Team for today

[mikefleet]

Gravesend

01 L Cronin

05 J Smith

06 P McCarthy

20 R Smith

15 M Ricketts

07 D Slatter

09 M DeBolla

08 R Quinn

11 J Keeling

18 L Moore

10 C MacDonald

Substitutes

16 L Coleman, 23 M McKenna, 12 O Sodje, 22 J Roberts, 21 S Mott

[FleetFanatic]

1-0 Debolla

[kieronoliver]

reading bbc website it seems like another screamer

[FleetFanatic]

1-1 now

[FleetFanatic]

2-1 Moore!!!

[FleetFanatic]

2-2 hmmmmmmm

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Wheres our defence gone - its now 2-2

[Richard C]

Sounds as though we are battering them - but thats no good if you give them the goals back!!??

[Alan W (GNFC)]

They're down to 10 and we've had another disallowed - supposed foul on keeper from a Keeling corner and keeper has also made a wonder double save.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Sounds like we're making a "pigs ear" of it this half though - like Chas, I'll settle for the point now, although I just hope we can still nick one.

[Alan W (GNFC)]

Disappointing, but as Chas says, its a point away from home, although it was against 10 men for almost the entire 2nd half.

[Fleet4Ever]

Decent result, although I was hoping for maximum points but a point away from home isn't bad at all especially considering the recent victory away to Burton.

Good see Moore still scoring and hope he can continue that trend.

Halifax away next, tough away trip but one we certainly have a chance to get at least a point from if not all three.

[Ian_D]

Very entertaining first half, although our defending at times was sloppy...

 

My view of DeBollas wasn't great, I thought the keeper may have made a very bad error and misjudged it; it may have been swerve or the wind that possibly illusioned that...!

 

Their freekick I was right behind and it was class, suggestions thiugh that Cronin was in the wrong position to start, although that sounded harsh to me. Also I feel the freekick that was given their player dived, but thats football nowdays I suppose.

 

Our second was a good build up and through ball to Lukey Moore who superbly, proffesionally and clinically slid the ball past the keeper.

 

Their second came from the right wing from a counter (I think!) crossed in the box, Cronin palmed it away but straight to the Port player who volleyed it softley into the left corner.

 

Then the second half came and the wind worstened and added to the already difficult task of very slippery surface (I was reliably informed by Kenny the pitch had to be cleared of surface water before the game). We started to play route 1 football half the time as it became increasly difficult to pass along the floor, not that route 1 was the better option, probably the worst thing we could have done in fact.

 

Both teams battled hard and at times if the truth be told both teams were unfortunate not to score, although (I havent looked yet) if you look at our shots I'd say we had about 10 off target to about 4 on, which speaks for itself.

 

MacDonalds finishing (or lack of it) wasnt at its best today although he held the ball up well on a number of occasions.

 

Keeling looked good and (like Moore) never gave up chasing for the ball without seeming to tire - seems the full time benefits are starting to show. Also possibly Onome should have been bought on a lot earlier (he only had one touch I think) despite being ready about 10 minutes before he actually came on. Clearly with 4 minutes to go he cannot make much of an impact and this fustrated me a little.

 

At the end of the day we didnt make our extra man count, and performance (especially 2nd half) could have been better, but nonetheless still a pleasurable day out.

[Nagasaki]

Would you say 2 points lost or 1 point won?

 

How would you assess the Southport team, who beat Burton away in their last match, who in turn then beat Grays away.

[Ian_D]

Probably 2 points lost considering we were a little sloppy at the back (especially for their 2nd), and we had an extra man than them, although a point isnt the end of the world.

 

I would say they were pretty average. Got a few hard working players but their finishing wasnt brilliant - dont know if that was a bad day for them (like Maccy) of if thats the norm (they've scored 5 in 6 games....!)

 

I can see them being undone by the big boys i.e Oxford, Exeter, York, Weymouth etc.

[Nagasaki]

Looking at the stats before the game they looked a dour team and i thought that if we scored twice that we would probably win.

 

Do you think that we were undone by the elements today, you said the pitch wasn't the best on the day and the thing about route 1 is you never have total control of the game

[KShep]

Definately two points lost. Two goals disallowed from corners, hitting the post twice (I think!), poor defending for the first goal and arguably poor goalkeeping for both goals conceded, but allowances could be made due to the weather conditions. Danny Slatter missed a sitter too.

But I won't bitch and moan, Luke Moore was again passionate, hungry, and his finish was brilliant. Ross put some really strong tackles in, and Charlie's hold-up play was brilliant. John Keeling's running was effective, but I think we need someone with his dribbling ability on the right side of midfield, Slatts or Ricketts are not out and out wingers. Marc DeBolla's goal was class!

 

The Southport team were nothing special, although they were dogged and refused to give up; but this may have been because they were down to ten men.

[Ian_D]

Well both teams had it as hard as each other but we certainly seemed to be slipping over a lot more than they did.

 

When we started playing over the top (oofing!) more often it looked as it we were the ones down to 10 and we were running down the clock, although there were a couple moves which didnt quite worked out.

 

Playing route 1 was not the best option as every thing that was oofed over was taken by the wind (which was blowing toward their goal second half) and then skided to the Port keeper.

 

Charlie did well to hold up the amount he did, but as we know hes not the tallest of players and plays better via through balls and floor play.

[Nagasaki]

I agree about Slatts and Rickets, Danny seems lost on the wing, I would rather see him inside right, but who gives way? I think that he may be destined for the subs bench, which is a shame for one of our better players last season. Mark doesnt like going forward, he always seems to be lost when in the opposition half.

 

Still, early days and I am sure that things will get better.

 

The faith is still with Liam and Alan, long may it continue

[Nagasaki]

Thanks Ian, think that I got the jist of it, glad you had a good day, sadly it was work, work and more work for me.

 

Tough 4 games to come will we be good enough?

 

I dont see why not.