One topic of conversation dominated the changing room post match - Sawbo's 90th minute consolation goal. The lads weren't happy they wanted a win and a clean sheet, they were gutted to concede and it showed. What a transformation that is, what a great mind set to take forward for the rest of the season and a real credit to the team.
Results are beginning to go our way and the team deserve it, this win had it's roots in a really professional display on Saturday against a young but hungry Dagenham & Redbridge XI. We played within ourselves for 120 minutes but still did the right things and looked comfortable throughout. The team played without guidance from the sidelines, their choices were their own and on the whole were the right one's. Player's came in and looked comfortable within a system that the players seem to enjoy playing. In short Saturday proved a very worthwhile exercise, certainly as an indication of how far we've come.
Tuesday night we added the hunger and desire to the equation and the results were an eye opener. The result was never in doubt, from the moment the lads gathered in the changing room, their minds were on it and we produced a ruthless display. It's the little details which are now coming together, we even look like a well organised team warming up and it's all sending out positive signals.
What pleased me most here was not what we did when we had the ball (which was excellent), but what we did when we lost it, we hunted Sawbo down in packs, regained the ball high up the pitch and this will always cause problems to the opposition.
Some big performances, fickle game football, Joe T could have started on the bench, Danny Hopkins breaks down on the M11 and Joe takes his chance with a superb hat trick- that's the sort of competition for places at the moment, everyone's desperate to play and it's creating a very healthy atmosphere
Onto Southend Manor Saturday, a team I like and a Ii'm sure they'll give us a good battle, fourth placed in the league and like us also 5-1 winners Tuesday night - expect a cracking encounter.
Last word from all the lads to wish Derek Pedder a speedy recovery, we do appreciate the support of the small band of people who follow us around, hopefully displays like this will swell their numbers even more.
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