A game to remember.

Our game against SCR was one I was looking forward to.

We're growing at a good rate, and a fixture with top of the table opposition was just what we needed after a couple of wins.

It was a really good test, but once again our lack of urgency put us on the back foot right from the off.

I don't do minute by minute reports but am very happy to direct you to SCR's match report, which sums up the fixture very well from their perspective.

https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/molevalleyscr/j/match-centre-24429/0-2721155

So, I would like to add a couple of bits.

It was a beautiful morning, all the boys had poppies and we had a perfectly observed minutes silence.

That was the last peaceful minute for the next 70.

Fast, furious, controlled aggressive, attacking football played in a fantastic spirit.

The bench mark was set last week, and I feel we did well again.

Needless dithering cost us again, from a corner we didn't need to concede from a throw in we didn't need to concede.

However, the corner came from clearing the danger, and the throw in came from trying to play out from the back, both of which are things I support, and with plenty of practise they are good habits.

We pushed hard for long periods, but our game plan was not to play with a suicide high back line, it's cost us before and I don't want us to concede cheap goals, so I'm happy to go head to head in the big space it leaves between defence and attack. Especially when our central midfield is a match for any I've seen in the division this year.

Half time came and went and a few changes along the way, Luca came in to central defence and performed in such a controlled manner he's given me food for thought. Energy and enthusiasm are the first things on the wish list for me, and once we have that we need composure and quality to go with belief.

There was effort all over the pitch, which is why we've competed so well in this game, now we have to look to improve on the technical side which will fuel the belief.

I'm really impressed with the speed of the improvements made by the boys, there is real competition for places now.

We we're doing fine and then we conceded the second. On this occasion I decided to throw the kitchen sink at SCR and brought all the pace we had to the front line, with the wingers instructed to get forward at every opportunity.

It wasn't a universally approved change but all the changes are made with the best interest of the team at heart and I felt tactically it was the best thing to do. The boys didn't deserve to be 2 down, so we went with speed as opposed to strength.

Unfortunately the fat lady sang before the cigars were handed out so we ended losing 2-1.

I struggled to choose a man of the match as so many did well, i feel there were a lot of 8/10's out there, but mark my words. That's not the best that we can be. We have a long way to go, and we are going there quickly.

I'd like to thank the parents also, for the minutes silence and the support they show week in week out, and I have to say I thought SCR were a thoroughly enjoyable team to play.

Man of the Match.
Reece Kavanagh, Rule number one. Effort from start to finish, even played through the pain.