Really strange game this evening. After 60mins you wondered how we were not four or five up after completely dominating from around the 20 minute mark, but by full time you were wondering how we managed to get a point after Charlie pulled off three or four outstanding saves in the last 10minutes as some of our defensive frailties showed up again.
First 20 was pretty cagey on a difficult surface but gradually Hastings work rate and excellent passing took control and for the rest of the half there was only one team in it. Excellent chances fell for Dajon, Sammy and two for Callum, one an open goal, before Callum eventually got his goal with a super finish off the inside of the post. Second half started much the same with Hastings totally in control and further missed chances from Sammy, Callum and two from Rodari, the second being a superb shot spectacularly saved. Then for me came the turning point and the substitutions. On Saturday they made a huge difference and equally so today but for the wrong reasons. Ajakaiye, for all his brilliance on Saturday, had a stinker and Ansu and Antonio had no impact whatsoever whilst South Park‘s two best players, Mazzone and Smith, came on and had the opposite affect. First the equaliser after the ball was given away cheaply and a gaping hole in the centre of the defence led to a neat equaliser. Then for the last 15 minutes they took control and Charlie had to pull off at least four fantastic saves as we continued to give away cheap possession, the best of all in the very last minute.
No doubt we deserved a point and probably all three but we have to be more clinical in front of goal and take our chances. We really should have been out of sight after the hour mark but were indebted to Charlie in the end for the point.
Still massive progression for me though and with the addition of a couple of players, in particular a defender, these games will be wins next season. For 45 minutes today we absolutely ran a good South Park side ragged and an awful lot of positives out of the nigh5 still. MOM.....surprise surprise, Sammy Adams and Charlie Horlock.
Excellent interview and spot on in their assessment. The tackle they were talking about was an absolute shocker on Jack. Saw the pictures from Scott and should have been a straight red.
