When we arrived back in Hempnall after the long trip to Dersingham with a 5 - 1 defeat under our belts, I think some people were surprised to see me still smiling (wry the smile may have been!) and upbeat.
However, I think I have been around long enough to know and accept that some days are just not yours. I think Saturday was one of them!
Upon reflection, from my first decision of the day at 6.15 am when I decided not to put the light on so as not to wake the wife, took three shoes from my wardrobe to have a good chance to have a pair I could wear, only, upon entering the light, to find I had three right footers. I should have known!!
From there on it was a case of ‘misses’ all day!
Missed buses, missed connections (I did more miles in Norwich than I did travelling to Dersingham!), miscalculations, miss timed decisions, missing luck as we struck the woodwork twice and missed chances.
Take nothing away from Dersingham, they are a good side, they play the game well (and allow you to do the same) but I would be surprised if any one in the ground thought 5-1 was a fair reflection.
Arguably, for 70 minutes we were the better side, with more control and chances, confirmed when I heard ‘Enga’ (Paul English ) remonstrating with his bench just before half time.
However we didn’t do the most important thing i.e. score goals!
The main differences between the sides on the day were two fold in my eyes. They did convert their chances, and some of our inexperience told in the last 15 minutes, as we saw the game slipping away from us.
Some of the younger players lost concentration doing the wrong things in the wrong places and we were punished.
The one thing I am confident of is the majority are smart enough to learn.
I did feel for young keeper Matt Ducker, who was making only his second appearance.
He had one of those Tim Flowers, Paul Robinson (and many more I am sure you can name) nightmare moments. A smooth running back pass ‘hopped’ at the precise moment Matt came to kick it and trickled into an empty net. As mentioned, he is not the first keeper and will not be the last, so get your head up Matt.
My only disappointment is the manner in which we took defeat in certain quarters. What’s that old saying, something around embracing those old adversaries ‘failure’ and ‘success’ in the same manner! Some one educate me please!?
Now having engaged or watched the majority of the sides (Sprowston Athletic being the exception) in this league, it is my view that the pundits at the start of the season are not going to be to far wrong.
At the risk of upsetting some of my manager peers it does look like three of the ‘usual suspects’ Blofield , Cromer and Acle are the favourites for the Top 3 places.
The sides that may have some sway (and certainly on ‘a day’) are Dersingham and Sheringham.
Wroxham Resereves and ourselves, having set the pace early on, are now suffering from inconsistency, I suspect, for the same reason in some games i.e. lack of experience as injuries, and in their case, first team calls, take their toll.
Brandon it would appear are suffering from the loss of key players from last year’s squad, but they will always be a difficult game on the day.
My apologies to any club that may read this and take exception, no insult is intended and it is only my ‘current’ view.
What I have seen to date is a fairly even league with all sides capable of beating each other, which I am told has not always being the case. This can only be good and make things that much more interesting.
It has been the case in Division One for many years, and those top sides in that division are not that far (if at all) off the Premier.
As I think Gayton winning the Mummery cup last season and three of the remaining eight sides being Division 1 teams this year proves.
On a lighter note, it is good to see Ray still has a ‘turn of speed and Pagey fancies himself a stunt man ! Confused?
I saw all, evidenced as Ray’s tractor slipped itself into gear and headed towards Briggo’s and Pagey’s cars. Ray was in full pursuit, and only a last ditch effort from Pagey, as he flew through the air (all he needed was a red cape!!) jumped on the moving tractor and averted the disaster at the last second!!