Lichfield Brenstar vs Gresley Rovers
Lichfield Brenstar 8 - 4 Gresley Rovers
Scorers: Matt Holmes 2, Paul Morton, Paul Hollis
Team: Stu Haywood, Alex Peplow, Jack Moylan, Joe Tomlin, Danny Gee, Matt Grice, Mark Shorthouse, Matt Holmes, Paul Morton, Paul Hollis, Chris Smith.
Subs: Mark Sladen, Todd Foster, Ian Parker
We travelled away to Lichfield Brenstar, who drew last week, but like us were seeking their first win this season. So you could say it was a bottom of the table clash! We were without Hanslow and Ingley who had a much deserved call up for the reserves.
However, we were boosted by the fact that Danny Gee, Matt
Holmes and Paul Hollis were in the squad but still without Kyle Jones who suffered rib injuries against Newhall.
So the game started, and we never really got going in the first few minutes, with them camped in our half. However, once we'd settled we started to attack and had two or three great chances, with their keeper on form never really
capitalised. With only 8 minutes gone though, the deadlock was broken, when some neat passing found Matt Holmes who finished to put us 1-0 up.
We were looking good to be honest, for the next 15 minutes, we were finding our players well, using the wide men and basically causing Lichfield all sorts of problems but through some good goalkeeping and wasteful finishing
we could not add to our lead. We then gave away a free kick, which I felt was unnecessary, and from that the ball was lifted into our area and through some schoolboy errors they equalised. Within the next 15 minutes we again failed
to deal with things, and Lichfield must have thought that Christmas had come early, because we gave them another two easy goals. I think that the way we conceded these just knocked the stuffing out of us, because understandably, our heads dropped. We lost our shape, some lost a little
desire, and we stopped playing football!!! However, we drew back level from good work from our forwards, who were working tirelessly, with both Morton and Hollis getting one each. Just before half time though, we were again behind so as the whistle blew it was 4-3 to Lichfield.
Second half started with me making all my subs, Sladen replaced Haywood, Parker and Foster replaced Shorthouse and Grice. Although at half time I asked for improvements and to use the wide players, because they were strong in the centre, we didn't really do it enough and soon in were
trailing even more when we conceded another two goals. Holmes added another for us to make it 6-4 but again we showed just how vulnerable we've become conceding a further two more goals. Lichfield became a little physical and received two yellow cards for late, crude tackles in a game which I think the referee never really had enough control of.
So how do I begin to sum things up??? I honestly can't take many positives from this one!!!. The only one probably being the fact that we kept our discipline and never reacted to some of the challenges. We are the only team now in the league without a win, and being honest, I think that is a true reflection on things. We played great football for 20 minutes (some of the best neat passing I've seen this season) but then certain players' heads
dropped when we conceded such sloppy goals. We lost belief in ourselves and our team mates and just went for the much tried, and much failed hoofing tactics. Out of their 8 goals I think 6 or 7 were due to individual errors, they were sloppy goals to gift Lichfield the win. I've shown belief in the squad we have, but you all need to look at yourselves, because even after today, I still think if we listen and play to our strengths we're good enough to be mid table. We're representing a great football club, with great traditions, and I think we ALL need to remember that!!! Another huge disappointment to myself personally is how you all left at the end leaving Matt Grice and Alex Peplow to sort out the kit and carry it to the car park
which I thank you two for. It's a team game and if we have this "leave it" attitude, then it surely will begin to be taken into games so lets stamp it out now!!!! We are going to work harder to get things right, because if we don't then changes will need to be made, because I'm far to proud of our club to keep loosing in such a poor manner!!!
MoM: Matt Holmes given by Lichfield, scored two goals and worked hard but as we all know there's a lot more too come from Matt when he regains full fitness, well done Matt.
