MATCH REPORT

NEWPORT PAGNELL F C 0 V TRING ATHLETIC F C 2
7TH December 2019

PLUS CA CHANGE

Discipline is the key, this was the headline in my match report v Crawley Green back in August
Teams that are reduced to ten men always lose, I wrote this in my match report v Baldock in September
Michael Toner offers us something different, my comments in the match report from our last match v Welwyn.

So, another week, another match but these are exactly my thoughts today, looking back on yesterdays match. Not original, but totally relevant. Everything is different but everything remains the same.

The lads dealt with a hostile atmosphere, together with an opposition that lost their heads, remarkably well. My notes at half time read, if we finish the game with eleven men we will win the game. We did and we did.

The first half was memorable only for the double sending off in the 35th minute. Whilst one can have some sympathy for any player who gets two yellows, sympathy is hard to find when a member of the management team loses it and gets a straight red. This kind of behaviour is unhelpful to his team and merely galvinises the opposition. Well done boys for keeping your cool when others around you were losing theirs.
Our excellent second half performance was a result of total focus on the game and the job, and ignoring all the other stuff that was going on. It was a tough match to referee and on reflection his key decisions were all pretty much spot on.

We saw another majestic performance from our centre half, as good as Tuesdays. This time not Jay, but Tommy Fletcher who was an absolute rock at the heart of our defence. He handled the free-scoring Jimmy Burnside with aplomb, showing all the qualities of speed, strength and anticipation that we have begun to recognise as Tommys hallmarks. Not far behind Tommy in a superb defence which blocked out the divisions highest scoring team, was Jack Made in Tring Sunderland. Jacks winger was a handful but Jack played him out of the game and even had time for his traditional forward forays, using the skills that made him such an attacking talent in his earlier years, coming through the clubs ranks.

A penalty on the hour, after Marcus Mealing has been sent tumbling by a combination of keeper and centre half. Max took a practice attempt first and then smashed an absolute rocket into the top corner with the real one. Play with your heads now lads and see the game through. We did that, and more.

Michael Toners left-footed shot after 85 minutes was hit with such power that, if the net hadnt been there it would have landed at Junction 15 of the M1. Keeper didnt move probably shot of the season; if there is a better one I hope I am there to see it!

2-0 and game over. A very important win this at third placed Newport, putting even more distance between us and the pack. It is our fourth win on the trot and we approach matches v London Colney and North Greenford United this week with every confidence. Nearly four hours since we conceded a couple of last ditch Charlie Mann saves keeping that record in tact.
So, a great away day. Unfortunately I didnt win the raffle but Daves horse did come in at 5-1!

Team: C Mann, J Carter, J Sunderland, P Lowen, T Fletcher, M Toner, L Dunstan (F John 60), D Ferrigno, M Mitchell (M Rickman 80), M Mealing, T Dixon

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