City out of FA Trophy
Nov 19, 2022 22:12:05 GMT
Post by Rijs on Nov 19, 2022 22:12:05 GMT
Ross Jenkins had said in an interview that this was an important match for the club, and given the financial situation and low attendances this season it is easy to see why the sponsorship money from a run would be very valuable; in that sense, this match was more important than Tuesday's. Yet it was difficult to sense that at CPF today. The crowd was quiet and for much of the match City lacked the zip and panache they showed in the first half against Dover.
They had plenty of possession, especially in the first half, but once again could not turn it into goals against a hard-working, well-organised Parkway defence. The fact is that we have faced this team three times in the past six weeks, and even though City have the better players, they have not yet been able to do more than draw 1-1 over 90 minutes. We could not say we were not prepared for what they were going to do, yet we had no Plan B.
Not that we would have needed one if we had executed Plan A with greater speed. The City build-up, always quite neat and usually precise, was ponderously slow, which explains why the fans failed to get excited. Too often, once a player got behind the defence he would stop and pass the ball backwards instead of penetrating.
The exceptions were the first ten minutes of the second half and the last few. Whatever Ross said at half-time must have had an immediate impact, as City came out with a sense of purpose and more importantly, making an effort to run at and get in behind their defence, particularly down the right side. Four times in nine minutes Parkway looked in trouble from this, resulting in two blocked shots, one good save and one goal, from Joe. Thereafter, City only have themselves to blame for taking their collective foot off the pedal and allowing Plymouth to seize the initiative.
The warnings had already been sounded before the equalising goal; our defence was finding itself under more and more pressure, and after that goal, the men from Devon still seemed the most likely to score; the City rally was sluggish. Were they tired from last Tuesday, or saving energy for the Dartford game? It was only when the prospect of a penalty shoot-out loomed in the closing minutes that the Hoops went truly on the offensive again, and Josh hit the bar with a free-kick, our second such strike, which is becoming a habit.
We did not look prepared for the penalties. Of course, it didn't help that Josh Parker was out injured and Joe had been subbed five minutes before after getting what looked like cramp. We were left with just two recognised penalty-takers, both of whom scored. It would be unfair to blame those who stepped up under pressure and didn't.
The fact is that although City were in a position to win this match and should have, they did not press for the vital second goal which might have secured the victory, and as a result it was Parkway fans who went home happy. Knowing City, I expect them to respond positively with a big shift next Tuesday, despite having no practice before then. If they don't, Dartford will have a comfortable evening.
They had plenty of possession, especially in the first half, but once again could not turn it into goals against a hard-working, well-organised Parkway defence. The fact is that we have faced this team three times in the past six weeks, and even though City have the better players, they have not yet been able to do more than draw 1-1 over 90 minutes. We could not say we were not prepared for what they were going to do, yet we had no Plan B.
Not that we would have needed one if we had executed Plan A with greater speed. The City build-up, always quite neat and usually precise, was ponderously slow, which explains why the fans failed to get excited. Too often, once a player got behind the defence he would stop and pass the ball backwards instead of penetrating.
The exceptions were the first ten minutes of the second half and the last few. Whatever Ross said at half-time must have had an immediate impact, as City came out with a sense of purpose and more importantly, making an effort to run at and get in behind their defence, particularly down the right side. Four times in nine minutes Parkway looked in trouble from this, resulting in two blocked shots, one good save and one goal, from Joe. Thereafter, City only have themselves to blame for taking their collective foot off the pedal and allowing Plymouth to seize the initiative.
The warnings had already been sounded before the equalising goal; our defence was finding itself under more and more pressure, and after that goal, the men from Devon still seemed the most likely to score; the City rally was sluggish. Were they tired from last Tuesday, or saving energy for the Dartford game? It was only when the prospect of a penalty shoot-out loomed in the closing minutes that the Hoops went truly on the offensive again, and Josh hit the bar with a free-kick, our second such strike, which is becoming a habit.
We did not look prepared for the penalties. Of course, it didn't help that Josh Parker was out injured and Joe had been subbed five minutes before after getting what looked like cramp. We were left with just two recognised penalty-takers, both of whom scored. It would be unfair to blame those who stepped up under pressure and didn't.
The fact is that although City were in a position to win this match and should have, they did not press for the vital second goal which might have secured the victory, and as a result it was Parkway fans who went home happy. Knowing City, I expect them to respond positively with a big shift next Tuesday, despite having no practice before then. If they don't, Dartford will have a comfortable evening.