Game Week 6 v WHICKHAM FELLSIDE REDS

Back at Washington Hub on a Sunday to play Whickham Fellside Reds. I'll start by addressing the obvious, main talking points. The referee had a very poor game and his decisions impacted the result, no doubt about it. Oh and the wind was terrible. There ,that's out of the way, now on to the areas that interest me and the areas that I can effect.

We didn't pass the ball well enough today, the wind was strong but that's all the more reason to take more care and consideration over our first touch and passes. We've been working very hard on our core combination moves, the player know them, know when to perform them and have the ability but today we didn't show enough of these skills and techniques. We weren't intense enough out of possession. Again this is something we did very well last week and something we work on in training via overloaded/underloaded practices, small sided games in tight spaces. We let the Whickham players play out from the back too easily and we gave them too much time and space in midfield. Our concentration wasn't great. The amount of times I heard about the Whickham Keeper not being their usual keeper and wondering of who it might or might not be. This took focus away from our objectives and tasks, which resulted in a very slow and sluggish start to the game. All of the above have nothing to do with the weather or referee

The game itself was pretty poor if truth be told, neither team really playing many passes or combinations which was disappointing but when we did, like the first goal which was a great piece of skill by James on the left, to play a ball inside to Elliott, maybe via Max Billingham (I'm not sure), who finished well. We did get beyond the Whickham backline a few times, Penny playing some excellent balls into Max who was always on the shoulder of the last man, but we were unable to add to the lead. We defended well all game I felt, with the exception of some rash decisions and tackles out wide, Taylor and his two fullbacks made some excellent tackles, covered each other well and made some solid defensive headers. When the bar did break beyond the backline, Jack was quick off his line to sweep up the danger.

Into the second half and no real change, the quality was low but endevour was gradually getting higher, unfortunately from Whickham. Rutherford did score again, Max Billingham getting on the end of another brilliant pass from Penny, to score across the goalkeeper and into the bottom corner. When we passed the ball we had some success, unfortunately it was seldom.

Whickham found their way back into the game via a shot into the bottom corner following a quite clear handball. This gave them some hope and they score again via a very sracppy goal. 2-2 and there was only one team going to win from here unfortunately for Rutherford. The final and winning goal came via a penalty and another poor decision, Taylor was adjudged to have brought down the Whickham striker in the box after a great block and scramble. In fact, the players simply got their boots tangled, this was evident when we spent 30 seconds after the penalty was awarded untying the two players boot laces!

Whickham dully scored the penalty and won the game 3-2 which was a shame but I'm sure Whickham felt the same last week.

Penny is our player of the match this week. At the start of the game we set the players some objectives and challenges, today was to pass the ball and combine with teammates, she did this very well. We ask the players to think forward, look forward and play forward, she did this in spades. We challenged the team to have 10 shots, we did this as a group and Penny had a few excellent attempts, especially in the first half. I would like to see Penny take on the fullback a little more and then pass/shoot but we can work on this and overall she played very well and bought into what we asked the players to do. The Whickham manager commented on how well she played this week and last too. Well done Penny.

Tough game next week but we can bounce back, I'm sure of that.