Following the excellent 2nd half performance in our last match we asked our boys to take that performance and apply it for the full 70 mins in our next game. I am pleased to say they did just that but paid a heavy price for 3 small lapses in concentration. Nonetheless it was an exciting game and we played the kind of football we need to in order to start winning matches in this league. Indeed they say “you make your own luck” and that was true of our 2 goals today as our consistent pressure produced an own goal from a speculative Tippite shot and a Latimer free kick that squirmed through the keeper’s legs. Prior to that we came close 3 times; twice through Mead who hit the post and then saw a fine header flash inches wide and once through Tippite who saw his close range thunderbolt miraculously turned over the bar. At the other end (whilst our defence was superb for 65 minutes) we got caught flat across the back 3 times and were punished in the worst possible way. Even then we created enough chances to win the match but one goal-line clearance and a mis-directed close range header late in the game kept the score at 3-2. This was, however, a much better team performance with some strong individual performances too. M.o.M Stiles hardly lost a tackle in midfield and distributed the ball intelligently as did his midfield partner Bather. Fuller and Ranson both ran their socks off whilst Tippite and Harvey provided the midfield creativity. But for the 3 momentary lapses in concentration (which left our stand-in keeper Gray no chance) our entire back line (Nilsen, Hoey and Harvey) were excellent and were led manfully by our Captain and M.I.P Latimer. Up front, Patterson held the ball up well and passed intelligently and Mead was his usual high energy threat.

There is no doubt this Division will stretch us as a team but that is a good thing as (provided we learn the lessons from each match) that will only make us stronger. If we organise ourselves just a little better at the back, and keep playing football like this the results will come. so onward and upward WAFC!