Billericay 2-3 Maldon

[Simon BTFC]

Started brightly, Ross in particualr looked good again at right mid. Mel got sent off after 11 mins - the balance of opinions from people i spoke to was that he did handle the ball, and as such was right to go.

 

We've taken the lead minutes later with a near post header from Danny Hockton from a Leon Hunter corner.

 

Maldon equalised 5 before half time when Simon Parker got the ball in an offside position then ran through and scored. apparently he lino was complaining that our back 4 was "too quick" for him....

 

We've then re-taken the lead after some determined play from hockers squeezed the ball through to Leon who has scored his first of the season.

 

2nd half they've scored 2 in the 10 mins after half time. 1st an excellent strike from Gary Howard. 2nd a quickly taken free kick charghed down by Parker who ran the length of the pitch and scored.

 

We've gone close late on but they've hung on for the win.

 

We played some pretty good football in patches, got the ball down well and looked likely to score a lot of goals. Unfortunatley Mel's sending off (and the decision not to have a sub keeper) probably cost us 3 points.

 

Team

Mel

Henty Macca Pat Kerrigan

Wareham Hunter Thomas Dorms

Hockers Cuz

 

Subs

Elder for Dorms

Game for Macca

SNU: Dobbo, Lay, Smith

[jl]

The lino has made a big call re the sending off but the consensus seems to be it was the right one, so no complaints there. Maldon's first goal appeared to be a long way offside.

 

We look good going forwards but we are still making too many errors defensively. I reckon 5 out of the 8 that we have conceded so far (which is too many) must be down to our mistakes. Our lads gave top effort tonight and I thought in spells we played our best football of the season so far so no reason to get downhearted.

 

Looking fwd to the next game.

[paulc27]

I think Mel put the officials in the position where they had to make a decision either way. The sending off clearly hindered us alot but there were still enough quality players on the pitch to make a difference especially against a team that had no real interest in playing it on the deck. We still had 4 defenders out there and to be honest we are not as tight as last season. All good teams build from the back but we are conceeding too many. If only hockers had squared that one to cous in the first half!!

A blip, thats all.

[smallsy]

lets be fair to the keeper though, it stemmed from a shocking pass back from dave mcsweeney that ansell ran onto - that is why mel was caught out of his area!

 

why wasnt the sub keeper named as a sub?? ross did well and luckily maldon didnt put him under too much pressure.

 

first ten minutes i was thinking a 5-0 was on the cards. maldon were not on the same pitch. then sloppy back pass, keeper sent off, striker then put in goal for 80 minutes (talk about make things difficult.)

 

in my opinion - and this is as a neutral - hockton should have had 3 goals.

 

despite having ten men, you were the better side through the game. maldon did you on the break for the third goal which was taken well. perhaps the second or third goal may have been prevented with a recognised keeper (i know the second was deflected).

 

tonight you conceded 3 but could have had more. hockton looked very dangerous but not clinical tonight - maldons GK cattley looked over weight and almost like a pub team keeper - and think DH should have done better a couple of times.

 

p.s. how funny was it that your keeper was sent off, you had a striker in goal and ten men - yet maldon played with a back 8 until they made a sub! i wouldnt have known who had lost a player.

 

bad luck fellas. as has been said i suggest it was a blip - maybe could have been prevented by naming a sub keeper.

[A Walsh]

A great effort from the lads last night and I thought we were unlucky not to get anything from the game. Agree with JL that we have been giving away some really sloppy goals this season. Perhaps it would be worth switching around the defence to see if we improve. I have to say I was again disappointed with Richard Thomas. I know he is settling into a new club, but in the 3 games I have seen I don't think he's done that well. His passing has not been great. I obviously don't know about the away games. I'm sure he will improve in time. Overall I was pleased with the performance and agree with others that it is only a blip.

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www.billericaytownfc.20m.com

[extaffyjim]

After recovering from the disappointment of losing a 'home banker', there are plenty of positives to come from the game. Great spirit shown by the players to keep going for the win despite having 10 men. Wec ould have sat back and maybe played for a draw but im mplayed we gambled a bit and went for it. We were still the better team even with 10 men, and had the better chances. As others have said Danny H looked much better, scored one and created the second with his tenacity.

 

Its only 3 points dropped, and no result is a disaster at this stage of the season, therell be plenty of time to make up for it. Amazingly though were already 8 points behind Hampton, although we do have a game in hand. Still, im sure they wont keep their run up for too much longer.

 

Looking forward to a nice trip out on Saturday