A disappointing game today against difficult opponents AFC Swindon who are top of the league. Ramsbury for the first 20 minutes were much the better team and it was very much against the run of play when AFC hit the post after a quick break and 5 minutes score a goal as an incisive pass split the defence and give Fred in goal no chance. At 1-0 down Ramsbury were still playing the better football with the opposition resulting to constant fouling and dirty tactics. However, Ramsbury reacted badly to this and to some poor referee and lino decisions that saw Ali get two yellows in the space of 2 minutes for dissent and then shown the Red card and sent off! It was needless and exactly what the opposition wanted and left Ramsbury to tough it out until half time with 10 men. They did so stoically but faced a very tough second half! Needless to say Ali Mair had a Night Mair and received his marching orders and was awarded the shirt of shame!
A Night Mair in Pink!!!!!
The second half started promising but after 10 minutes the extra man told and AFC were 2-0 up as they stretched Ramsbury’s back four. Gareth and Chris were really solid at the back and Dan O at left back and Harry at right back did their best to contain the constant attacks and Tom and Pricey could not have worked any harder (ok Tom could have!) to win the ball and get it to Zac and Darvs out wide and into Macca as the sole striker; and for periods in the game it worked with Ramsbury creating a number of chances. But AFC used the extra man well and brought on 3 subs as fresh legs and pressed high up the pitch. It resulted in 2 more goals from a well taken free kick and a penalty after Gareth clipped the AFC striker. At 4-0 down Gareth came off and Stoner came on and it was great to see Ramsbury still keep attacking. This did leave gaps in the centre and again AFC broke free and were awarded a second penalty as Fred collided with the AFC striker to make the score 5-0.
For the final 15 minutes Lee came on for Darvs on the left and Neymar for Macca out on the right with Zac moving into the centre. Macca had another very good game and it was between him and Harry for man of the match with Harry just edging it with another good display as right back. Neymar’s pace caused chaos in the AFC defence and Zac who had moved into the centre forward slot found space and shot from 25 yards in the last few minutes to test the AFC keeper. But there was no further goals and the score remained 5-0 to AFC.
What cost us this game, as with the Bassett game, was a lack of discipline and not sticking to playing our football. We are much better than this result would suggest, but we must address the psychological element of the game and not let the opposition (and poor refereeing) get in your heads and affect your game. Sermon over. Enjoy your weekend and see you all at training Tuesday 6.30-8pm and next Saturday for an AWAY game versus Swindon Centurians. The Gaffa and his sheepskin will be back next week from his SAGA sponsored scouting trip to Italy and there are places in the team at risk….Adam you have been warned!!!!
Cheers boys
Jon
