Flat

Alex Babos Is Pushed In The Back But No Penalty Is Given

 

Nigel Preece reports from Edgar Street on this afternoon's 1-0 defeat by Peterborough Sports.

 

The brave new dawn has wobbled a bit in the last ten days; a backs to the wall (that's a positive spin on it) win against Rushall and defeat in the Arctic at Blyth. 

Today wasn't so much as a brave new dawn but a throwback to what we witnessed all too often last season.

Without Cowley we feared the worst and so it proved. Rooney up front on his own, ineffective and isolated for much of the game, so much like last season. We played Arthur and Stanley wide, Mendes and Babos trying to get forward with Texeira in the holding role. Same back five as before. 

We started fairly brightly, less direct than previously, the extra body in midfield creating space, especially on the right in front of the away enclosure, Skinner, Arthur and the livewire Mendes linking up well. It looked promising but nothing was delivered, crosses were poor or there was little on offer as in targets in the box. 

Connor Stanley Is Brought Down But The Free Kick Is Wasted

Gradually Sports came into the game, a quick throw in caught us assuming a visiting striker must be offside, many in the crowd were similarly confused, a runner charged through but Pond saved us. He almost saved us again after a lovely Boro move that started with a neat flick on half way, a few sharp passes culminated in another one on one. The initial chance was blocked by Pond at point blank range but our keeper had no chance as the loose ball was poked in from close range. 

If that was the wake up call it didn't show, the depressing drift from the Meadow End for a half time beverage had already started and only another sharp save by Pond and a poor miss on the follow up prevented a second. 

No change in personnel second half but we did start to build up some momentum towards a hopeful rather than expectant Meadow End. 

Did He Trip Or Was He Fouled - Koby Arthur Wasn't Happy

Babos got forward more, one driving run getting him clear, the ball wouldn't drop, he may have been impeded initially, but as he turned under pressure the chance went, the referee made the correct decision not to award a penalty despite howls from the crowd. 

Connor Stanley made a good run into the box, his shot was half blocked and the Sports keeper clutched the ball fairly comfortably; but at least we'd forced a save. Stanley was replaced by the other Stanley, Obinna had a reasonable cameo, running at the defence trying to commit and get crosses in, but for all the improved threat there was little or no end product; again it just reminded you of the frustrations of last season. 

A Cross From Arthur Fails To Find Rooney Who Was Well Placed

Hewlett came on for Mendes, the latter looked shattered after an hour of constant energy, he won so much ball, looked as threatening as anyone and one block in our own box towards the end of the first half when we were caught on the break was simply outstanding commitment. 

Hewlett Puts In A Decent Cross But No One Gets On The End Of It

Any momentum we had built up seemed to subside with a number of Sports substitutions and injuries (some clearly tactical), increasing the angst on the terraces; to be fair to the visitors they were far less cynical than many we witnessed while grinding our teeth on the terraces …. see, for example, next week's delightful opposition, Southport!!

Obinna With A Shot From Distance Which Sailed Over The Bar

We tried to be more patient than in previous games, the brute force approach wasn't likely to be successful against a hefty defence, but while the majority of play was in the right half there was little action of note in the penalty area. As always happens there was one final moment of hope in injury time, Rooney's sharp chance from 8 yards just cleared the crossbar and that was about that. 

Last autumn we succumbed dismally to the same opposition by the same score at Edgar Street. This wasn't as bad as that but the shortcomings weren't dissimilar. The tempo we saw against Darlington wasn't there albeit we attempted to play more measured football, it's not rocket science that we could do with Cowley and Williams in attack, but the plan to go with 451 / 433 didn't create enough opportunities to win this or most games. 

A regroup needed at Tamworth on Monday. It's a long time ago now, but a limp August Bank Holiday Saturday home defeat in 2005 (Grays) was followed by a proper 1-0 grind away win at the Lamb, Ryan Green was sent off (Christmas was months away) and Alex Jeannin scored with a quality far post header. Same result please.