This was a hard-fought win to stay on top of the table but it was achieved with a degree of fortune as we lacked the composure and quality needed in the conditions.
A heavy shower in the opening ten minutes really quickened up the pitch but we failed to apply ourselves properly to the small details and disciplines required to look secure. The home side threatened to take advantage of our uncertain defending throughout and threw the proverbial kitchen sink at us in the second half, so we were pleased to take the points but equally we know that our below-par display could easily have left us empty handed.
It was a nightmare start. Alex Bevan conceded a free kick near the half way line. No-one reacted, neither full back tucked in and we allowed a straight ball from a quickly taken free kick to dissect our remaining three defenders for their forward to score. It was a really poor goal from our perspective, but at least the players reacted in the right manner and we started to force the play
A moment of skill from Adam Marriott, with a trademark slalom run in the box was halted with a challenge that no-one in the ground could believe was not punished with a spot kick. Even the Haverhill players must have expected a whistle as the resultant attempted clearance hit another player and rebounded to Owen Kessack (below) to apply the finishing touch at the far post.
We took advantage of another mistake for our second goal. The home keeper dropped a Darryl Coakley corner, Liam Hughes failed to make proper contact but fortuitously the ball fell to Jack Eades, who made no mistake from six yards.
The right flank was the source of our most potent attacking weapon in a scrappy first half and Jack Eades (below) showed his ability on the ball with two fantastic crosses which cried out for someone to get on the end of but our runs didn't match the quality of his delivery.
At half time we tried to sort out our defending. We spent too much of the first half on the back foot, reacting to the ball coming off a slippery surface, rather than getting on the front foot and being proactive in dictating to the ball. Our full backs were also too wide, our back four was too deep, our midfield left too big a gap between them and the defence, while our front players didn't show the energy or application to defend effectively from the front. Therefore, none of the units within the team were functioning properly, resulting in the team being constantly stretched and looking vulnerable.
Any success we have enjoyed has been built on foundations of work rate and organisation without the ball. When the players allow their concentration and attention to detail to slip a few percent, the negative effect on our performance is hugely magnified. When we have the right level of intensity, we look a strong defensive unit and this helps our attacking play.
Not everything was sorted in the second half but at least we made Haverhill throw the ball into the box from deeper positions rather than playing through us. One such cross brought their equaliser with a fine turn and strike from just inside our box for a deserved equaliser.
The next goal was pivotal and we received a slice of luck. Literally! Darryl Coakley whipped in a wide free kick and it deflected past the wrong footed keeper in slow motion. As the home team pressed forward we could have exploited the gaps but either picked the wrong ball or failed to apply the finish to good build up play.
Martin Davies showed his value with a fantastic save to a ferociously hit strike and the Ridgeons League's answer to Rory Delap peppered our goal from the half way line onwards with a succession of long throws. No disrespect to Ben Lawrence, but he is a name I do not enjoy seeing on the opposing team sheet. He simply changes the dynamic of the game by literally throwing hand grenades into the box, and whilst they never looked like scoring from the initial throw, it creates pressure by forcing you into deep positions.
We finally started to breathe easier thanks to a fine run and clever chip by Sam Ives, which struck the inside of the far post, before Maz (above) applied the finishing touch from almost on the line by following in as all good strikers should.
Last year Maz settled the game in much more spectacular fashion, with a superb last minute 25 yard free kick into the stanchion, but there must be something in the Hamlet Croft air because that's 15 goals in our last two visits!
Anyway, the win sets us up nicely for our big FA Vase tie on Sunday against Huntingdon Town and then the younger element of our squad embark on what we hope will be another decent run in the FA Youth Cup on Thursday against Diss Town.
Both matches are at the R Costings Abbey Stadium and we would obviously welcome your support. Neither of these matches clash with any football on Sky, an achievement in itself these days, and admittance is just £5 for adults. We hope to see you at 2pm on Sunday or 7.45pm on Thursday.
Team:
Davies, McAuley, Coakley, Carr, Bevan, Ives, Eades (Bennett 80), Berry, Hughes, Marriott, Kessack (Allen 70)
