Lichfield City vs Gresley Rovers
Lichfield City 4 - 0 Gresley Youth
Team: Ian Parker, Jack Moylan, Dave Hatfield (c),Rich Foster, Danny Gee, Luke Taylor, Josh Gregory, Joe Swift, Paul Morton, Tom Fletcher, Paul Hollis.
Subs: Joe Tomlin, Stu Haywood, Rich Hanslow, Shane Broadhurst, Andy Lyons.
We travelled to Lichfield today, and I was hoping that we could break the A38 bogey!, and boy I'M SOME OPTIMIST. We adopted a 4-4-2 formation which was met with moans, so perhaps we were in the "wrong frame of mind" from the off.
We were missing quite a few players, through various reasons, but we still managed to field a good side.
First half we never got the ball down and we looked un interested, however we were holding on. There was glimpses of quality (but these were very few and far between) and I was longing for half time to come. Two defenders decided
that they'd rather argue "who was playing them on" than defend, this argument lasted for well over 10 minutes!!
With 10 minutes to go, the ball broke through, and as Hatfield tried to shield it back, a hesitation from Parker allowed their striker to "nick it" and we found ourselves one down.
Half time talk was a little "heated" by me because I know how we can play, but on this occasion the sad thing was that our work rate wasn't there.
Second half started, and we carried on with our "slap happy" approach to the game, when we lost possession we looked for someone else to win it back for us. We went for the up-n-over ball, missing of midfield. We replaced Fletcher for Hanslow, and tried to create something (anything), we then went 3-0 down in quick succession and our heads dropped.
As the game ran it's course, we lost desire and there wasn't too many who could come out of the game with much credit today. Just to add insult to injury, Gee got carried off with 10 to go (to the cheering of a section of
Lichfield subs and supporters) which I find totally disgraceful.
In the last few minutes they added a fourth just to top of a miserable day, which with today's results have dropped us to 5th and unless we change things we'll drop even lower.
So today showed certain weaknesses, they looked fitter and sharper than us (which considering our ages and the club we represent) is embarrassing. Yes you're young and enjoy going out etc. but your destinies are in your own hands and you only get out "what you put in".
Some players seem to fade quite drastically on the hour mark, so perhaps our training isn't tough enough? The further you want to rise the tougher it will be, so that's something we will and need to work on.
My main gripe today though was the manner we lost, with the arguing the moaning and the lack of fight. There wasn't too many trying at the end, but I thank the ones who were, and I'm not going to name names on here.
Some good things though as always, Thought Joe Swift did well on his debut and special mention to Joe Tomlin because when I spoke to him at 11-30 he was in London yet he made the subs bench by 2-45. Also Parker produced some
excellent saves, more than making up for his slight error earlier and if it wasn't for him the embarrassment could of been worse.
We need you all at training on Monday, and today I felt a few seem certain of their places, well we've got players chomping at the bit, if we need them.
MoM: Jack Moylan, worked hard and kept trying so he was in the minority today but well done mate.
