Concentrate on the league………

Yes, you have guessed it, we got eliminated from our second cup competition in consecutive weeks to leave us to concentrate on the league.

The 5-2 final score line did not do us justice.

For the first 30 minutes, you probably could not tell that there was a three division gap between the teams. But after we went 1-0 up from a glorious top corner finish by Chalmers (from my through ball/clearance) the difference became apparent. In a 5 minute spell well made two stupid errors and the Sutton strikers finished their chances to turn the game around and make it 1-3 at half time.

In the second half we conceded two further weak goals, but actually created the better chances. We could not convert, whilst they did. Sometimes that is the only difference between teams from higher divisions to the ones in the lower divisions.   

Price, coming off the bench, got the second consolation goal from 25 yards.

Goal!

And so to the cup.

The 2nd team is entered into two cup competitions. The Junior Cup which is for all 2nd teams and the Bill Hill Cup which is for all non-first team.

Firstly it was the Junior Cup on Saturday. We got drawn against Cresconians 2nds from Division 3, two divisions higher than us.

The only thing positive I can say about the game is that I scored. Not much use, as the game was virtually over by time my header hit the back of the net. We were losing 4-0. It finished 7-1.

It was not that they were a particularly good team. We were short on numbers, had no goalkeeper (again!) and were very poor.

But credit must go to new boy Kelly, who despite a pulled hamstring, valiantly went in goal (the only sub had been used in the 15 minute!) for the last 20 minutes.

 Next week it is Sutton Utd C from division 2 (the same division that our 1st team compete) in the Bill Hill cup.

What was I saying about goalkeepers…?

After having two goalkeepers for the match last Saturday, and three in the squad in total, suddenly none where available this week.

One injured, one working and one at the Villa. So it was up to Chalmers to don the gloves.

He let in four…….in each half!

Yeap, after the splendid performance last week, we got hammered 8-0.

I struggled to get a team out at all. I had three brand new players and one old boy to supplement the team to ensure we at least got a full complement on the pitch. A combination of the Villa playing Chelsea and injuries/illness. I was able to name a stronger 11 of players not available than those that played.

Ah well, it is the cup next week.

How often…?

How often is it that an amateur team has a fulltime goalkeeper on their bench?

And if that is the case, how often is that goalkeeper ever called upon?

Well on Saturday, it happened.

It was the first time that I have ever played for Parkfield (and I am referring to the whole period not just whilst I have been managing) and remember having a substitute goalkeeper. And at half time he got the call to don the gloves as our Czech shot stopper got clattered and could not continue.

Maybe my luck as a manager has changed.

What a difference a week makes……

I think I am going to take some credit for this one.

After the dismal performance last week I decided it was time for a change. So as well as playing myself, I put Chalmers up front to hold the ball up for us more.

And it certainly worked. He helped to keep the ball when it got cleared and engineered several chances in the first half. Unfortunately we did not take them and we fell a goal behind to a 25-yard rifle after not closing the player down (those silly mistakes costing us dearly again!).

However, heads did not go down and helped by an equaliser from Chalmers early in the second half we were on top for the second half restricting them to only one chance. Unfortunately we were not able to convert any of our chances including a free header from me.

But that is another point to our total, but more pleasing, a fantastic performance.

Blown away….

Literally and metaphorically.

Ok, it was windy and we were playing against the wind in the first half, but that does not excuse what must have been our worst performance for a long time.

Maybe I should stop selecting the team based on availability the previous week and start basing it on ability. As I had one of my strongest benches. But by the time I could make changes at half time the game was already lost at 4-0.

For the record it ended 5-0 and no I did not play.

Another point….

We managed to get our second point of the season on Saturday.

I started on the bench. After reading some of the horror stories on the internet about other individuals who had dislocated their kneecaps, I decided better not to risk it.

Therefore we had to start with a brand new centreback partnership. Plus a new goalkeeper. A 16 year old kid. That certainly made me feel old.

To be honest, I felt a little sorry for the guy. His first match and he came across a team with the “Delap Attack” as he took quite a battering from an afternoon of long throws.  

Like our previous draw we took a lead through Moza Snr snapping up a chance provided by the opposition keeper. However the long throws bore fruit for Royal Heath early in the second half with them converting a loose ball in the box to equalise.

They had more of the pressure. But it was mainly though the long throw. But in the introduction of Dave back up front did provide a couple of chances for us to take the points as well. But 1-1 it ended.

I made a 10 minute appearance at the end and to be honest really struggled. Not so much with the knee, but more the ankle.

How many?

Only three games into the season and already 22 different players have graced (graced might be actually pushing it a little in some cases, lets ‘appeared on’) the pitch for Parkfield 2nd team.

In the 210 minutes of those three games only two players have played every minute, Kirk and Moza Snr.

And I wonder why the team never seems to gel well together……

Of those 22 players there were four brand new players on Saturday. Mostly of them just drafted in to cover the shortage for that game, although Moza Jnr looks like a decent prospect. He certainly took his goal well.

Playing Birmingham Citadel we looked half decent in the first half and reasonably threatening. Moza Jnr’s goal meant that we went in at half time a goal to the good. However, we lost control of the game in the second half and ended up losing the match 3-1. At it was not as bad as the 1st team’s result. The less said about that, the better.

 Going back to the initial point……there will be three more new names to add to the list after tomorrow’s game.

Pure Agony!

And I am not talking about our performance or the result of Saturday’s game.

Nope I am referring to the PAIN of having your knee cap pop out and end up around the side of your knee. Yes I can tell you it hurts a lot.

In a melee in our penalty box, without any real contact with anybody, all I can remember is being on my backside with my leg in the air and immense shooting pain. Things flash through my mind to how serious the injury could be; like is this going to mean a trip to the hospital?!. Mild panic. And then I took a look. Eventually after what felt like a lifetime, but was probably only 15-20 seconds, I started to lower my leg. Luckily that popped my knee cap back into position.

I then had to lie still on the floor for a good few minutes just to let the pain subside.

When I finally got up, it did not feel too bad and I did manage to hobble off the pitch under my own steam. I even made a return for the last 10 minutes; no running, just standing on the half way line. I could have even scored the winner with a difficult chance in the last minute.

Oh, you want to know the result. It was 2-2. It was probably a game that we could have taken all three points, but I guess a draw was fair. For a change we took our chances in the first half. Scoring the opening goal through excellent play by Price. Moza got the second, after Birch Coppice Bullets had equalised direct from the goal kick. But we could not hold on.

An even better result for the 1st team. They won 3-0 against Balsalorna. A team that topped our division last year.

It could be a long old season…….

Lets say the season did not get off to the best of starts and if it is an indication of how the season is going to be, then it is going to be a long hard season.

Walsh cried off with tooth ache and Downing had to go off after 15 minutes disseminating the spine of the team. As a result we struggled to match Village (4ths) good passing football. It ended 5-0. It was not that they were peppering our goal but clinical with the chances they had. We did have three more than decent chances ourselves.

I guess the only potential positive could be that Village’s 3rd team did not have a game that day and they certainly had a few 3rd team players strengthening their team for the match.