Definitely the game of the season (so far!). Stevenage made their intentions clear at the start with a series of brutal fouls on our smaller players. Unfortunately a weak ref thought they might benefit from a chat with him rather than a booking (he did not know that with Stevenage there is no-one at home) so it is a mystery how they ended this part of the game with only one yellow. Even worst the ref and linesman missed a blatant handball in the build up to their first goal. Similarly they were incompetent in missing a clear foul by us in the build-up to our first so honours even there. It was great to see Collins moving so well and our other attacking players getting close to him and playing him in on goal. We then had a good attacking period when Collins was upended when about to have a shot (not even a yellow card for that) and Lawrence slotted home coolly. Then a great move put Collins in but the keeper just about got a hand on his chip. Worse was to come as we were caught sleeping by a clever far post corner and conceded again. Stevenage were much less of an attacking threat in the second half and we had a lot of pressure from corners and then their keeper foiled Collins again. The familiar time-wasting and play-acting was in evidence as Stevenage tried to hang on for a point but it was fantastic with a few minutes left to see Collins get in on goal again and slot it home this time. It was a very sweet moment to beat a side like them (if my side played with the cynicism they do I would give up watching football). A rejuvenated Collins must be Man of the Match but honourable mention must also go to Gayle and Lawrence who repeatedly carved Stevenage open down our right hand side. Finally I am all for equal opportunities but that should not extend to a clearly visually impaired linesman who seemingly did not know that a handball is a foul or that the whole of the ball has to cross the line for a throw-in - his second half performance was the worst I have ever seen in over fifty years of watching football
Great write up ghmm. Summed it up perfectly. Glad you mentioned Gayle, he must be classed as the most improved player. He tackled well attempted so crossing, some of which didn't work out, but he did at one point run neatly with the ball and then lose it only to tackle well to remove the ball from their player. Lawrence and Collins worked very hard and Collins covered an awful lot of pitch and deserves the MoM award. NPK and Goldson also did some excellent work at the back and it was a shame that their second goal seemed to roll through their legs and into the net.
Demetriou should get an honourable mention and Ellis was dominant. Outperformed both Goldson and NKP. Woods was more effective today than he has been recently. Wouldn't give Collins MOM because he should have put Shrewsbury out of sight long before the winner. The linesman on the East side also did not realise that the whole of the ball had to be over the line. Is this some sort of new ruling that has come in unannounced? He did know what handball was, giving one decision for us when the ball struck their defender's hand from such a short distance that he had no chance of getting out of the way.
Aren't the officials in this league the worst bunch you have ever come across but they are consistent if nothing else. Just reading your write up as I had a look at what Mr Westley had to say post match. When we played Stevenage they did exactly the same to us. They are the dirtiest bunch of players I have seen in a very long time and Mr Westley applauds their every hatchet job. Time wasting is also an art form for them. However when things don't quite go his way Mr Westley has a right old toot and blames everyone from the tea lady to the groundsman who failed to cut one blade of grass the same length as the rest. We got a point from them in the 9th minute of extra time much to the pleasure of the supporters who were getting more and more irate at his players antics and laying down on the floor feigning injury. Mr Westley was beside himself with anger much to the pleasure of the supporters also. They are an odious side and with an even more odious manager and I am so pleased you beat them and he isn't happy once again.
KDS, I think you are a bit harsh on Collins - you regularly see some of the best strikers in the Premier League missing one on ones. If he was a 100% clinical striker he would not be playing in League 2. He has had more shots on goal than any other player in this League this season and is one goal behind Richards as the top goalscorer. He also is one of the best defensive centre forwards I have ever seen and runs and runs for 90+ minutes. I have spoken to supporters of at least five teams in this league this season who say he is the player from our team they would most want to play for them.We are very lucky to have him at our club again and if he continues in his current form he will lead us to promotion.
Harsh but fair. Missing "one on ones", particularly easy ones, is akin to a keeper fumbling the ball causing a goal against.
I would say the two situations are not the same as the incidence of keepers conceding goals by making fumbles are much rarer than strikers missing one on ones which is common at any level. I doubt if even Premier league strikers score more than fifty per cent of those and I don't think any of them are easy (unless like us you are sat in the stand - I certainly never have a bad game up there!)
You don't give a keeper MOM if he makes mistakes. Same rule should apply to strikers, defenders et al.
KDS, I think we will have to agree to disagree on this one. I look forward to another debate with you about MOM for the Southend game!
