[ Sat 21st Nov ] v Beaconsfield SYCOB, KO 3pm SL1DC HOME

[TheIncognitoKid]

In other news the much maligned Jake Newman scored a hat-trick for Spalding United this afternoon. There may be a few fans watching our match at the Dog & Duck who would probably agree that he may have converted some of the many wasted scoring opportunities.

He could join a list of strikers we've let go who could still do a job for us. Alfie Taylor, Fazel Koriya, Russ Dunkley, Jason Turner all of which would have probably started today.

[updiamonds]

I think the over the top criticism of Herbert is unwarranted. Yes, he did miss the one on one, but he hasn't played for weeks so lacks match sharpness, I thought we looked more of a threat when he came on.

I agree with you, I think some criticism of Herbert is unwarranted. Especially as Herbert hasn't played for a few weeks, we need to learn how to finish off games and finish off our chances more. ie stop conceding sloppy goal(s) at the end.

Thinking about positives we're creating a lot of chances, and let's look forward to Tuesday and get/bag the 3 points.

[Formic]

I think the over the top criticism of Herbert is unwarranted. Yes, he did miss the one on one, but he hasn't played for weeks so lacks match sharpness, I thought we looked more of a threat when he came on.

I agree with you, I think some criticism of Herbert is unwarranted. Especially as Herbert hasn't played for a few weeks, we need to learn how to finish off games and finish off our chances more. ie stop conceding sloppy goal(s) at the end.

Thinking about positives we're creating a lot of chances, and let's look forward to Tuesday and get/bag the 3 points.

We were largely devoid of link-up play between the forwards until Courtney came on, apart from hopeful crosses, and although it was disappointing he missed that chance, he's not the first Diamonds striker to have missed a one-on-one - in fact you only have to think back to the first minute in the game against Aylesbury on Wednesday for something similar - it was just in that case it was forgotten as we ran out winners.

My bigger concern is the lack of understanding between our forward players - too often we would make a good break down the flanks only to find few options in the middle - we really missed Dan Quigley in that respect, and without his sort of player in the side we seem to struggle. Tom Lorraine won an awful lot in the air, but almost none of his flicks fell to the feet of a fellow forward.

[Pigman]

I agree Formic, both Tom and Tommy are good players, but they don't seem to get the best out of each other and at times you could run a coach and horses between them, they don't get close enough to feed off each other and that's disappointing given the number of times they've played together. Quigs was a massive miss for us yesterday!

I may be raising my expectations too far - but this league is there for the taking, and we ARE good enough to do it! Just at times I get frustrated - maybe unfairly as I expect us to win every game now!

With the point from the KL game (which I expect to stand) we have 2 games in hand, win them both, we're top by 3 points - I'd have taken that at the start of the season. I suppose that shows how my expectations have grown - at the start I would have been delighted to be top 5 !

Big mention to Finners for that double stop yesterday, proved to be a game saver in the end!

On to Tuesday, hopefully a decent performance and win, then the real test - three games without Bully !! We've got a great replacement (on paper) and I expect to see more than a few minutes of him on Tuesday evening. With Bully missing for the St Ives and Royston matches (not forgetting the long trek to Petersfield) we need to make sure we're not slipping out of the top 5 at the wrong time!

Onwards to Tuesday then, we go again!

[Trek]

- we really missed Dan Quigley in that respect, and without his sort of player in the side we seem to struggle.

Couldn't agree more. We certainly miss Dan's energy around the park and his ability to get involved in the box and pick up vital goals when we most need them. I'm certain he would have probably scored one of those many chances in the second half.
Let's hope it's not long before he's fully fit and ready to start a match.

[Trek]

Crowd of 445 was the second highest in the whole of the Southern League, just 24 shy of the Merthyr/K*ttering fixture in the Premier Division. Saturday crowds at this time of the year tend to drop with cold weather and the counter attraction of Christmas shopping.

[AFCRD_Dan]

Crowd of 445 was the second highest in the whole of the Southern League, just 24 shy of the Merthyr/K*ttering fixture in the Premier Division. Saturday crowds at this time of the year tend to drop with cold weather and the counter attraction of Christmas shopping.

Surprised no one has moaned about the attendance.

May have been a bit higher if the weather had been kinder, but coupled with the fact that it was a typical November afternoon, and it not being long to Christmas, I'm not that disappointed with the attendance.

[Trek]

Surprised no one has moaned about the attendance.

No excuse with parking now that those kind developers have built a car park with near on 150 spaces close to the ground.

[MarkH]

No excuse with parking now that those kind developers have built a car park with near on 150 spaces close to the ground.

I wonder though how long it will be before we see restrictions on those 150 spaces, namely on match days.

[Trek]

I wonder though how long it will be before we see restrictions on those 150 spaces, namely on match days.

Yes it will be interesting to see how it will be 'policed' and if a parking company will be involved. Time will tell.