Winning Ugly

By: Paul Neal
Date: 13/03/2011

ANOTHER day, another Town win, Dave Moore keeps his 100% record. Simple eh! Don't believe that for one minute. This was a very poor performance and it was only the massively overdue substitutions that turned the game.

What a ground! A view downwards from the steps to the away seats resembled a building site); the away end was merely a concrete slope - terracing it wasn't.

Town lined up in with one change from last week - Bradley Wood replacing Hudson in midfield. It all started so well, with Town moving the ball around nicely and Coulson having plenty of space on the right. Sadly, the players thought it would be too easy and switched off after only 5 mins or so. The one real Town chance of the 1st half fell to Connell and he put it horribly wide.

Kettering were not looking particularly threatening but Leary + Wood had no grip on the midfield, despite both players allegedly being ball-winners. The midfield had succumbed like plenty of other partnerships before.

The Kettering goal was a mess. A disputed corner went right across our goal and was knocked in at the far post. Basic stuff! Ridley was lucky to escape a booking for his protests before and after the goal - I have to say that I thought he had the last touch in conceding the corner.

The goal did not wake Town up; the half time team talk fared little better. With about 20 mins to go, Town created a chance out of nothing and what a chance it was. Duffy was unmarked, 4 yards out, centre of the goal, and managed to put his header wide. A terrible, terrible miss. Connell then fashioned a chance out of nothing and hit the crossbar - very, very unlucky.

Eventually our caretaker management team had seen enough and Sinclair, Peacock + Makofo were introduced for Wood, Eagle + Duffy. There was just over 15 mins to go at this stage and at least one of those players should have been introduced sooner. Peacock did more in his short time than Connell + Duffy had done between them for 70 mins.

Within 10 mins of the subs coming on, Connell managed to find space in the inside left channel and put in a fine finish for the equaliser. Much to the delight of the away support. Too little too late? No way! Peacock flicked on a corner and there was Sinclair to drive in the winner in front of the delighted away support, just minutes later. It really was that easy and I was left wondering why on earth our players couldn't have done that sooner. A third goal would have taken the mick and Peacock should have obliged. He received the ball in a great position, 20 yards out. Instead of steadying himself, he tried to lob the keeper but only succeeded in clearing the bar. Our defence held onto the lead without too much ado and 3 grateful points were ours. Cue the celebrating of players and fans alike.

I can see why Dave Moore doesn't want the job. Why give up the security of a physio role and risk getting sacked within 12 to 24 months? The players are still mentally weak. There is no ruthless, winning mentality; there’s too much waiting for things to happen rather than actually going out and doing it. Unless ya name is Lee Peacock. His cameo role lifted the players and maybe that’s his best role now. It was worrying that the team could play so badly without Dave Moore choosing to bring on his subs until over 70 mins had gone. Town got away with it at Kettering but I don't see a play off chasing team there. A quick word about Leary - anonymous like most others. I cannot believe that posters on the Fishy board thought he played well. He didn't but was in very good company. Steve Croudson? Top man for putting his body on the line for GTFC - shame the others in front couldn't replicate this!

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