Saturday the 15th of November saw us on the road to Kirkby in Ashfield to play Mansfield Boys. The game kicked off at 9:30, in my opinion far to early.
With key players like Ronnie, Corey and Max away today and most of the remaining squad half asleep still it was never going to be easy. The game kicked off and for the first ten minutes we looked comfortable and made the Mansfield keeper make saves. The next fifteen minutes were the worst I’ve seen the team play for a very long time. Mansfield scored two goals in the space of five minutes and I saw some heads drop, something I’ve never seen before from my boys. This helped Mansfield grow stronger and as we failed to do the simple things like tackle and get back to help the defense out. We found ourselves 4-0 down at half time.
At half time it was my job to tell the boys what went wrong and how to put it right, they knew we had players missing but I told them this was the time to show me your as good as any missing player.
The second half started and from the off we looked better, but still not up to the standards I expect now. Mansfield still looked dangerous but tackles started to come in now from GSB. The Mansfield keeper made good saves from Ben, Tom and Sam. I’m sure Sam had to come off for a few minutes because he was muddy and not hurt after he and the keeper fought for a 50/50 ball…….I told Sam it was only mud lol. With ten minutes left Ethan linked up well with Ben and he pulled us a goal back. Two minutes later Mansfield went 5-1 up.
We looked loads better the second half but gave ourselves to much of a hill to climb. The game finished 5-1 and had it not of been for Luca playing at the back for the second half it could of been a lot more. Luca was rightfully given man of the match.
I don’t expect us to win all our games but I do expect nothing but 100% from the boys and alot of the squad fell short of that today. I know the boys do not like the feeling of losing, I want to see the same passion and drive I see week in week out at training transferred in to match day.
Heads up boys, I know you can do it.
