GEOFF...2-GUN...TOM...STEW...POD...HARPS...ELLIOT...FOXY...MIKE...DOM...DAVE E...SAM...ROB

Last week we bagged a victory despite a pretty awful performance against Mytchett. This week the opposition would undoubtedly be stronger as we faced Shottermill and Haslemere, a team directly below us in the league. Anything like last weeks efforts would almost certainly see us get punished with defeat.

This week started well with another very well attended training session with an emphasis on shooting, but going into the weekend it was already apparent that we would be desperately short of players, with the likes of Furno, Ross, PeeWee, Djimi, Jarv, Jordy and Jack all unavailable. We were also looking like we would also be missing Big Steve until Saturday morning.

It was disappointing for both Steve and Phil to see that despite underlining the importance of getting to the ground for 1pm, we were still waiting for people to arrive at 1.20pm.

This week's team contained a number of changes from last week. Geoff as usual was in goal. Dave and Sam came in for Jarv and Ross and they were joined at the back by Tom and 2-Gun. In midfield Pod started on the right, Elliot on the left and Mike was joined in the middle by Harps who replaced Peewee. Up front were Mark (replacing Djimi) and Gravy. Dom and Rob were on the bench.

It was nice to see that this week, the ground staff at Abbeylands earned their 60 odd quid by bothering to cut the grass and even painting the lines. We lost the toss but none the less we had the slight slope and sun with us in the first half and we got the kick off. From the off we were poor. Again, we obviously looked at the opposition, decided that because they were a bunch of kids with some old boys thrown in we could win the game if we focused our efforts on looking good rather than putting 100% in and stamping our authority on the game with a few crunching early tackles.

We were in “passing the ball around prior to kick off” mode for much of the first ten minutes and subsequently our passes went astray, we reacted long after situations had developed and Phil began to pace the sideline using the “C” and “F” words a lot. From the side S+H weren't a great team and while we were more concerned about clever passes and looking good, they wanted it badly and really stuck it to us in midfield.

We had periods where we strung many passes together, but like last week, far too often things came to an abrupt halt because when the simple pass or shot was on, we overcomplicated things and chose the wrong option. The opposition would then thrash it forward and we were under pressure.

On the rare occasions that we got the ball out to Elliot, we looked dangerous as he put in a series of great left footed balls. Disappointingly we couldn't get on the end of these and make them count and we often lacked numbers in their box.

We had a superb opportunity to score with 20 minutes gone. After having broken free down the right the ball was squared to our no.7, unfortunately the ball fell just behind the striker who couldn't get his foot round it, and before he could shoot he was overwhelmed by S+H players. We also had some half chances from corners; both Tom and Sam getting free headers from some superb deliveries for Elliot.

It was from our own corner that we conceded. Things broke down on our left and S+H broke quickly, having overloaded in their box we simply didn't have the pace of a Furno or Ross at the back and we were far too easily exposed. The pacey right sided player rode a couple of light OFC challenges and with just Geoff to beat, managed to score with their only attack. 1-0 S+H and a bitter blow for us

With 30 minutes of the game gone we still had not got our act together, despite long periods of possession we created nothing in front of goal and wasted chance after chance to either put someone clean through or simply pull the trigger. All this despite the best part of 30 minutes practicing shooting at training.

As the first half wore on, we allowed S+H to grow in confidence and we started to argue with each other and with the ref as our frustration mounted. We also began to look increasing disjointed and lost our shape including leaving ourselves short at the back and vulnerable to counter attacks.

Oatlands trudged in at half time for their imminent bollocking having had the majority of the possession, yet we failing to even force even one save out of their keeper. S+H deservedly 1-0 up.

A half time Phil suggested that we might want to concentrate on some of the following areas; putting some proper tackles in to S+H, passing the ball around with the sort of zip we do in training and getting organized at the back.

The second half started ok, we had the right intentions and we looked briefly like we might score as we put S+H under a lot of pressure. But after 5 minutes the second half settled down into a very poor and fairly physical 40 minutes.

Our efforts to put a few proper tackles up S+H resulted in us simply sliding in and going to ground which bought them exactly the sort of time they needed in order to make a pass, put in a cross or take a shot. We were also guilty of a lot of shirt pulling and other such crimes. In terms of zipping the ball around on the floor like we do in training, we did the opposite and the majority of the time that the ball left an OFC boot, it was to travel a long way through the air. At the back we were in total disarray, particularly when things broke down when we tried to bring the ball out of defence and we were left short at the back.

In the second half S+H enjoyed many more attacks than in the first half and if it wasn't for some outstanding saves from Geoff we would have been at least 3-0 down after 60 minutes.

People have grumbled because he bollocks people and organizes at the back, but we badly missed Ross at the back and were disorganized and not working as a bank of four. Without a solid bank of four, S+H players found plenty of time and space in behind our full backs and we were overrun at the back. Also, given the wind, the slope, far too often the keeper's long kick dropped over the top of the back four and it was down to Geoff to rush out intercept the ball.

I could write loads more about our problems on Saturday, but other problems that contributed to such a poor performance were a lack of communication on the pitch be it encouragement or simple shouts such as “man on” or “time” and our anticipation and reactions were awful.

We could (should) have had a penalty in the second half, but the terrible referee who even failed to spot an S+H player holding the ball with his hand in the first half refused to give it.

S+H got the deciding goal with 15 minutes left and despite our efforts; we would certainly have needed much more than 15 minutes to score in this game. Final score 2-0 to S+H.

Overall it was a bitterly disappointing display and with the exception of Geoff and Mike, we let ourselves down. S+H are certainly not the best team we have played this year, but you had to admire their determination and approach, also despite being a very young team they comfortably matched us physically and were worthy winners. One of our big problems at the moment is that we are not looking like scoring and while this happens we are always going to be courting the possibility of defeat. Up front we have for a number of games lacked cohesion; while Stew has remained a constant up front, he has played with 5 other different players. Without consistency up front we are finding it difficult to achieve the sort of understanding or anticipation of each others actions, like the sort that we have between our centre halves or when Al and Djimi played up front together 2 seasons ago and scored 10 and 18 goals respectively. Essentially someone needs to step up and make our second strikers position their own.

Despite being a bot of a gloomy day, there were some positives to take from the game. It was Sam Ahern's first game of the season and he put in a strong 60 minutes. Despite, looking at times like a tank trying to maneuver its way through a small Devonshire village, we got 90 minutes out of Big Steve in midfield and 2-Gun and Dave Ewan both achieved their 50 th caps for the club.

Next week its Lightwater Reserves at home. They are a real bogey team for us and we always play poorly against them. However if we lose this one then we are almost certainly going to be playing in D2 again next year. Next week we should have a number of players back and available for selection, so those wanting to start or get picked should get themselves down to training and let Phil or Djimi if they are available.

A big thanks to those that came down to watch and a big thanks to Djimi who refereed the game. Having now reffed a game he will probably have a greater understanding of the difficulties faced by the man in black and will keep his thoughts to himself when on the pitch in future. It was a shame to see that no-one on the pitch used the sort of phrases Djimi has used in the past to describe referees.

For those who turn up on a Saturday and constantly ask who it is we are playing each week, here are the following fixtures til Christmas. 24 th Lightwater (H), 2 nd Staines Lammas (A), 9 th Border and Heath End (A), 16 th Merrow (H). Tough games in there I think you will all agree.