Looking forward to this one. Will be a massive test against the form team in the league and will tell us a lot about how far this team have come. Whyteleafe are in tremendous form having won four in a row and nine of the last eleven including a 8-1 win over East Grinstead and five goals past Phoenix. Also notice that over the past 18 games Corinthian and Walton have only lost to Whytleafe. Think a point will be more than decent on Saturday and be interesting to see how we play when we are not dominating possession if indeed that happens. Still fancy us 2-1.
Disappointing result today against a useful Whyteleafe side and perhaps slightly unfortunate to come away with nothing although some will say that is all our second half performance deserved.
The lack of a single striker at the club meant Golding started up top in a familiar 4-5-1 formation with Climpson playing alongside Christie at the back and Crutts in the centre of the park just in behind Sammy Adams and Dixon.
First 20 minutes Whyteleafe were the dominant force although Hastings always looked dangerous on the break. Horlock pulled of one magnificent save, there were at least five long range efforts just wide and a terrible miss 6 yards out by the Leafe no 11. At the other end there were half chances from Golding and a header from Rowe. As the half wore on Hastings started to dominate possession with Crutts becoming more and more of a domainating force in the centre of the park and Hastings were in control for the rest of the half. Sam Adams, Antonio and Rodari all had super long range efforts just wide, whilst Crutts had a super run and shot also just wide.
First 15 of the second half was fairly tight, but again Crutts was the driving force from midfield having another two long range efforts, one from a free kick, just missing the target. Then on 65 came the big turning point. Climpson, who I thought had a very impressive game, made a terrible blunder on the far touch line, losing possession as last man and allowing Bola to round Horlock and place into an empty net. Climpson was pretty ruthlessly replaced immediately by Lovatt who dropped into the middle and Crutts, best player on the pitch at the time in my opinion, was dropped back alongside Christie. For the next 25mins we lost all of our creativity, the three substitutions making no impact whatsoever, and Whyteleafe saw the game out pretty comfortably, the Us really only creating a couple of chances in the last few minutes, one a great chance for Ansu 6 yards out.
So a really disappointing last 25 minutes after a really good showing up to this. All fingers will point at young Climpson, but we really did nothing after his error. Once again, very little on the bench today to change a game and I think we actually missed Callum’s energy up top. To see Jordan Harley leading the line on his own with 20 to go told you everything you need to know about the strength of our squad and many supporters again asking where Cole and Vickers were.
This wasn’t a poor performance and at times in the first half we looked very good against the form team in the league but one mistake and depth of squad was the problem today.
Last but not least young Christie at the back was absolutely immense today. Didn’t put a foot wrong and priority has to be to get him signed for next season. He was superb.
Accurate report as always John, Tom should have booted the ball into Row Z ,but he’s young , a good player and he will learn. Strange moving Crutts into back four when he dominated midfield. Top priority next season has to be a goal scorer.
I suggest priority has to be TWO top strikers. Not to have one out and out striker in the squad is a massive concern but Chris will know this and have plans in place I am sure.
Equal in concern is our defensive record which has been pretty abysmal all season and all the more surprising when you look at the quality we have there in the likes of the Beale, Crutts, Rowe and now Christie. Let’s not forget behind this is arguably the best keeper in the league in Charlie so what is wrong? Been trying to put my finger on it. Should Ollie, our best defender, be in the centre? Is it the protection they are getting in front? Can we keep blaming age and inexperience? Not sure but since the 1-0 win over Faversham in October we have has had just 3 clean sheets in 27 and just 5 all season. Lewes have had 18.
At the same time over the entire season we have failed to score in just 4 games, so much about the chances we have missed but perhaps the real issue this season has been us defensively? Just a theory that hasn’t been discussed.
So positions to fill both ends of the pitch but I know Chris is all over it and knows what is needed. Christie continues to play like he did yesterday then that is one part of the jigsaw sorted straight away.
