after coming back from injury put some of our other players to shame. Although his goal came from a mistake to strike a ball, with curl, from 30 yards is something I thought was very well taken.

 

Felt Keeling had a poor game by his standards IMHO. He worked hard and was fully committed but I don't think Bath having so many players in their half gave him a chance to run and he lost the ball on a number of occassions. Williamson was solid and rarely gave the ball away unnecessarily. Ollie had a good game and the defence kept a clean sheet - although I never felt comfortable and you got the feeling that if we were playing a better side we would have been made to suffer. We did, however, try to play the ball to feet and didn't get drawn into a hoofing contest which was good to see.

 

It's been mentioned before that Lee and Junior do not compliment each otehr and yesterday was no different - they both work hard and play well - but they just don't seem to click as a partnership. Think the past few seasons has identified that a tall traget man playing alongside Lee seems to work - just feel that we need to start looking out for a player simlar to Greggors who has the speed, stamina and agility that Greggors had. I'm not confident that Greggors would be able to carry off another season in the Conf.

 

Can anyone explain why Chenners was brought on in the second half and seemed to take up a midfield position on the right? At 3-0 up I would have thought Mario would have got a run out - he is a midfield player isn't he?

 

Also agree that everyone in Bath seemed to be on "pleasant" pills - all very friendly especially the fella who pointed out I was driving up a one way street and then proceeded to give me directions back out of Bath (obviously a regular occurence from away supporters)- many thanks.

 

With half the Conf teams drawn against each other and some of the others being knocked out or having a replay it looks like the competition is going to be fairly open this year - not even fussed who we get drawn against in the next round.

[Guest]

I would have thought that at some time during the game we would have seen the introduction of Mario Noto, he would have given us fresh legs not only in the midfield but he also tracks back to defend well, instead we saw the introduction of Ben Chennery asked to do an unfamiliar job and we were then put under the cosh at times in the latter stages. What is it with our club, whenever a player with a little extra talent arrives they are invariably left rotting on the subs bench game after game. Cast your minds back, the same treatment was felt by our top scorer Lee Boylan, for two seasons in a row he didn't get an automatic start and yet he still gained top scorer in those seasons. Begs belief really!!

[Merv]

Quote:

Can anyone explain why Chenners was brought on in the second half and seemed to take up a midfield position on the right? At 3-0 up I would have thought Mario would have got a run out - he is a midfield player isn't he?

Sorry, but the answer to that is as obvious as it is unpalatable. He is a favourite and favourites always get picked.

[YELLOW]

A little surprised to see Leon Gordon on the bench. OK you need a striker on the bench just in case but I'm not sure if Leon is quite ready for the first team. Doubt he'll be on the bench next week.

[Bionic II]

Well Yellow what did Keelo play like, I see he is down as Left Back in the NLP!

thanks mate

[YELLOW]

He was a bit quiet actually. The boggy pitch didn't help admittedly.

[Guest]

Now I see why they're called Bath..

 

 

 

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