WE HIT TOP FORM BUT FOR LIMITED REWARD
Surprisingly we returned from the visit to play-off chasing Heybridge Swifts rather disappointed to have secured only one point when what was probably our best performance of the season surely merited all three. Georgios Aresti was already on his way to hospital after some fifteen minutes play with a dislocated shoulder when a defensive error gifted Heybridge their first goal but our heads never fell and for the rest of the first half we enjoyed the lion’s share of possession and chances created but could not quite force home an equaliser. Ten minutes into the second half our pressure finally paid off when Matt Young swerved a curler into the top corner from the edge of the penalty box. Unfortunately a clumsily conceded corner five minutes later put us behind again but not for long as Derek Asamoah was pulled back in the area. Although Matt’s penalty kick was well saved by the ‘keeper he could not hold on to it and Olu Durojaiye reacted quickest to smash home the loose ball. We missed a glorious chance when a “one on one” was not clinically slipped past a limping goalkeeper. Before the match was over we suffered another setback during stoppage time when Derek accidentally kicked the Heybridge ‘keeper in the face and was red carded. After a long treatment delay the keeper was unable to continue and he too needed hospital attention. With some five minutes added time remaining Heybridge had to put an outfield player in goal but we never looked likely to be able to give him a test as Heybridge with their one man advantage powered forward determinedly and we were at full stretch to keep them out. Although the point lifted us to 19th we were the only one of the bottom 8 Clubs whose game was not off because of the weather, meaning that the other 7 now all have even more games in hand on us.- between 2 and 4.
At the moment we have amassed 19 points from 25 games which is 0.76 per match. We have 17 games to improve that average and avoid relegation – including todays game – 8 at home and 9 away. In the last 10 completed seasons the team which most narrowly dodged relegation acquired an average points per game of 0.876 To reach even that average we need at least another 18 points from the remaining 17 games but for “insurance” obviously as many more as possible are desirable. and we will have to get them without Derek’s contribution for 3 games and that of Georgios for many more. So I won’t waste space on stressing the importance of taking three from our next match against fellow strugglers Mildenhall Town at Coles Park next Saturday……….The UNDER 23s had to travel to face FC Petrocub with just 11 players and suffered a 2-0 defeat which grievously harmed their Championship chances…………tomorrow THE WOMEN make the long trip to Needham Market seeking to avenge the 3-6 defeat inflicted on them at Coles Park earlier in the season; then on Wednesday 8th they have an Isthmian League Womens Cup Match with Billericay Town at their New Lodge Stadium. (7.45pm)
