Not A Good Day The Office

SCEFl PREMIER LEAGUER FIXTURE 2019

Hollands & Blair V Greenwich Borough Fc Match Report Saturday 17th August 2019.
This was our first away fixture of the season to Hollands & Blair after our recent training night on Thursday there was a lot of optimism in the squad with some new fresh faces attending training and trying to make an impression for today’s fixture.
One player in particular who impressed the gaffer on Thursday night was Kemo Darboe, he was immediately signed and plunged into the staring 11replacing Malik Ouani from last week’s fixture. Other than that change the team was picking itself.
Hollands & Blair football club is a well-run outfit and a credit to the SCEFL the ground and pitch itself was well manicured however that well known “slope” still exist.
After viewing their team sheet I could not see any past well-known -established players that should give us any concerns however their physicality in stature was quiet obvious in how they were going to play today.
Today we needed our experienced offensive players to step up to the plate and give us some hope as our defence have played very well over the course of 3 games, however this can be overlooked when you look at our recent 2 results.
The game started well for us as the gaffer had predicted tactically how the opposition were going to play and after 35 minutes we were compact and in control of the game, the first chance fell to us with a great move down the right which culminated in a great overlap and right foot drive from Veejay miller which went just wide.

The tempo was set for us however we seem to keep giving away silly free kicks and needless corners from which we knew in advance that Hollands & Blair strength would come from set pieces. Thankfully our defence was well marshalled in the aerial battles with skipper Ricky joseph and Ryan green winning most of the physical battles
The game was petering out and everyone was wishing on half time to reset the dial and come out again in the second half, however we pressed the self-destruct button on the 45th min our left back Billy Muckle somehow heading the ball across our six yard box with our GK Collier stranded on his line to the delight of Sam Welch to nod home for Hollands & Blair.

Half time Hollands & Blair 1-0 Greenwich Borough Fc

Second half we made no changes as we had more else stuck to the game plan up and till Muckles error of judgment, again we started well and the game was ebb and flowing Blair seemed more hungry than us and wanted to preserve their lead with 2-3 players hounding us when we had the ball. Somehow our midfield in particular were not showing the same desire and it seemed like a lethargic performance from them in particular.

Our strengths up top were not being utilised with Jojo and Fred Obasa not given anything to work with other than “fight balls” as our passing and final balls were somewhat awful!!!! To compound matters our right back Veejay miller got a silly yellow card for petulance and pure frustration.
The gaffer made his first tactical substitution without hesitation striker Brian zepo coming on for Veejay Miller, we now reverted our system to suit zepo’s pace but again the balls into him were not of the best quality
Our defence finally succumbed to the pressure and Blair got their second a diving stooped header from Walker on 75 minutes to make it 2-0 to Holland & Blair.

Ben Kotey rang the final changes making a double substitution on 78th minute with Johnny Miller & Malik Ouani coming on for Obasa & Jojo a like for like set of substitutions, we still could not get hold of the game and the final nail in the coffin was Blair’s third goal by Goodger on the 89th minute to make it 3-0 game over a miserable first game away.

My opinion on this game is we set up well before the game tactically certain conditions were put in place to take something out of the game. However the truth is it was a very limp performance from the boys we didn’t compete or fight for the right to play, really disappointing result were we didn’t challenge or impose our game in the right areas and in the end we got what we deserved………… another missed opportunity

Final score: Hollands & Blair 3-0 Greenwich Borough Fc