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Ryan Owens reports on his side's 0-2 defeat at FC Clacton Reserves on Saturday 25 August 2007
After having so many players to choose from on Tuesday night in our last pre season friendly, the squad was stretched to its limits as we traveled to Clacton with only 12 fit bodies.
The day started badly as we were let down by our replacement goalkeeper which meant we started without a recognised goalkeeper between the sticks, Neil Hayward admirably accepting the challenge of keeping goal for the afternoon.
The Clacton pitch looked the best it has done for many a year but even with a surface that would suit good football neither side managed to settle into any rhythm. It seemed that both sides were trying too hard like they had been waiting for the season to start, loads of high energy but not much quality on show.
Clacton should have taken the lead when an in swinging corner was met full blooded by a Clacton player who somehow managed to hit the angle of post and cross bar when it looked easier to score. Clacton employed a Peter Crouch like center forward who was causing problems in the air for the Melford defense, another in swinging corner gifting FC Clacton the lead when the un marked midfielder headed home from 6 yards although a fine effort from Hayward in the Melford goal was unable to keep it out.
The second half started with a change of formation for the Melford team, going to 3-5-2 to try and give us an extra body in Midfield. The half started brightly as finally the Melford team were getting the ball down and passing with more fluency. Ross Swain was most impressive at right wing back and made some good runs down the wing that weren't capitalised on.
The second Clacton goal came as things started to get niggly on the pitch, bookings for both Hardy and Cook as a result. The FC Clacton forward making the most of some soft tackling to fire in from an acute angle to seal the game for the home side.
As expected the game was tough but we must look at this as a stern lesson for the rest of the season, if we are going to be competitive we must all as a squad and team show passion and commitment and above all desire to improve. That starts with hard work and work rate that at times on Saturday was disappointing. Now the squad know what to expect every week, Mark and I expect to see an improvement in our next game.
Melford : Neil Hayward, Ross Swain, Mark Arnold, Scott Barr, Craig Green, Carl Cook, Jack Taylor, Gavin Leeks, Kirk Hardy, Ryan Owens, Danny Bull Subs: Andy Adams, Mark Dack (not used)
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