Post by spur on Mar 23, 2024 18:10:08 GMT
A welcome and deserved win, but it pinpointed our strengths and weaknesses. Concord began and ended the day plumb bottom of the table and you could see why - they couldn't thread a killer ball through all game. The Rooks were sharper and tidier, but never looked like rachetting up the scoreline our superior possession suggested should be the case.
We started brightly enough, both sides struggling again pelting rain and a strong wind, but it was the visitors who took the lead on 19 minutes after a tangle of legs just inside the box resulted in a penalty.
We grew stronger after that, and began to put crosses into the box (a rare tactic for Tony Russell). Chris Whelpdale's head met four of them, one nodded wide, one placed firmly across the keeper for the equaliser, the third sent soaring over the bar and the fourth hitting the post and almost crossing the line.
The sun came out for the second half and the Rooks, with their tails up, soon took the lead. Kalvin did the hard work, winning the ball with unintentional help of his arm (presumably not seen by the referee, though certainly by the Concord bench) and advancing into the penalty area, where Ola was on hand to bury a rebound.
And then? More of that dreadful passing around the back which takes all the impetus out of the game and leaves you fearing the worst. We were well on top, created some half chances - Sablier struck a ferocious drive from distance which would have been the goal of the season had it finished on the right side of the post - but couldn't make it count. Tommy Wood was brought on for the last few minutes, which underlined our season's biggest problem.
Sam at left back was what the announcer called Player of the Match. Better than Person, no doubt, but his gender surely wasn't ever in question. The crowd was a healthy 970, though this old grump would have been happier with 965 if it meant the absence of a few tiresomely shrieking lads immediately behind me, who plainly weren't paying much attention to the game and who had been brought along by their mother, who emitted ear-piercing two-fingered whistles into my right ear. All right, point made, perhaps I should have been at Glyndebourne instead . . .
Come on, you Rooks!
We started brightly enough, both sides struggling again pelting rain and a strong wind, but it was the visitors who took the lead on 19 minutes after a tangle of legs just inside the box resulted in a penalty.
We grew stronger after that, and began to put crosses into the box (a rare tactic for Tony Russell). Chris Whelpdale's head met four of them, one nodded wide, one placed firmly across the keeper for the equaliser, the third sent soaring over the bar and the fourth hitting the post and almost crossing the line.
The sun came out for the second half and the Rooks, with their tails up, soon took the lead. Kalvin did the hard work, winning the ball with unintentional help of his arm (presumably not seen by the referee, though certainly by the Concord bench) and advancing into the penalty area, where Ola was on hand to bury a rebound.
And then? More of that dreadful passing around the back which takes all the impetus out of the game and leaves you fearing the worst. We were well on top, created some half chances - Sablier struck a ferocious drive from distance which would have been the goal of the season had it finished on the right side of the post - but couldn't make it count. Tommy Wood was brought on for the last few minutes, which underlined our season's biggest problem.
Sam at left back was what the announcer called Player of the Match. Better than Person, no doubt, but his gender surely wasn't ever in question. The crowd was a healthy 970, though this old grump would have been happier with 965 if it meant the absence of a few tiresomely shrieking lads immediately behind me, who plainly weren't paying much attention to the game and who had been brought along by their mother, who emitted ear-piercing two-fingered whistles into my right ear. All right, point made, perhaps I should have been at Glyndebourne instead . . .
Come on, you Rooks!
