slow start costs sports

Bedfont Sports have had rather an odd start to the season that began on the 8th August. Playing only their seventh league game on the 6th October by which time many of the teams in the league have played 10 games.
This might explain why they were slow starters in this game against local team AFC Hayes. Bedfont conceded two goals within the first fifteen minutes to effectively give Hayes a two goal head start.
Poor decision making by defenders as to when to pick up and when to drop off allowed Hayes to take the upper hand in midfield areas predominantly in front of the back four. This had been discussed in the pre match discussion and was therefore disappointing to see.
Two not soft goals but goals that could have been avoided were conceded. More importantly Hayes were given too much time and space when attacking. This can only give the opposition the upper hand and allow them to become confident in their ability.
At two nil Bedfont seemed to wake up and listen to the instructions they had been given. Soon enough they scored their first goal to reduce the deficit. A long ball from Mal Thomas from a wide position found Adam Roberts at the back of the penalty area. He headed the ball back across goal were the incoming Jamie Read met the ball on the volley giving the keeper no chance. From that point on Bedfont were playing on equal terms with Hayes and there was not much between the two teams at half time.
The Bedfont players were told in no uncertain terms that they needed to listen to instructions and carry them out in order to be an efficient unit. This is effectively what they did in the second half becoming in the writers opinion the dominant team. As the game progressed it looked possible maybe probable that Bedfont would get at least a point from the game. However after a breakaway from a Bedfont corner sub Adam Fearn trying to recover fouled a Hayes player . Fearn was adamant that the offence took place outside the penalty area but the referee decided otherwise and gave the penalty. Richardson got a hand to the spot kick but could not prevent the ball hitting the net.
Unlike the first half this did not seem to effect the Bedfont players other than to make them more determined to get something from the game. A penalty was awarded to Bedfont for a clumsy tackle in the Hayes area that could have resulted in a red card. Jamie Read scored from the spot despite a great attempt by the Hayes keeper who got a strong hand to the penalty but the ball had been struck so well that Read scored Bedfonts second.
In fact the Hayes keeper made a number of excellent saves in the second half often pushing the ball away but the follow up play by the Bedfont players was not good enough to get on the end of these potential opportunities. A breakaway by Hayes was thwarted by Richardson making a good save one on one with the Hayes player but in all that was possibly the only save he had to make in the second half in open play.
So in a game that got away from them in the first fifteen minutes Bedfont played to a decent standard but you very rarely win football matches when you allow the opposition the take a two goal lead.
The lessons need to be learned quickly now as the after the drought the games are now coming thick and fast.
Bedfont are away to Redhill on Saturday and need to approach the game with the same attitude they had for the last seventy minutes of this game.