21st November 2010

A very keenly contested match between two very good teams, saw a score-line which was totally lopsided, due to some rather indifferent refereeing and the Blues just not quite reaching the level of performance seen in last week's 11-0 away mauling of Collier Row.

The game was barely underway when one of Sun's forwards was adjudged to have been fouled in the area, with almost everyone present not seeing any infringement, and the resulting spot kick was enough to put the Blues on the back foot from the word go. The rest of the half became a period of hard, grafting football from both sides, with either goal rarely being threatened, thanks to good defending with most of the ball being in the middle third. Billericay had quite a few corners in the half and looked dangerous with a few headers, one of these forays Jack Pill had a shot saved after a knockdown from Fernee.

After some words to rally the troops at half time, the general performance in the second half was much improved, however Sun scored a second with a fortunate through ball finding a forward when he looked to be at least 3 yards offside and Ollie was beaten one-on-one. With the Blues now fighting a big uphill task we spent much time in the attacking areas, but with the final ball just letting us down, along with the bounce, rub of the green and decisions just not going our way. This left us vulnerable on the break as we searched for something, and so it was proved when Sun scored a third on the breakaway and the game looked over on paper.

However, with time running out and against the odds, we rallied again and without producing the masterful fluent football we are capable of, started to create some openings with corners and set pieces putting them under pressure. Antonio had a shot well saved from their keeper, before Fernee was pulled down for a blatant penalty, which was then dispatched well by Cruikshank. Sun were clearly tiring towards the end and the Blues were spending most of the time pressing them back, with Brown proving a constant threat down the right flank. A bout of pinball took part in Suns six yard box with about 6 shots from various players in the space of 10 mad seconds, with Suns goal leading a charmed life and some desperate last ditch defending seeing the danger off. However, the old sucker punch of another breakaway goal came just before the final whistle... you need to be special to beat Ollie anytime but to beat him from distance means the shot was unstoppable and thus we ended up with a rather flattering score-line for the opposition.In summary, a good game of football between two very well matched teams. It’s difficult to argue that Sun didn't deserve to shade the win and we wish them well, but definitely a game of what might have been. For me the game was spoilt by inconsistent refereeing, bizarre free-kicks and many yellow cards shown in a game which was not nasty at all, just keenly fought (I thought football was a contact sport). So Sun Postal move on in the League Cup knowing they have been in a game... good luck to them... and we know, when we are on our game as a team, we can produce scintillating attacking football, with goals galore coming from a host of players, and with a bit more rub of the green this game could well have had a different ending. One big plus for me is the boys fitness seems much improved and they were still going strong at the final whistle, as they have been in all recent games ... Onwards and upwards we go....

Come on you Blues.

Blues Team:

Ollie Bowles, Steve Ellis, Jack Risley, Scott Cruikshank, Zach Hill (Knight 60 mins), Antonio Mehmeti (Brown 35 mins), Frankie Hession-Harris (Mehmeti 65 mins), Tommie Hession-Harris (Beat 45 mins), Levi Brown (Chandler 50 mins), Max Fernee, Jack Pill Subs: Jordan Brown, Kieran Knight, Jack Chandler, Tom Beat, Samir YasimGoals: Cruikshank (Pen 65)Assists: Fernee (for pen)

*Subs times are all approximate