This match took frustrating to a new level! And after squandering so many chances to have taken all three points on Wednesday, it looked like being a case of déjà vous.
The only difference was that Hadleigh carried less of a threat on the counter attack and our dominance was such that a goal seemed inevitable. The fact that it didn't arrive until well into the last 15 minutes was due to a mixture of not executing the final pass, poor finishing, good goalkeeping and one or two unbelievable misses.
We started the game slowly and failed to pass the ball quickly enough to pull our opponents out of their shape. Luke Berry was again our driving force and several surges beyond their midfield almost finished with strikes on goal. Unfortunately, our touch around the box was not as adept as usual and moves broke down on the final pass.
When we did create opportunities, we failed to hit the target. I will spare the blushes of individuals but as the half progressed our stranglehold on the game tightened but our finishing went from the sublime to the ridiculous. Credit Aaron Benstead in the visiting goal for some fine saves but we were missing chances from inside the six yard box.
With moments remaining in the half, James Brighton stood up a brilliant far post cross, which eluded everyone, and all 103 spectators were waiting for the net to ripple as Blaine Hudson met the ball from 6 yards out with the goal at his mercy. Unbelievably, he tried to find Luke Berry with a cushion header. That moment summed up our half.
Young players not having the mentality to do the simple thing consistently well. We were all guilty of trying to complicate the game and as a result we look a very ordinary team and individuals do not do their talent justice.
At half time we tried to sort out their heads but unfortunately, with a team so young, when the early goal didn't arrive in the second half, we started to get edgy and lost our attacking shape. The best sides have faith and belief in their pattern of play and will persist with this regardless of the score.
That is why the best teams score so many late goals. They create pressure under which inferior teams will eventually buckle because they cannot sustain that level of physical and mental work for 90 minutes. In this game, there was a period where we lost our shape because the players were getting frustrated and our thought processes were not good enough.
We also lack leaders so no-one on the pitch is able to get the team back on track. On these occasions, Nolan and I have to work too hard on the touchline in order to get us a result.
For their development, we really should step back and let things continue to go wrong but in our current position, that is easier said than done. It is also why we will try to get messages via a player to the rest of the group during breaks in play rather than shouting continual instructions.
On Saturday, as the game entered the final quarter still goalless we needed to make a tactical change and introduce Chris Tonks, in the role Maz usually performs, in place of one of our out and out strikers. This added depth to our attack and allowed us to build up play deeper to try and draw their back four players out of position.
The player sacrificed, Jack Bailey, showed encouraging signs though in terms of his hold up play, heading and his general aggression. He is a big lad and should upset defenders more often. As the second half wore on, our right flank also became more productive. Jack Eades is a case in point regarding the difference between doing what you are good at consistently well versus complicating the game. Put simply it is the difference between him being effective and ineffective. Once Jack started driving at players, shifting the ball and getting in crosses, he looked a real threat.
Iggy should have got on the end of one of his deliveries at the near post, which JP did well to almost convert, and then Iggy brought down JT's cross with a great touch before dispatching a fantastic volley that was bound for the roof of the net before Benstead's intervention.
As so often in the past, commeth the hour, commeth the man! Luke Berry showed everyone how to finish by stepping inside with a touch off his right foot and before the keeper could set his feet, he struck a low drive with his left foot back into the near bottom corner.
Iggy did finally manage to claim a goal, when the assistant referee adjudged his effort to have crossed the line, and we saw out the closing stages with the minimum of fuss. I cannot finish the report though without mentioning a superb stop by our veteran custodian when the score was goalless.
Martin's save low down at full stretch with his right hand was as much of a match winner as Luke's goal. It was also a good lesson to our youngsters about executing your skills properly when the moment arrives. In Martin's case, it was his only save of the game so shows how much concentration is required.
If we had shown the same degree of application, concentration and technique in their final third, the result would have been beyond doubt by half time and we would have threatened double figures.
We now have three very difficult away fixtures before returning to the R Costings Abbey Stadium on Wednesday 10th March to face FA Vase Quarter Finalists Wroxham. Our final 12 fixtures look really tough and it will be a brilliant challenge for our young players to perform whilst we remain in the position where everyone wants to be.
Finally, I would like to give a special mention to Mick and Ian for their hard work, commitment and expertise in keeping the pitch playable throughout such a prolonged spell of bad weather. This has been the worst winter that I can remember and you only have to look at the pitches in the Premiership to see the result of over two months of continual snow, rain and frost.
The fact that we play more than twice as many matches on our pitch, with a tiny fraction of their budget and resources, is testament to their ability and dedication. We know how it feels because as a youth section we are trying to do the same; over-achieve against the odds. Mick and Ian are fantastic assets to the club and deserve all their plaudits. The pitch can only play well on a Saturday due to their hard work and attention to detail from Monday to Friday. It's a great analogy for the players to consider.
Team: Davies, Thorpe, Brighton, Coakley, Hudson, Hughes, Eades, Berry, Bailey (Tonks 70), Igglesden (Allen 85), Patrick (Bennett 80)
