Into the second half, and I’m going to find it difficult to have anything to talk about. We had two chances all half, the first a looping Adam Jackson header from Lasse’s cross that missed narrowly, and the second a ‘goal’ that was adjudged offside for Haks. It’s very tight, but I can’t make a case for it being the wrong decision. That was the sum of our attacking efforts in the second period.
Why so low? Cheltenham were poor (just three shots in the second half, one on target), but we looked tired. I know you’ll get some saying they’re professional footballers and they should manage, etc. etc., but every single one ran themselves into the ground on Wednesday, and with Orient coming up on Tuesday, making it three games in seven days, I can forgive the drop-off. Remember, Haks didn’t even have a pre-season, and he’s now being asked to turn in 70-90 minutes twice a week. Ethan Erhahon and Ethan Hamilton both covered every blade of grass on Wednesday and both were back on it yesterday doing the same. Hamilton looked to be running on empty towards the end of the game, but running he was – they all were. Being proud of them Wednesday is one thing, but I felt pride in them having the professionalism and concentration to shut this game down and take all three points.
That doesn’t make it any better for the neutral, though, and nor did the referee. Yep, we’re back there.
Again, it was the inconsistency of his decisions. Booking their sub keeper, Harris, for drying the ball for their throw-in (I think) is within the laws, sadly. Don’t shoot the messenger probably applies here. Mark Kennedy got booked for something, we assume arguing, and again, I guess if you don’t know what was said, then fair enough. However, what of the moment when one of their lads was called offside, Rob Street, I think, and he argued with the lino and then the ref. Why was he not booked, but Ethan Hamilton was booked for a far less animated argument not long after? Where was the consistency? Also, the Street offside was debatable, and if the decision is right in the first place, then the arguing doesn’t happen.
I know one moment had a lot of us scratching our heads, and I’m happy to be corrected here. It came late on after Jovon had come on. He played a ball around the corner to Burroughs and was ‘fouled’ by Bevan. It wasn’t a foul, and the ref waved play on. The flag then went up against Burroughs, who was not offside as Freestone was playing him on, but the ref didn’t see it. Burroughs had an effort, saved, and the ref brought play back for the free kick. When Hamilton tried to take it quickly, the ref wanted it moved two feet back, and as Hamilton walked away, he said something and was booked. His shrug and look of confusion says everything. Shirt pulling is fine, apparently, but contesting a decision is not. We have to find a balance here.
I’m padding, much like the official highlights, which show a few extra seconds of celebrations to cover for the fact that not much really happened. The conditions weren’t ideal; rain coming down made a couple of players slip, and they weren’t conducive to a footballing spectacle. The point isn’t that the second half was dour; the point is that we were 2-0 and didn’t need to do anything special. If players like Reeco were taken off to give them a rest for Tuesday, then brilliant, because Orient will be no walk in the park.
That’s pretty much it. We beat what was put in front of us; we did exactly what was required to ensure we remained tucked in the top half. I always say that the first time to look at the table and have an idea of how things are shaping up is after ten matches – we’ve played nine, fewer than some, and we’re tenth, three points behind Stevenage in third. This time next week, we’ll have played 11, seven of which will have been away from home. Our home from is excellent, unbeaten, conceded just once and bagged nine in the process, so it could be argued that our position is a little weighted against us.
Whatever your perception of yesterday’s game, we avoided a banana skin, got the job done and can move on with more points in the bag. That’s a good end to the week and far better than my end to Saturday, which saw me sitting alone on a wet park bench by the grandstand on Carholme Road, being sick on my shoes.