Leatherhead (H)

[Red army]

Don’t really know what to make of today’s performance.
Bright start early on but seemed to just fizzle out after 15/20 minutes. Conceded the goal and then some urgency came back into the game but too little too late. 2 disappointing home games back to back takes the shine of the first 5 away games.

End to end first 15 minutes, neat interplay on the Hayes right, worked across the box to Hani Berchiche right footed strike turned away at the near post by Sonny Wheeler. Berchiche tame effort from the edge of the box.
Leatherhead chance later in the half fizzing drive just wide by Marco Haigh was their best opportunity in the first half. Late chance for home side snap shot from distance from Perrie Landolo just over. Ht 0-0

Bright start to the 2nd half from Hayes, low cross from the left steered high and wide from kaylen hinds. Away side looking dangerous the more half the went on. Matt Everett jinking in the box left footed curler comfortable save by Juliusz Pazio. Deondre Date fires over from inside the box, then drags a good chance wide of the far post in the space of a few minutes .
The Leatherhead goal was a real kick in the teeth, long ball played to kaylen Hinds on the left wing level with the18yd box, gets to the ball first and gets a shove in the back from the defender, struggles to keep his balance then goes down still under pressure, Ref whistle in his mouth then just waves the game on, clear foul, had been given them type of fouls all game but not this foul. Then 3 passes later straight through the middle of the pitch, Leatherhead ball between centre backs and striker beats Juliusz in the Hayes goal. Clearly poor defending from our point of view and should do better but ref gives the foul we don’t concede the goal. Think everyone just wants the ref to make constant decisions throughout the game. The defender will always get a free kick in that situation every time.
Late flurry for the home side, low cross from the Hayes left from Kaylen Hinds, slightly over hit for the on rushing Wranyel Hercules. Leatherhead defend some late Hayes pressure but hold firm.

Mom Gabby Piorkowski never stopped working. Covered every blade of grass out there today. Played well in all of his 3 starts this season.

Disappointed leaving the ground today didn’t play badly but was very similar to last season. Never really looked a threat for large parts of the game. I don’t think McKenzie is good enough for this level of football and fans around me were of the same opinion. Can’t see how he played 70minutes in all honesty don’t think anyone would have raised an eyebrow if it was done at half time. Managers say that the target is top 5/6 in the league, unfortunately McKenzie will not get us there. I’m not sure if they were forced into this signing with the Clifton suspension looming.
Change of formation helped, the introduction of Rocky Williams and new signing George Sippetts gave us some energy in the final third. Adrian Clifton and Hippolyte are big losses but that’s why squad players are important.
After saying that I don’t think we are a million miles away from being a competitive side in the division, just gutted that we’ve bowed out of both cup competitions with nothing more than whimper.

COYH

[Churchroadtilidie]

A very fair report in my opinion.

We need Clifton back in the team on Tuesday and Hippolyte to return once he is back to full fitness. We don't look like scoring at the moment and this is probably three consecutive games where we have looked second best. It is fair to say that the wins over Sutton Common Rovers, Epsom & Ewell, Moneyfields and Southall amounted to not a lot in terms of finding out where we are. Tougher tests await and it remains to be seen if we have a strong enough squad to challenge at the top end of the division.

For what its worth I would consider giving Rocky WIlliams a start rather than keep bringing him on from the bench. The substitutions today happened far too late for my liking as the game was just drifting aimlessly until they scored. McKenzie does not pose any threat at all and will surely drop out for Clifton assuming he is fit. In fact the new lad showed more when he came on up top than Chinedu had over the previous 70 odd minutes. I can see why he has had more clubs than Jack Nicklaus given his showings to date.

Also we seem to lack a bit of creativity in midfield. Maybe the absence of Adam Martin meant that Perri or Hanni had to play deeper than ideal. Either way you feel that a positive result and performance is essential on Tuesday given our inability to win home games over the past 12 months.