Well on another dull and damp Saturday in November, The Mead battled hard but could not recover from 2 goals down against a hard working and efficent East Turrock side who gained revenge for the 2-0 defeat the Mead gained over them in the reverse fiture last month. The Mead were missing their two central midfeilders, with Scot M suspended and Lea Dawson not well, and that had some effect on their ability to get a grip on the game in the middle of the pitch. East Thurrkc came out of the traps strongly but with my rose tinted specs on, they had won clear chance when Sam Mott was quick off his line to block one of their strikers who was clean through. After that noth teams cancelled each other out for most of the half until shortly before half time the East Thurrock No.9, who was a handful agian, raced through reach the ball just before Sam Mott, and went over his arm and down, the referee gave the penaltly and we thought he had been conned, but thnking about it again if the keep goes to ground and does not get their first, they are asking for trouble. Sam Mott kept up in amazing penatly saving record this season, however, his block went straight back to the penalty taker who knocked it home to make it 1-0 to the visitors. The Mead came out at the start of the second half and were postive and had a few half chances, but then came the killer goal. With the Mead pushed forward for a free kick a misplaced pass as the ball broke out saw East Thurrock break away and their No. & was free to slot home their second. The Mead tried to regroup and again they made some half chances without really causing the East Thurrock keeper to much trouble, however a goal back did come when a corner was swung over by Ashley Proberts and headed home by Richard Avery. It then became a game of the Mead pressing for the equalisers with East Thurrock always dangerous on the break. The Mead had shots but no real clear cut chance to get the leveler. A late shot from one of the Twins flew over and after a few minutes of added time, East Thurrock secured a 2-1 victory. And in the tightly packed top half of the Ryman League Division One North, The Mead have gone from 2nd to 7th in one afternoon.
In the games I have seen this season, even the first one at Needham Market, their is no team who have outplayed us, some teams are very closely matched and one flash of brillance or a key decision can turn these games. Any team missing two of their key players would find it hard to deal with that. Injuries and suspensions are causing problems at the moment, and I appreciate that Keith has tried and is probable still trying to build a sqaud to cope with that.
Keep the heads up, and I will hopefully be along on Tuesday evening for the Cup game with Tonbridge, which is another chance to test ourselves against a team from a step up.
Cheers :-)