So, the long await for the season to kick off has come and gone, with all still wondering what the season holds, as opening fixtures have seen a mixed set of results across the board.
The trouble with early season results is that you never know whether the results obtained are good, bad or ugly, in that the opposition could be the future champions or a relegation team.
Our first result was a 5 - 3 defeat to Wroxham Reserves, which was obviously not the desired outcome, but I am convinced that Wroxham, if they don‘t lose several players to the 1st team, are definitely a “Top 4” side.
Having finished sixth last season, and with their young squad having gained a further year valuable experience, they are moving forward.
For our part, the performance was a very good one for 70 minutes, but a combination of individual errors, defensive ‘Team‘ frailties and more surprisingly, ‘fitness‘ (which stood us so well last year), meant we couldn‘t hold on to our hard fought 3 - 1 advantage.
For our second league game, the team had to change, as we lost Adam Solly (injury), and Steve Barnes (holiday), so in came Whitty and new signing James Panayi.
James signed on the day, and should bring some very good knowledge and ability to our team, having at one point played for Watford, playing six games in their 1st team.
Unfortunately for us and him, his debut only lasted 20 minutes due to a hamstring injury. Perhaps, with hindsight, we rushed him in too quickly.
This set back didn‘t hinder the lads though, as we secured a solid 3 - 0 victory. The performance on the day didn‘t reach the levels of the Wroxham game, but there were some good individual performances.
Perhaps we are sometimes over critical of ourselves, and should be happy with a 3 goal win and our first three points in the higher division.
However, I don‘t think many of the players or management walked away without thinking that we can do better. We have set the bar high, and I personally think it should stay there. The lower bar is for others!
One other new player has signed since my previous player update, and that‘s Barry Allard, who has quickly proven to be an asset in the first two games, despite being a little under the weather in the second game. Barry has previously had spells at Wroxham and Diss.
On Tuesday we secured three more points, with a 2 - 0 victory over a Beccles side that is struggling to find form.
This takes our tally to six out of nine, which I think we would have settled upon before the three games and leaves us 4th in the table.
However, this game turned out to be one of patience as we missed (or more accurately, the keeper saved), several opportunities.
The truth be known, had we taken half our chances, we would have scored five or six. The unfortunate part of the night was that we lost two more players (both defenders), to injury, and skipper Ben Player also struggling, so today‘s selection, at time of writing, could be one of finding the fit 11 !! Thanks God the midweek games have finished!