Coach Collins thinks we deserved to win. The Yorkshire Post says we missed lots of chances (while not actually naming any, though pointing at numerous crosses from Cadden, O’Keefe and Phillips). The usual, then. We put plenty of the ball into the right areas, but don’t have a centre forward capable of being in the right place. Oh, there was one chance...Phillips clipped a delicious ball over the defender for Cole to run onto from behind and...bullet the header wide. Other than that, our best chance was actually the chance to create a chance. We have a counter and Phillips looks up to find McAtee in space in his own half, not a defender in sight. (Where had they gone???) All he has to do is play the ball in front of McAtee for the latter to run onto and be clean through. It is absolutely impossible to mess up...but he manages it, overhitting the simplest of passes for the keeper to run out and clear. This would be criminal if playing for the Dog and Duck, nevermind as a paid professional.
Still, no worries. We’ll get another chance in a minute. I felt this attitude pervaded our play. No urgency, no sense that any of our 18 shots actually mattered (4 on target, none of which I can remember), cos we were so on top, we’d score at some point. Ah, on top. We had most of the ball (it felt more than the reported 61%) but in truth, Roberts prevented us from going a goal down in the 1st half, one super save round the post, along with a tip over off a corner. (The corner was taken at least 6 inches outside the ‘D’ but that’s by the by.) I hear Cadden drove a free kick off the post, but I’d exercised Plan B in our quest for a goal and gone to the toilet. Nearly worked!
Later...it’s coming back to me now...Cadden had another shot saved on the near post, but it was all a bit comfortable for Cheltenham, who, fair play, kept 2 men up throughout. So we don’t even have the excuse of a massed defence. There was plenty of space all over the park and we failed to take advantage. Overhearing the lads behind say there’s only 8 matches left, I turned and corrected them. ‘I think you’ll find there’s 11’. They looked perplexed. ‘Well, there’s the play-offs.’ They p***ed themselves laughing. ‘There’s no way we’re getting to the final.’ Fair point.
Onwards and upwards!
*** Earl. Why not? Official MOTM. Solid and came close 1st half.
** Cadden. Left back as best attacker? Not for the 1st time this season.
* De Givigny. Brought the ball out well.
Official MOTM: (My Name is) Earl
Londontykes’ MOTM: 1. Cadden 2. Connell 3. Earl
Despatches:
We had a goal disallowed for offside, 3 or 4 mins in. I’d like to see that again. A ball was curled in and either Russell or McAtee touched it in from close range. I’m not entirely convinced we were offside (did the linesman get the right man?) but hey, another chance will come round in 5 minutes. A. Londontyke thought Russell had had a good 1st half. I’ll be honest, I noticed him twice. The disallowed goal, and again, later, when he was stood still on the halfway line. What’s that about watching paint dry? O’Connell was here and there, while Phillips hit a couple of crosses straight to the 1st man, not his standard at all. Roberts didn’t put a foot wrong, while O’Keefe was actually pretty good. (Strange though that Coach Collins had benched Jordan; that’ll teach him for scoring a 25 yarder the other nite!).
Up front, I have to say I disagree with Collins. Cosgrove looked promising and deserved longer, though admittedly messed up a couple of moves, either hitting it wide, or turning down a shooting chance to not quite get the pass to Phillips (who would have been clean through). It’s ok though, there’ll be another chance in 5 minutes. Anyway, Coach Collins hauls Cosgrove before the hour to put Devante on. I’ve seen rumours Cole doesn’t care anymore ‘cos he’s got his Championship move lined up.’ Has he? Really? I cannot wait to see which higher division fools are taking our former goalscorer. At his current rate, he won’t hit 20 till December. ‘Which year?’ chorused 2 wags in the pub beforehand. I have since seen his miss on t’tellybox. Awful. It’s ok though, we’ll have another chance...etc
On the 80 minute mark, Coach Collins drags off McAtee and Cadden for...Marsh and Cotter. Now I know we’ve given up, though Marsh does at least trouble an empty seat with a snapshot over the bar. No worries though, cos...
Drink du jour: House Party IPA in Spiral City
Away: 202. Just as they were about to be the first away support I’ve NEVER heard this season, a chorus of ‘Chel-ten-ham, Chel-ten-ham’ broke out in the 95th minute.
The Damage:
c.£8 petrol
= c.£8
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