After a pitch inspection the game went ahead despite early morning frost and heavy showers through the week, the pitch was in ok condition but heavy and sticky as you'd expect for the time of year.

Washington and their style of play is well know to Rutherford, it's direct via long throws, corners and goal kicks so we needed to be positive and maintain high levels of concentration when defending. When we have the ball we needed to move it forward quickly, especially in our own half and then look to combine in the final third.

Washington started the brighter with Rutherford looking slow and sluggish right across the team and after 8 minutes Washington scored a classing Washington goal, a scrambled headers from a corner. We should've cleared the ball better but we'd be warned earlier in the game when long throws were bouncing around our box. The level of communication was very poor and the silent weekend was very much highlighting just how little the boys communicate which is one of the key benefits to the initiative and I hope the kids realise the importance of communication. I have, and maybe I'm doing their job for them on match days with my coaching and organisation from the touchline. It's a difficult balancing act. Anyway, I digress, the point is, we started poorly and things didn't really improve.

Washington continued to press and force Rutherford to conceded corners, throw ins and we really had to scrap and fight to win possession and make yard. if it wasn't for a brilliant goal line clearance from Mason Porter following a great corner, Rutherford would've found themselves 2 goals down and a mountain to climb. As the half progress, Rutherfords game improved, mainly down our left with Callum and James Lee linking superbly and it was this combination that brought the first of two brilliant saves from the Washington keeper, firstly from Joe who's low shot looked destined for the bottom corner before the keeper saved it and then later a brilliant reaction save when it looked to be past the keeper who was going the wrong way. A few more half chances followed but at half time it was 1-0

At half time we spoke about how the energy and intensity need to be go up a few notches to say the least but also to say patient and keep looking to combine in the attacking 3rd. In the second half we were much the better team, forcing more great saves from the Washington keeper, a pile driver free kick from Michael, decent shots from Max Billingham, James and Joe before Rutherford finally scored on 50 minutes with a goal Washington would've been proud of, a long throw and header by Joe. 1-1 and only one team looking likely to score more.

Rutherford continued to push, Elliott hit the post from a corner, shots blocked, more saves and two goal line clearances. It looked like it wasn't going to be our day until Max Billingham was played through and scored with a very tidy finish across the keeper but only to be denied by a very late and dubious offside flag. I say dubious, but I mean incorrect. Max wasn't offside, I was perfectly inline and he was, at worst, level. I actually believe he was a yard onside but the rules are that the Referee's call the offsides and he called this one. We've had a few dubious/incorrect decisions go our way this season, I know that for a fact too so no hard feelings, it happens.

A few more chances came and went, including a handball which I've seen given but it wasn't to be. 1-1 at full time and it feels like two points dropped rather than a point gained.

I actually thought our in possession game was quite good but I was disappointed in our intensity, especially in the first half and this has to improve. I've spoken in the past about how we need to be focused in all aspects of match day, right from the moment we arrive, through the warm up and during the game. The mantra of "How we do one thing, is how we do everything" springs to mind. We can't slack off in a warm up, mess about and not listen then expect to be firing on all cylinders come kick off, it doesn't work that way unfortunately. Shaun and I try to drive this message home but occasionally, it's falling on deaf ears.

Man of the Match today was an easy one to pick, James Lee was brilliant and embodied everything we tried to do. He was switched on from the moment he arrived, he was vocal in his encouragement, always wanted the ball, played in the right areas and dribbled the ball brilliantly on a very slippy, heavy pitch. Other notable contributors were Mason, Callum, Taylor and Max Johnson who all put a shift in and work really hard for the team, always looking to bring players in and move forward. We were unlucky at times but Washington will feel they deserved a draw and I'm struggling to disagree.

Big game next week, but we're a good team, capable of beating anyone and everyone in the division but only if we're right at it from the first moment to the very last.