Pre-match: Steve O’Reilly’s pre-match notes v Kings Langley

Here are Steve O’Reilly’s pre-match notes before tomorrow’s game with Kings Langley.

“For all the good intentions and the genuine thoughts behind it, there are few things more frustrating in football than when someone says to you after a defeat, “you deserved more than that”.

“I hate hard luck stories. We have performed well in the past week in two different circumstances but ultimately we haven’t got anything out of those two games. Yes, there were positives in our Wormley performance on Saturday and, without another ‘dubious’ linesman decision, we likely would have taken our cup quarter-final on Wednesday to penalties. But neither of those gave us that elusive win.

“Reflecting on the Wormley game, in both halves for the opening 30 minutes I felt we edged both periods and, certainly with the game at 2-2, we did look the more likely team. An inch or two lower and Jake (who has been excellent since returning) would have seen his header hit the bar and the ball go in instead of up and over. Then, minutes later, we conceded another ‘once a season’ type of goal, their second of the game, and despite throwing everything at it we couldn’t find an equaliser we would have deserved.

“Then onto Wednesday in our Premier Division Cup tie against Cockfosters, played at Haringey Borough. Unlike Mark Guehi, who somehow can play for two teams in the FA Cup, we were limited in our selection for the game, with six of the current squad cup-tied and unfortunately unavailable for us in the competition.

“Despite that, and the fact that we were up against a side who have had a great season and sit in the last eight of the FA Vase, we performed at a high level for most of the evening. They are a quality side but, for the most part, we contained their chances and capitalised to take the lead just after half time. At that point we gave ourselves something to hold onto but twice we failed to clear our lines when we had the opportunity and we fell behind through our own mistakes.

“The lads stuck at the task though and we gave opportunities to a number of our Under 18s from the bench, who gave us fresh energy. Then on 89 minutes Plamedi struck home what looked like his second of the game but for a linesman’s flag. Watching back the game on Thursday morning, it looked like another poor decision.

”So yeah, more hard luck stories. Ultimately though we have to look inward for the answers. There are things in football you can’t control and the officials and, in some respects, the opposition are those. What we need to do is ensure that we address the root cause behind why we are losing the games that we are.

“I firmly believe it’s not an ability issue among this group now. Yes, there are still areas where we may need to add some additional quality but, game after game, we are more than competing. But we need to find another level in terms of focus and intensity that we are not sustaining for 90 minutes. Then it’s about belief. We need to win to get the monkey off our back and to really kick on.

“I absolutely see how much the lads care. That isn’t in question in our mind. Some lads want to turn it around so much and maybe because of that are playing tight. We need to balance that need to win but also allow the lads the freedom to still enjoy their football. It’s a tough balance and there is urgency to get it right.

“The fixtures don’t get any easier though and we play a Kings Langley team that sit in the play off places and have plenty of firepower that we will need to contain in order to get a result.

“The positive is that we have more than a third of the league season to play and it’s all in our hands to make it happen. Performances have been on an upward curve so, with a bit better weather on the horizon, hopefully we will get into a good rhythm of games and already we have seen some lads who have needed that game time are starting to reach the levels we know they can. We now need to tie it all together for 90 minutes and that win will happen.

“As always, we thank you for the support you give us home and away. It is never taken for granted.

“Enjoy the game”.

Steve