Hampton 13-03-11

Ravens 3 – 3 Hampton

Scorers: Fred 2, Bri 1

M.o.M:Fred

This was probably a cracking game to watch, especially for the neutral but from a coaching but of view is was a bit of a nightmare.

It seemed to be a little bit of the “after the lord mayors show” after the fine display at Wychall. I got the impression that some players thought that the hard work was done and the season was over, before this one had kicked off. I counted at least 6, maybe 7 players that were just not at the races this week and when so many don’t perform on the same day it is unlikely that you will win.

On a positive note we did not lose the game and we created enough good chances to win it in the 2^nd half.

The way we started was the most disappointed i have been all season. Nobody wanted the ball and we kept hacking it forward and handing possession back to Hampton. I left in 10 minutes to see if things improved but I felt changes were needed and 3 at that.

We did start to play a little and in what was a poor 1^st half performance we probably scored 2 of our best goals this season. Ish won the ball in midfield and put a delightful pass through to Fred who took an immaculate 1^st touch and scored.

We threw the lead away within a couple of minutes when confusion at the back let their forward nick it past Alfie.

We were quickly back in front with a quite brilliant goal. Fred held it up and two 1, 2s later with Brian and Fred was heading in Bri’s cross. Cracking football.

Our 10 minutes of madness at the back then put us 3-2 behind when Jake was beaten for pace on the 1^st occasion and then was a tad unlucky when his clearance was charged down and the ball again fell kindly for Hampton. 2-3.

We responded well with Bri hitting the bar from distance and finally heading us level from a Joshy D long throw. Half time 3-3.

The 2^nd half was still very open. Either team could have won it. Fred headed a corner into the side netting and Bri could have won it at the death when he picked up Phils pass, went round the keeper, only for the defender to put in a good tackle.

At our end Ish twice cleared off the line in the dying minutes when the forward had gone round Tom.

3-3 and not ideal but we have played so well for a long time now that I guess something had to give. Hopefully we can bounce back well this Sunday to set us up for the big one with Castle Brom the week after.

Steve