Not sure of your point Steve, that is what I always aim to do. It's just Twitter I find a waste of time.
Pity about today's result, but we can't win every game. At least we are still top of the league and are also the only team with over 2 points per game. I always recognise you need to achieve 2 point per game or better to be champions, whilst over 1.7 point per game should get you into the play-offs. On the other hand with less than 1 point/game you are at great risk of relegation. Still, it's still a long way to go. We will probably lose 1st place whilst our cup run continues.
Thanks Steve, I hadn't noticed that omission today, but it's not the first time it's happened. I now usually go directly to the Gazette website. I think it tends to happen when John does not provide the service himself.
Thought it was a good match yesterday. Chelmsford looked a good side and will be there or thereabouts at the end of the season on this showing. The match was decided by poor defending by Basingstoke and also very poor use of wind advantage.
In the first half Chelmsford had the wind but Basingstoke did more than hold their own. The visitors scored first with a goal which was 'too easy'. Robbie Rice was hopelessly isolated with a 2 on 1 on the left wing enabling an accurate cross to be sent in. The forward who headed in was completely unmarked. 'Stoke had their best period of the match after this goal with Jamie Brown dominating everything in midfield and deserved to pull level. Lloyd Macklyn outmuscled the central defender going for a through ball and fired into the bottom corner. At half time and level I expected Basingstoke to go on and win with wind advantage. However the visitors played well against the wind and after a good early effort by Chris Flood the visitors made most of the running. 'Stoke overhit every ball forward and with the wind the ball invariably went straight through to the keeper or a for a goal kick. The winner was a penalty given as the result of a really poor challenge. The Chelmsford player was going away from goal on the 18 yard line and seemingly little threat to the 'stoke goal. He was tripped and the ref. who was well placed pointed to the spot. Stuart Moore guessed right but was just unable to reach the well struck shot.
Towards the end Basingstoke piled on the pressure and had a couple of half chances. Lloyd Macklin pulled up with what looks like a hamstring injury. Basingstoke should have had a free kick on the 18 yard line after a blatent hand ball but the ref waved play on. They had the ball in the net when Chris Flood kicked the ball in from the six yard line while the goalie was ready to take a goal kick. No one was really sure whether the ball had gone out for a goal kick or it was gamesmanship by the goalie.
Anyway the ref chalked it off.
In tight matches defensive lapses are often the difference. Lets hope there is no repeat next week. C'mon the 'stoke!!.
KS, funny you should mention about Stoke over hitting balls with the wind in their favour through to the Chelmsford keeper. Going back to last week against Harrow in the cup at The Camrose I thought they did the same to be honest. First half they kept it well second half gave it away to easily.
RIP CAMROSE - SADLY AND UNCEREMONIOUSLY TAKEN AWAY FROM THE PEOPLE OF BASINGSTOKE . NEVER TO BE FORGOTTEN
Prejudice is a great TIME SAVER. You can form opinions without having to get to the FACTS.
Chelmsford did look a very dangerous side, very quick going forward and two big central defenders who looked more than capable (although when one of them got booked I thought we would overrun them but it never happened)
A very tight game where you would say neither side would complain if it ended a draw but as we know it only takes one goal either way in those situations and this time it was us on the losing side.
We missed a few key players but Lloyd Macklin had a good game and took his goal well.
We know we can't win any game and we are still in a great position in the league. We are now reaching a crucial part of the season when the games will come in thick and fast, especially over the Christmas period and we can have a better idea of where we are likely to be come the new year.
So no need to panic and we can now look forward to the 1st round proper of the FA Cup where I think we stand a good chance of knocking out a Conference National team and get ourselves into that 2nd round.
Jamie Brown was my man of the match yesterday as he got about everywhere on the pitch and was dominant in midfield despite giving the ball away now and then.
I don't think we played well yesterday though, I thought tactically Jason got it right but the players didn't seem to execute the gameplan correctly. Robbie Rice had an absolute nightmare but I do not believe he's a full back anymore as In my opinion we've seen the best of Ricey in the centre of defence and I do believe he's actually a better centre back than David Ray who is a very good defender himself.
I would like to see us have more composure in posession like we had earlier in the season (although I think we miss Manny in that role) and a better plan B for when things aren't going quite right instead of lumping it aimlessly up the pitch. Strikers seemed too distant in the second half. I thought we started off okay in the first half but just frustratingly shakey at the back. We missed the natural width Nathan Smart brings to the side and I hope we see him next Saturday.
The referee was outrageously bad by the way and how they didn't have a player sent off was a joke. Also key moments such as handball and a penalty we should have had.
Anyway onto a tough game next weekend in the glamorous FA Cup against AFC Telford who should not be taken lightly as there is a gap in class.
Although slight cause for concern, we're still top of the league!
Looking at the highlights Chris Flood's goal should have stood !!. The goalie's feet were never over the goal line so it is unlikely the ball was. At worst a corner to Basingstoke should have been given.
That is really poor work by the referee and his assistant who seem to have been asleep to the situation. So should have been 2-2 no doubt in my mind after quick thinking by Chris Flood.
Looking at the highlights Chris Flood's goal should have stood !!.
I was stood behind the goal KS and the angle on the video makes it look like the ball was still in play, but the ball was over the line when the goalkeeper caught it. None the less, Flood's quick thinking might have made the ref doubt his decision.
It was a decent game to watch and I thought we'd go on to win it after Macklin's well taken goal, but we needlessly conceded a penalty which cost us a point. Is there any update on Macklin's injury? as Manny's still suspended, Sam Argent is on crutches and Liam missed yesterday's game which leave's just Flood and Owusu as our only fit strikers.
Not much more to add to the above but I think you could tell the players had played 120 minutes in the week. We lacked ideas and cohesion in the second half and the passing look as though it came from tired players as we were so sloppy.
Not a terrible performance by any stretch and Chelmsford were very well organised but we'll obviously need to play better if we're to have any chance of winning the cup game.
I'm confident that with no midweek game, the players will be fresh and ready to go for Saturday. I'm not sure who we'll have back out of the players that didn't feature this past Saturday - was Smart injured/suspended? How many games of his ban does Manny have left? Liam back in?
I'm not sure who we'll have back out of the players that didn't feature this past Saturday - was Smart injured/suspended? How many games of his ban does Manny have left? Liam back in?
Smart was on the bench on Saturday, so I guess he was being rested. Manny's got two games left of his suspension and if Liam's fit I'm sure he'll start.
