Wisbech 2 CRC 1
A frustrating afternoon in which we were physically dominated in the first half and, despite creating the majority of chances after the interval, were beaten due to a lack of professionalism after equalising.
This was the first match for our hosts at their temporary home in Outwell and credit should go to all concerned at Wisbech Town for all the work that must have been done behind the scenes in such difficult circumstances. It is sad that we will no longer visit Fenland Park, a proper football ground with loads of history, but needs must and time moves on. Wisbech Town are a proud old club and we all sincerely wish them well in their immediate future.
That said, wherever or whenever you play Wisbech one thing is certain. They will be a tough, uncompromising team and will endeavour to make the game a physical rather than footballing encounter. To be successful, we needed to handle the physical side of the game and then play our football. If you can't do the first part, you won't do the second. In a nutshell, that was the story of the first half. And as we approached half time, we then became so preoccupied with competing that we didn't play enough football, even when the opportunity arose.
Much of the opening 45 minutes was spent on the back foot, mainly due to Richard Mace's poor kicking and our inability to hold the ball, win fouls, win headers or compete effectively up front. Without a presence at both ends of the team, it is very difficult to relieve pressure. Our defending also became ragged and we suddenly looked extremely vulnerable from set-plays, a trait that we had looked as though we had put behind us in recent matches. They worked hard to expose our weaknesses and at times our goal led a charmed life.
The goal was inevitable, a tap in from a poorly defended right wing cross, but the fact that our hosts did not add to their tally owed more to luck than judgement. Our rare forays into their final third, mainly through the impressive Sam Ives, brought a good chance for Adam Marriott and a couple of situations where our final ball was delayed or inaccurate.
We started the second half in much more positive fashion, getting the ball in behind their full-backs rather than giving their centre backs heading practice and, without carving them open, we looked the more threatening team. Our territorial dominance was eventually rewarded when Sam Ives scored a deserved equaliser, finishing a fine run with a low drive under the advancing keeper.
Unfortunately, the next 30 seconds cost us dearly. We showed our naivety and a lack of professionalism by allowing Wisbech to regain the lead without us even getting out of our half. Their long ball from kick off found its way into Richard Mace's hands. Our shape from his drop kick was awful, the distance on his kick was poor, we lost the first header and had seven of our ten outfield players beyond the ball. They played the knock-down behind our left back and a carbon copy of their first goal ensued. We didn't defend the cross and allowed their forward to "thigh" the ball home from two yards out in the centre of the goal.
Our senior players must take more responsibility in these situations. Rory McAuley and Lewis Carr have over 100 appearances in this league between them, which is more than the combined total of all our other players, and yet still do not show the leadership skills that we need. It was a really soft goal and therefore a really soft defeat.
The last twenty minutes exasperated our frustration as we created numerous chances but lacked the composure or quality to finish. John Yambasu and Adam Marriott were both denied by the home keeper when they should have done better and when the latter shot across the goal, the former was on his heels. Other opportunities in the box came and went, as did our chances of adding what should have been at least one point to our total.
If we had been out of contention at half time we could have accepted the result more easily than having equalised, had the points in the palm of our hands and then throwing them away. Another lesson to learn and hopefully our senior players will realise that responsibility is more than just looking after themselves on the pitch. They should be comfortable enough at this level to be able to organise others and control matches if they have aspirations of playing higher.
Team
Mace, Bowe, Parkinson, Hudson, Carr, McAuley, Eades (Patrick 75), Berry, Davey (Yambasu 60), Marriott, Ives
Jez George
Head of Youth Development
