If we continue to make the same mistakes then we're always going to get the same outcome. Against Hartlepool United the order of events were so predictable and pretty much epitomised our season. We were the better team and dominated the first-half, finally getting the goal we richly deserved before the break. Then, from nowhere we were a calamity in the second-half, conceded two quick-fire goals and all of a sudden were staring a fifth defeat in the face.
I acknowledge that we've had a lot of misfortune, from Lamar Reynolds' disallowed equaliser at Aldershot Town to the handball that wasn't given in our favour against Halifax, but so many of our problems are self-inflicted. It's not the time to put pressure on the players because they've done us proud with their performances, but some of the errors that people have made could cost us in the long run. Hartlepool deserve a lot of credit because they took the lifeline that we handed to them emphatically, but we handed them victory. There's not been a single goal against us that's been a great strike, they're all preventable and avoidable. Seconds before their equaliser, we had the ball in our own half with no danger in sight, only for a miscommunication between Elliott Romain and Liam Gordon to hand the visitors possession and allow them to produce a cross from which Michael Woods would eventually prod home. The second goal was equally frustrating with a routine effort being handled by Goodliffe to give them a blatant penalty. Quite why he'd dive in with his hands so raised is bizarre and that sealed the result. Overall, it was just a case of what could've been. In the first half I was so impressed by our performance and genuinely thought it would be the day that we'd earn a victory that we really did deserve. We were cutting them apart at will and didn't look in much trouble at the back, but everything can change in an instant when it comes to football. Romain was instrumental and his ball to McQueen was superb. The whole move was enough to convince me that our luck was changing. Even after the defeat, I was still immensely proud of the team. We may be in our lowest league position in eighteen years, and may have dwindling crowds, but one thing guaranteed this season is effort. The boys fight for everything and give their all for the cause, but unfortunately the problem is that they're a team of 19-year olds in a fiercely-competitive man's league. We're by far the most inexperienced team in the league but really we could be in the top half right now were it not for brief lapses in concentration. Hartlepool may not have deserved all three points but they do merit a lot of praise because they did what we couldn't and were clinical when their chances came. Even when we're vastly in control we still conceded two and saw both our post and bar struck. The worrying thing is that our run-in of games isn't that difficult and we're in for much tougher times when we encounter a run like the one we have to endure in September/October. We play Gateshead, Wrexham, Ebbsfleet, Sutton and Fylde all within five weeks and I worry how we expect to pick up points in those games, and indeed next week against Salford. The truth is, though, things will get better. We're a very young side still learning with every game but there will be a time when our luck changes and we force that first win over the line. The confidence from that will be massive. Importantly, even when we're losing, it's narrow defeats and we're not being outclassed so it's the fine margins costing us. Hopefully we can rectify those in the coming weeks. The win will come and, when it does, it'll mean so much to everybody.
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After two games in the Vanarama National League campaign, Daggers are one of three teams to have no points and sit in a measly 22nd. However, despite suffering two straight defeats, our league position is something of a false one and doesn't tell the story of the decent start we've made to the campaign. With a new striker, and a bit of luck falling our way, the Daggers will have the capabilities to comfortably avoid relegation. At this early stage, the signs are looking good and in two matches, we've looked good and indeed much sharper than I expected. Considering the absences of Nunny and Pennell, two of our most experienced players, the boys have started the season impressively and will look to thrive on the support from the fans. Of course, the situation we're in isn't an excuse to accept defeat every week, but so far we've done ourselves proud irrespective of the results, which will come. It's important to remember that, of all the teams in the National League, we've had the most upheaval by far; a new manager, completely new backroom staff and completely different squad. With just a few weeks to bed in, it was never going to be easy for the team, most of which are young, inexperienced and relatively naïve at this level. After just a few days in the season, we've looked strong, obviously with a few weaknesses, but good nonetheless. Against Maidstone, we looked better than we did against Boreham Wood and the positives from the opening day of the season were reinforced. This shows that, as time gradually progresses, the team will get better and better. However, we desperately need a striker and this will presumably be our undoing all campaign. Losing Cheek was a blow from which we haven't fully recovered, but with just a single addition we might have been on four points right now. Moving on to the Maidstone game, it was a brilliant performance and was great to see. To dominate a game like that offers hope that we will be fine this season, yet somehow we ended up on the losing side. Failing to take our chances has long been a problem and it looks like proving to be a recurring issue again in the coming months. That said, we didn't actually create enough for the possession and control that we had. Our main threat came from the wings, but once the crosses came they would either be cut out by a defender or gratefully collected. With both of our wingers being more pacy and attack-minded, neither really look like they can whip in brilliant deliveries. However, what they both offer is excellent trickery and speed, enabling them to beat their man and drive towards goal. Both players will be massive for us. As a striker. Elliott Romain is a great asset to have but is crying out for support. Every time he wins the ball, it seems as if he's surrounded by bodies and is eventually dispossessed. He would thrive off a target man, winning the knockdowns and holding the ball up well. Elliott works harder than everybody else on the pitch and hopefully his first goal this season, which was really well-taken, can kick-start a prolific few months for him. However, he never strikes me as a natural goalscorer and that's okay if you're playing alongside a Ferrier or a Cheek, but not when you're the lone striker - and that's not his fault. Defensively we haven't looked brilliant so far but in all fairness, we have lots of players unavailable in that area. As such, Alex Davey had to play against Maidstone and to his credit performed really well, but perhaps wasn't ready to start. The aforementioned Nunn and Pennell are out and Goodliffe still has two games of his suspension. However, hopefully we'll see better defending in the next few games that what was on show in the build-up to Maidstone's second goal, which was worrying, However, as a whole, it was a great display and the team were a credit to the club. We still have lots of improving to be good but, as I said after Boreham Wood, it's a work in progress. At the minute, we're slowly starting to click and it's only a matter of time before we start to win. Saturday, though, is a massive game even at this early stage and we desperately need three points. Even though it's easy to feel deflated after an opening day defeat, what's important to remember is that we have a young bunch of lads who have immense faith bestowed upon them by Peter Taylor this season. Against Boreham Wood, our inexperience and naïvety showed at times but ultimately it will take time for the team to bed in and for a first competitive fixture, I'm fairly happy with what I saw from the team, who definitely displayed some positive indications for the next 45 games.
Unfortunately today we just fell a little bit short in the end yet on another day could've snatched a point. By the time our next game arrives I'd expect us to look a lot sharper, with hopefully a replacement for Cheek in the side, and Reynolds starting. Losing Michael Cheek to Ebbsfleet that close to the season must've dealt Peter Taylor's preparations a vital blow so with the benefit of a few days to assess tactics and playing styles, we'll be more prepared for the next match. The general consensus amongst supporters was that we desperately needed a centre forward, which is terribly ironic. Romain and Kandi, to their credit, battled hard and got into some good areas but never really posed a significant goal threat, and had a tendency to drift out wide. So many times throughout the clash, a midfielder like Robinson would do brilliantly well to collect the ball only to confront an army of defenders, which is why so many passes were misplaced. We were crying out for a finisher with a bit of movement to drift into the open space. To be honest, it was a slightly low-key curtain-raiser which lacked fluidity and rhythm. Both teams, you could see, were so much weaker than last season and very few chances were created, compared to last season when Ferrier, Andrade, Whitely, Cheek and Okenabirhie were all on the pitch. Boreham Wood earned their victory mainly through a ten-minute spell in which they got to the byline and swung in several crosses. Such was their intensity during that period, it was inevitable they'd score, yet there was the hope that it would wake us up a bit. Once we introduced Reynolds and Blanchfield, the game completely changed. Lamar Reynolds is going to be an absolutely huge player for us and that's obvious even at this early stage. All of a sudden we were expansive, playing balls in behind and stretching the defence. Frustratingly, it seemed too little, too late. Just as we seemed to be edging close to a leveller, we were caught on the counter leading to Goodliffe being sent off, and that was that. It seemed like a definite red, reckless and unnecessary, Had the boot been on the other foot, we'd have been screaming for it. It was disappointing for Goodliffe because like all of the younger lads, he'd acquitted himself really well and shown a great level of maturity. Unfortunately, on this occasion, his inexperience really did tell but that's something he'll learn from. Overall, though it wasn't the result we wanted, now isn't the time to panic. Nobody was saying we'd win the league after last year's opening day win over Barrow so, conversely, this result shouldn't be read into too much. We have a youthful side, some looked slightly rusty which will wear off while many others haven't played much competitive football. Considering what has gone on this year, I'm okay with a narrow loss to the beaten playoff finalists. In the next few weeks, we will pick up points. Though we lost today it's easy to see we have the makings of a quite decent outfit, we just need more experience, strength and gamesmanship in our ranks. When our new captain Nunn returns and Reynolds starts, we will be a different team, like we were in the last twenty minutes today. The games come thick and fast so let's not get on the team's backs and offer more outstanding support against Maidstone on Tuesday night. |
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January 2024
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