Efforts are not rewarded.

After a really good training session on Wednesday and the knowledge that we'd played well last week, we went into this weeks game with confidence.

We're still looking for our first win of the season and the boys are working hard together to get some points in the board.

Those points evaded us again, but there's a lot of positives to be taken.

The first half served up our best football of the season. Nassim and Luca were key with excellent control in possession.

Yusuf played the centre forward role really well and Andy showed a really cool passing game with Aiden joining in and overlapping at will.

On the left hand side Elliot and Joe worked really well in attacking one at time, covering each other defensively whilst taking it in turn to attack down the left.

James is such a willing learner in the centre back position and will make a fine player who's strength are becoming more obvious.

Reece and Asa weren't well at the weekend and still gave their all, with great enthusiasm. We just didn't have enough to beat the two at the back for Hook youth.

I could go on about how unlucky we were and decisions etc but you have to take care of business yourselves and we had opportunities to score and defend better in equal measures.

It will come.

I put a lot of emphasis in the collective group and I have to say I was happy with all the boys who played on Sunday. We did try to get Henry back for the game at the last minute, as it was his week off, but time wasn't on his side.

Instead he went and had a full 60 minutes with Rangers. Good reports have been received and they've said if ever he needs a more time, he's welcome to pop along.

I think it's never a bad thing to get full games where and when they are available as it's all part of the learning process, which were all on.

I've referred to Henry before, as a new member to the team, and a new player to this level, I have to commend him in his efforts to keep growing. His attitude is first class. He's really showing that through hard work and a will to get involved that he's desperate to be part of our special group. There will be weeks when I ask him to play for Alex, but it's to get time on the pitch to come back stronger, not as a trial to move there full time.

All the boys could learn from Henry.

Which brings me on to my man of the match.

Sometimes to be man of the match, it takes more than being the best performer of the 60 minutes, sometimes everyone gives they're all, so it takes a little something special, and this week Frankie, gave up a bit of him.

He's made the brave decision to want to play on pitch as he doesn't enjoy playing in goal. It takes a lot to go for it,and against a group that have played there all there careers he's having to battle every week, learn new things and work hard.

Well circumstances dictated that we needed a goalkeeper, and Frankie was prepared to stand in. He doesn't want to keep going back, he wants to go forward, but he was prepared to help the team.

One penalty conceded was all that got past him. He played with authority and his distribution was excellent.

Frankie, the team salute you!