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Reality check please

29th March 2010

 Reality Check needed

Having read the CA forum postings, I think a reality check is needed here.

The managers, Lee and Ian, are coming in for a lot of criticism about their tactics and the team is also getting a bit of stick, although not from our supporters it would appear. We lost a game and on the day Flint were the better side despite going down to 9 men, these things happen in football just ask Martin O'Neill how he feels! and a bet Flint felt the same last August.

It is worth reviewing the objectives that we set back in June 2009 when the managers were appointed and the team started to take shape, see below for the extract from that news item.

"The committee are pleased with the new setup and have set out the main objectives for the coming season:

1) Of paramount importance is our survival in the Cymru Alliance, which will mean a top 6 or possibly 8 finish. This is not going to be easy with some big names in there, Holyhead 2nd last year, Caernarfon coming down from the Premier, Buckley, Flint, Llandudno all with similar ambitions; but even with the reduced playing budget we are confident of survival with anything else being a big bonus.

2) Off the field it is our intention to work towards getting our Domestic Licence, whilst we do not expect to be in a promotion position next season, it is our ambition to get back into the top tier of Welsh Football. A lot of hard work and probably expensive, but that is our goal."

Nothings has really changed other than expectations were raised as we have done a lot better than anticipated at the time and if anything the managers and team have over achieved and let's be honest which club  would you exchange places with? and more to the point which clubs would change places with us?

Yes it would be great to win the league and although it is not in our hands any longer, there is still a lot to play for in our remaining games; 2^nd will still be good enough for a promotion place.

Yes we certainly do want promotion, what is the point of a pyramid and the league in general if not, hopefully this season if we are fortunate enough to get our domestic licence, but this too was always a long term plan and even with the amount of work put in by the small but dedicated team off the field, there are still boxes to tick and work to complete.

So give the guys a break and get behind the team for the run in and any help off the pitch will still be appreciated.

Russ

5-1 away loss at Flint, embarrassment

28th March 2010

 Disappointing to say the least, with this fixture being probably the defining game for both teams this season, Flint exacted retribution for our earlier encounters with a vengeance, but I don't think anyone from either club could have foreseen the circumstances.

Starting line up was: Shannahan, Craven, Williams C, Gibbs, Austin, Williams R, Gwynedd, Gowans, Roberts K, Thomas, Evans - subs: Lloyd, Roberts DG, Mitchell, Higham, Pearson. A bright day and a reasonably firm pitch which as expected was still very uneven.

Flint started the stronger and could have gone 1 up in the first 5 minutes with Dawson just clearing the bar with an attempted lob over the advancing keeper. They know their ground and formation and played to their strengths with a succession of long wide balls or balls played up to Beck with his back to goal and laying off., effective and caused a fair amount of pressure for our defence and with cleared balls coming straight back just causing more pressure. We settled a bit and started to get the ball down through the middle and wide but they coped well at the back and the game looked as expected between to the two top teams who give little away. After a couple of set pieces for Flint they won another corner out left and the cross was well met by Thelwell to put them one up on 35 minutes. We responded and upped our game with a good ball from Chris Williams to Darren Thomas and pass to Marc Evans who controlled it well on the deck, turned and fired across the keeper to see the ball rebound off the foot of the post and the normally deadly Thomas hitting the rebound wide. On 40 minutes the first turning point saw Halewood dismissed for a head butt on Austin at a corner and in response off came Dawson for a defender, then on 43 minutes a straight red for another defender as the last man brought down Loggs who duly despatched the spot kick and at half time 1-1 with Flint down to 9 men.

Whatever was discussed at half time by both teams turned the game. Flint played with Beck on his own up front, steadied their defence and looked set to play for a draw. The keeper dropped an early ball that nearly let Darren Thomas in, but he recovered well. We set out to hit the corners and get in behind them, but it didn't work, Beck on his own against four won a lose ball on the touchline cut in and hit a harmless looking cross which bounced badly and hit Chris Williams on the hand for a penalty - it is always a danger that a referee might even things up, it's human nature, and we gave him the opportunity, which they took to go 2-1. Our game plan came unstuck as we pushed for an equaliser but it was Flint with a deep cross from Williams out right that saw Beck rise high to head a 3^rd and send the fans into delirium, but it was not over. Llangefni made a triple substitution bringing on Danny Glyn Roberts, Kevin Lloyd and Geraint Mitchell for Lee Craven, Robbie Williams and Ywain Gwynedd, in an effort to chase the game with loading the strikers. Shortly afterwards Kev Roberts took a bad knock but with no subs was a passenger for the rest of the game and as we pushed for a goal Flint hit us twice on the counter to run out 5-1 winners.

I can only applaud Flint for tactics and endeavour in the face of what looked like insurmountable odds with an outstanding team performance and a man of the match in Beck who ran himself to a standstill up front but still turned the game.

For us it was a case of too many off performances at a time and an inability to handle the situation, we actually played far better when Flint had 11 men.

This turns the league in favour of Flint who with 4 games to go are 9 points ahead and now plus 8 in goal difference; not all over as we have 6 to play, but out of our hands and hoping for another upset for them in the coming weeks.

Congratulations to Paul Davies, not everyone's favourite, but got it spot on today. and deserves our respect

4-0 away win @ Holyhead

25th March 2010

Emphatic 4-0 win away at our local rivals Holyhead

Another good win away from home at our great local rivals Holyhead with a lot of interest focussed on ex players playing for both sides and management too.

The evening was in the main part dry but there had been a fair bit of water on the pitch which the hosts had dealt with well to get the game on. Holyhead were below par with the hugely influential KC Owen out for the season and suspensions/injuries not helping.

Starting line-up was: Shannahan, Craven, Gibbs, Austin, Jones G, Gwynedd, Gowans, Roberts K,  Williams C, Thomas, Evans,  subs: Mitchell, Lloyd, Roberts DG, Pearson.

With the pitch a bit on the heavy side we kicked towards the changing room end.

All of our team were well up for this game after the reverse at Christmas and with the first real attack the ball came over the top inevitably to Marc Evans who flicked it round the keeper and knocked it home to open the score on 5 minutes, a great start which brought a few jeers from the home crowd of course. Holyhead came back at us settling quickly and competing well in the middle with the balls up to Curt Williams causing a few problems, but it was break by Darren Gowans, who had an excellent game all round, that found Loggs to flick it to Darren Thomas who in turn flicked it over the advancing keeper and nodded in under pressure to put us 2 up. To give credit Holyhead came back with a lot of pressure and the long ball towards Williams causing some desperate challenges one of which could have resulted in a penalty. It was Llangefni again with another chance from a Gowans deep cross, a Thomas shot parried into the path of Loggs whose shot was kicked off the line by Tomos Jones. A breakaway down the left saw Mel McGuiness beat Shanahan to a through ball and take it on goal but his shot/cross was stopped by the retreating Austin to clear. Doutch in goal for the hosts was called on for some fine saves as the half ran down but it turned round at 2-0.

From the kick off the ball went wide to Loggs who cut in and shot home the 3^rd, which knocked a bit of stuffing out of Holyhead and resulted in a few reckless challenges and  Garmey been shown a 2^nd yellow and red to put them down to 10 men. In fairness this galvanised Holyhead into some good attacking football with Saxon doing well at set pieces and winning a lot in the air, he brought two excellent saves from ex Spurs favourite Liam Shannhan. As the half wore on Danny Glyn came on for Chris Williams, who yet again had an outstanding game marauding down the left, Kev Lloyd came on for Darren Thomas and latterly Geraint Mitchell for Ywain Gwynedd, all really to protect them for Saturday. We weathered the mid half storm and came back strongly both Austin and Gibbs went close from set piece corners and Loggs also went close with two shots plus hitting the woodwork and getting one blocked by the keeper. The ever industrious Gowans was the provider again with an inch perfect pass to Loggs who rounded the keeper and the defender but with the goal seemingly at his mercy and his hatrick begging, he unselfishly laid a ball into the 6 yard box for Danny Glyn to score our 4^th.

That was the final score, it could and perhaps should have been more, but Holyhead had a goal disallowed for offside, a good penalty shout - maybe two! and some goal attempts that on other days would have gone in, any could have made a difference. They never gave up and as we know never roll over for anyone, but on the night we deserved our win and look forward with confidence to our next big match against top side Flint who beat 3^rd placed Llandudno 2-1 last night.

Tonight's officials had good games with the referee improving every time I watch him; I'd also like to thank the Holyhead officials for making us welcome