Encouraging signs despite cup defeat

After yesterday’s cup defeat, it’s honestly hard to feel overly disheartened. In my opinion, apart from lapses of concentration which cost us the goals, the way we played football and our rotations in midfield to forward area was probably one of our best footballing performances this season on what was a very tricky pitch.

For a variety of reasons, we were missing no fewer than seven players yesterday from what is already a tight squad so we had to get a couple of last minute signings in to get a bench together. However, once again, we matched higher league opposition but the challenge is to bring this type of performance back to the league and on a consistent basis.

We feel things we are working in training through the week are starting to show at the weekends though and the football on show at times is a joy to watch. The frustration is the goals we are conceding as they invariably come from moments when we’re not doing the things we’ve worked on. I feel if we can just eliminate these sloppy moments and keep the game simple then the consistency and results will follow. The lads know how we want to play though so we will continue working on those aspects at training and I’m convinced we’ll get there. You can see watching the boys when they do what they’re asked they are a very good team. But they have to be at it for the ninety minutes and just be that little bit more streetwise and disciplined and trust the way we play. 

Once again though, there are far more positives than negatives to take from this match and we now focus on next week’s match at home against Kennoway Star Hearts.

All the best to Arniston Rangers in the next round.