I don’t what to say about this game - still in a bit of a daze about how we managed to lose it. It was certainly nothing to do with the trip and the prep before the game as we had a very pleasant drive up in perfect conditions and were there before the oppo.
The pitch was the poorest the team have played on this season - a very sandy, slow, old astro that helped to close the gap between the teams and there were other problems with this game that we never came to terms with.
It was clear as day we were comfortably the better team with better players but we lost our discipline early on and spent the first half trying to impose ourselves on the game. We took the lead after 25 minutes from a short corner, Sharpey scoring, but with the game reverting to the fractious nature of the first 10 minutes, players from both sides were sin-binned and we let in a poor goal right on the half time whistle.
Although covered extensively during half time, our lack of discipline was an issue all second half and we never recovered from conceding a penalty flick the umpire admitted he got wrong after the game.
Even so the game was there for us if we settled and just played as we can (like we had against East Grinstead in the league playoffs the week before) but we didn’t and paid the price. The 3rd penalty was right on full time.
At the moment, tough to take but we just have to learn from this and get it right next time. Thank you all (including Harlow) for your good wishes and support.
