Wow. That points takes us above Eastbourne, and keeps us in touch with the teams above. In a really tight relegation zone who knows how important this point may prove to be by the end of the season.
We have played 3 of the top 4, and are unbeaten against them, won 1 and drawn 2, this team will drive us all mad!
Firstly, not having a back up keeper due to the under 23s is disgraceful. However, great team performance and proper togetherness between fans and players tonight. Great point but same mistake cannot be made again.
Not having a back up goalkeeper was discussed at the recent meet the manager evening. The majority of teams don't (Aveley didn't) and Danny Bloor confirmed that Antony Papadopoulos was a goalkeeper until his early teens. The way he claimed the late cross would have proved that.
The U23s game was probably a smokescreen as I don't think that Pitterson would have been on the bench anyway.
Personally, I would always have a goalkeeper on the bench but I understand the reason for not having one.
What I didn't understand was the reason for not bringing him on immediately. Why did Anthony Grant go in goal for the penalty?
What a fantastic result for us. And a great birthday treat for ME. Well done to all the team, and of course Danny. Now let's beat play like that in the fats cup on Saturday and get into the next round.
Total turn around from the Sevenoaks match. I was really proud to be a Welling United supporter last night. I was proud of the team, management and supporters. I felt up until the sending off we were the better team and could win the match. We deservedly took the lead though I did think the penalty was a little soft. But why shouldn't we have a little luck for a change? Though a penalty for them not sure our goalkeeper deserved to be sent off. I understand Grant went in goal for the penalty because Papadopoulos hadn't properly warmed up. He did prove he had been a goalkeeper as a youngster. Personally, I would always have a reserve goalkeeper on the bench. Though it was explained at the meet the manager night why we don't and many other clubs don't. It is a bit like do you leave a man up on corners as an out ball? It's a matter of opinion. With 5 substitutes you can only use 3 anyway so I would pick 2 forwards 1 midfielder 1 defender and 1 goalkeeper but that is just my opinion. And yes I would leave a player up at corners because the opposition would need to mark him.
Back to last night. With 10 men we dug deep and produced a real battling performance and getting the equaliser was the cherry on the cake. I thought we deserved our draw at least. With 11 players still think we would have won but prior to kick off if someone had offered me the draw away from home against Aveley who are in the place off places I would have taken that.
We are so inconsistent. I dont think weve put back to back league wins since August. It goes without saying we really do need to start stringing league wins together. Eastbourne is a six pointer.
Not having a back up goalkeeper was discussed at the recent meet the manager evening. The majority of teams don't (Aveley didn't) and Danny Bloor confirmed that Antony Papadopoulos was a goalkeeper until his early teens. The way he claimed the late cross would have proved that.
The U23s game was probably a smokescreen as I don't think that Pitterson would have been on the bench anyway.
Personally, I would always have a goalkeeper on the bench but I understand the reason for not having one.
What I didn't understand was the reason for not bringing him on immediately. Why did Anthony Grant go in goal for the penalty?
If it any consolation, no one was saving that penalty.
For those who went to the game last night, well done to start with! I find it a bit unusual that our last minute loan defender, Ike Orgi is not mentioned in the match report, the twitter updates, and, only very briefly and collectively as a part of the defence, at the end of Danny's interview. Presumably he did ok in the circumstances without setting his name in lights. Any opinions looking ahead?
No keeper on the bench? I find that acceptable if you have another player with a decent knowledge and practical experience of keeping amongst the team who could do a 3/4 decent job in the short term. In Paps perhaps we are lucky to have that 3/4 player.
I always have and continue to be a supporter of leaving a target man in midfield when defending attacking free kicks and corners. It normally means that two defenders stay back to cover and makes more room in the box for attackers to roam about. Also can hopefully get to a clearance and knock back to a team mate. But can understand all being back in a close tight game for the last ten minutes if it works it means you get something from the game.
Shock news, me and bexleylion are in agreement for only the second time ever, as if one breaks down the situation mathematically, having everyone back defending means overall we have an extra player defending if their keeper stays in their area, while if we have a guy up around the halfway line they will have two marking him, and that gives us two extra players defending, which defensively is stronger than having just one extra, plus the benefit the player pushing up could score on the break, whereas if all are back defending that benefit is missing. Unfortunately our coaches dont see it this way, which contributes to us conceding so regularly from set pieces.
We are now entering my favourite part of a season, the second half, which gives the chance to put lessons earned from the first meetings into effect in the second meeting. Because of our slow start to the season, and all the problems our lack of experience in attack caused, it feels like a handicap, with us giving the teams above x points headstart, but there are lots of games left to close that gap. Now one could just tell the team get the ball up as quickly as possible to Josh, Kain and Tristan, and those simple tactics would work so well.
I've just seen the highlights of the goals against Aveley, that Kain goal is ridiculously good, I'd have sworn it is impossible to score from that tight an angle against all those defenders! Yet another candidate for goal of the season!
-- Edited by Jimmie on Wednesday 6th of December 2023 06:33:04 AM
Looking at the highlights, the red for Charles-Cook could be appealed as he does make an attempt to go for the ball with his hands, even though he was late.
Orji was very good second half, and all the time we were down to ten, he took a bit of time to get going, but he was quick, tackled well and rarely lost the ball. It was a very promising debut.
