[ Sat 9th Sep ] v Beaconsfield Town, KO 3pm ESE HOME

[BartonRaz]

HT came just at the wrong time as we were comfortable and creating chances. Second half was a bit of a shambles.

Not sure if anyone else noticed this but it seemed that every time we attacked in the second half it was down the left hand side and we were getting no joy whatsoever. Ford and Smith were being massively overworked and Hoban/Fairlamb over the other side barely had a kick. Maybe they were forcing us down that side as Hoban was causing such problems down the right in the first half, although if that was the case you'd have thought we'd have swapped them over to get Hoban back in the game.

[AFCRD_Dan]

A performance to forget in my opinion. Beaconsfield were better than us, particularly in the second half.

Even at 1-0 up, I thought we looked unconvincing. Beaconsfield clearly did their homework on us, and it worked.
A vast improvement will be needed for next week, otherwise on todays evidence we'll struggle to get anything from the game.

Agree with Phil that Hayden Road is looking fantastic, is really starting to feel like home.

Today was the first time in a while where I've gone home disappointed at what I had just witnessed!

[Bob's Bitch]

429 is a bit of a disappointing attendance?

[Trek]

429 is a bit of a disappointing attendance?

I think the torrential rain, an hour or so before the match started, came at the wrong time and many were perhaps deterred from attending.

[sussexdiamond]

I feel we may have been deceived by early performances. Hanwell, Thame and Fleet currently occupy 3 of the bottom 4 places, and wins against Welly and Tivvy were only to be expected.

Yesterdays team was showing all the problems of last season,...nothing from the wings and sub standard full backs and nobody alongside Nabil.

Gyasi and Fairlamb were brought in to rectify the first problem and have done great. They MUST be fit for next week. Smith and Hoban are both unable to get past their man and put in decent crosses.

Westwood and Brown are by far our best full backs and must play in those positions. If Sam went off injured yesterday then we are in real trouble!!

Dillon is not a patch on Tom Lorraine.

We need a recognised centre back alongside Dolman as it is still a few weeks before Jacko will be ready and how long will he take to get back to his previous form?n

I appreciate injuries have caused all sorts of disruption but unless we get those injuries sorted in the next 7 days we are in for an embarrassing afternoon next Saturday.

[Pressman]

I couldn't agree more with you Sussex Diamond. Absolutely spot on. Despite the fact that I sponsor Hoban, he was barely used and when he was, he inexplicably failed to pass to the totally unmarked Nabil on at least two occasions! After great work along the by line, he also decided to shoot when Dillon was completely free for a tap in. Farrell had a poor game by his standards - I was just praying that Bunting didn't come on albeit he couldn't have been any worse than what was on show yesterday! Dillon looks out of his depth up front and despite his limitations Lorraine must start at Alfreton which is going to be a very stiff task.

There also seemed to be several players remonstrating with the R&D bench during the game which I haven't seen before while the same players were also arguing between themselves. All in all a bad day at the office but it is very early in the season and we will be up there come the end of the season. I am confident that Peaksy - who was very disappointed afterwards - has seen where the weaknesses are and will sort it out in his own way. I know he's actively looking for a central defender - Jack Ashton's return would be very welcome - but a solid and settled defence is key to me if we want to avoid results like yesterday.

It was also a concern that the game was halted near the end apparently due to an allegation of 'racial abuse' against persons unknown. If true, I hope that we can all agree on this forum that there is absolutely no place for that anywhere in this day and age and must be stamped out and dealt with accordingly. If the allegation is proven and it is one of our fans involved then that person must be banned for life.

[Wewillneverdie]

I couldn't agree more with you Sussex Diamond. Absolutely spot on. Despite the fact that I sponsor Hoban, he was barely used and when he was, he inexplicably failed to pass to the totally unmarked Nabil on at least two occasions! After great work along the by line, he also decided to shoot when Dillon was completely free for a tap in. Farrell had a poor game by his standards - I was just praying that Bunting didn't come on albeit he couldn't have been any worse than what was on show yesterday! Dillon looks out of his depth up front and despite his limitations Lorraine must start at Alfreton which is going to be a very stiff task.

There also seemed to be several players remonstrating with the R&D bench during the game which I haven't seen before while the same players were also arguing between themselves. All in all a bad day at the office but it is very early in the season and we will be up there come the end of the season. I am confident that Peaksy - who was very disappointed afterwards - has seen where the weaknesses are and will sort it out in his own way. I know he's actively looking for a central defender - Jack Ashton's return would be very welcome - but a solid and settled defence is key to me if we want to avoid results like yesterday.

It was also a concern that the game was halted near the end apparently due to an allegation of 'racial abuse' against persons unknown. If true, I hope that we can all agree on this forum that there is absolutely no place for that anywhere in this day and age and must be stamped out and dealt with accordingly. If the allegation is proven and it is one of our fans involved then that person must be banned for life.

The big word there is allegation. Think we shouldn't blow up the situation. Old saying goes innocent until proven guilty. I wasn't at the game myself but having speaking to people around that area of the incident they have claimed nothing was even said to the player in the first place for him to make the allegations.

[YoungDiamond]

I agree that the performance was poor yesterday but to criticise our own players after one defeat will not help the situation. Dillon was fantastic against Tividale with exception to missed chances and will continue to build his relationship with Nabs, one bad game (from the majority of players) and we are already calling out our own players... Hoban hasn't played much Football over the last few months and is only just getting his match fitness back, Punter is a young player and is just settling into the team yet we feel the need to write him off already, give our players a chance! I am all for fan opinion but we have had a great start to the season and yesterday was an off day for everyone. Get behind the boys on Saturday and hopefully, our players will perform like we know they can against a tough side.

[sandringhamdiamond]

I agree that the performance was poor yesterday but to criticise our own players after one defeat will not help the situation. Dillon was fantastic against Tividale with exception to missed chances and will continue to build his relationship with Nabs, one bad game (from the majority of players) and we are already calling out our own players... Hoban hasn't played much Football over the last few months and is only just getting his match fitness back, Punter is a young player and is just settling into the team yet we feel the need to write him off already, give our players a chance! I am all for fan opinion but we have had a great start to the season and yesterday was an off day for everyone. Get behind the boys on Saturday and hopefully, our players will perform like we know they can against a tough side.

Agree with your points,

Dillon got in some great positions in the box and was free at least twice in the first half for a tap in but the pass wasn't made, he still looks like hes getting back to match sharpness.
Hoban needs to be given the ball to cause trouble, Beaconsfield did a great job in marking him out of the game, however our management should spot this and perhaps mov him in the middle, not just swap him for a like for like winger.


Agree with the earlier post, attendance wasn't great, as fans we need to do our most to help promote the club, hopefully come second half of season when we are challenging at the top attendances will increase.

[Oundle Diamond #2]

I agree that the performance was poor yesterday but to criticise our own players after one defeat will not help the situation. Dillon was fantastic against Tividale with exception to missed chances and will continue to build his relationship with Nabs, one bad game (from the majority of players) and we are already calling out our own players... Hoban hasn't played much Football over the last few months and is only just getting his match fitness back, Punter is a young player and is just settling into the team yet we feel the need to write him off already, give our players a chance! I am all for fan opinion but we have had a great start to the season and yesterday was an off day for everyone. Get behind the boys on Saturday and hopefully, our players will perform like we know they can against a tough side.

What exactly do you think fans forums are for? And what do you envisage ever happening on a fans forum that would "help the situation"?

The same fans that call out players and management for poor performances/tactics, will be the first ones cheering them on during the next game.

I'm disappointed to see us fall backwards in recent weeks - was excited to witness some thrashings down this way this season.