Kingstonians 0 ASB 4

Was it the early start? The lack of match practise? Revisiting a ground where a
horror show against Fulham had scuppered our season a few years back? Or a few
too many hangovers? Whatever you believe, a sluggish ASB started slowly and
performed only in patches against a solid Kingstonian team yet still ran out
comfortable 4-0 winners thanks to an improved second half performance.

Inga didn't quite say it in the true Redknapp style, but our squad was down to
the bare bones for this trip to south-west London . Availability gave the gaffer
limited flexibility but he still sprang a few surprises with Woody in goal,
Frangi at centre back and a Brian/Nick midfield axis.

Woody
Weeman Orville Frangi Task
Rocky Brian Nik-Nik Slouch
Billy Sharkey

subs: Rob, Juzza

Pre-match the focus had been on starting hard with lots of off the ball effort
and playing plenty of short passes. The pitch was in good condition with a bit
of moisture on top which got the ball zipping along the surface. If anything
this helped Kingstonian a touch more as they committed strongly into some early
tackles that wouldn't have been possible on a surface that was drier or muddier,
as they seized on the slightest bit of miscontrol from ASB. Going forward wasn't
a problem in the early stages, especially when we managed to get the ball down
and play. There was some nice interplay between attack and midfield with most of
the front six getting sighters on goal at one point or another.

The first goal arrived on 15 minutes. Task fed the ball up the channel to
Billy's feet. A nice half turn allowed him to slip the ball through to Sharkey
who finished neatly. Thereafter we failed to capitalise on our possession, while
at the other end Woody was called upon to salvage a number of one-on-ones.
Kingstonian weren't under enough pressure in possession which allowed them to
build attacks and break freely at the defence. As a team we weren't putting
enough effort in to make the game small. The big pitch didn't help and it was
surprisingly energy sapping and I personally found it harder to play on than
anticipated. This meant there was a decent gap between defence and midfield
which Kingstonian exploited to their advantage.

One move from the back saw them play a long ball forward under little pressure.
Their striker spun off his man leaving Frangi with the difficult choice of
following his man who was a threat, or challenging the midfield runner who was
breaking forward with nobody covering his run. Frangi made the right choice in
closing down the midfield runner in possession, but he skipped past his
challenge and was one on one with Woody only for his strong shot to hit the bar.

At this point as captain I suggested to Inga we swap Frangi and Weeman as I felt
Frangi would be able to distribute from full back without going as far forward
as Weeman likes. The midfield was attacking well, but we were very vulnerable as
soon as we lost possession - the many good runs we had made going forward left
nobody at home when the move broke down.

The game was finely balanced - Kingstonian were creating chances but once we'd
cut out the easier opportunities and one on ones, we looked a little more solid.
Going forward, the quality of our possession was only lacking in the final third
as we made many good breaks but failed to capitalise. Slouch went close with one
effort across goal after good work done the left from task, Brian and Sharkey.
Sharkey hit the inside of the post after a neat reverse ball from Billy, but we
just couldn't make it stick. An inswinging corner from task was cleared off the
line by the man on the post and the follow up a few minutes later was somehow
put wide. Kingstonian were making us work hard and getting stuck in. One tackle
from their long haired midfielder went a bit beyond acceptable as he jumped in
with studs showing on Niknik. Brian made his displeasure clear but the tackle
had more to do with over-enthusiasm rather than malicious intent, even if it
looked a bit
nasty.

At half time Inga emphasised the need to up our work rate and match Kingstonian
for effort. With hindsight the first half was a classic case of us not being at
our best when a team works really hard to close us down and flies into a few
tackles. Kingstonian were making it hard for us to play on a big pitch that
required big efforts to make the game small, which we weren't quite managing.

No changes at half time but the game changed on a smart bit of opportunism that
handed us our get out of jail free card. Billy chased down a long pass from
Niknik their keeper was trying to shepherd out of play. He scarpered round the
keeper and shot from an acute angle next to the byline - a la Ray Jones at
Southampton - and ASB were 2-0 up. A quality bit of poaching from Rice jr. This
was vital, coming shortly after Kingstonian had hit Woody's post with a long
shot following a corner.

Amazing what that vital second goal can do. We sensed Kingstonians frustration
and were quick to get on the front foot again. We won a throw on the right wing
which task trotted over to take. It was only ever going near post - lads please
note unless there is wind it only ever, ever, goes there - and I was more than
miffed when Kingstonian appeared to clear their lines with ease. Having shouted
at Billy in forceful terms to get round the ball at the near post I trotted back
to the halfway line fuming only to stop and turn at Weeman's prompting and see
we had a penalty. I hadn't seen it but their defender had got all over Sharkey
from the throw and the ref had given us a penalty. Apparently it was entirely
justified but we've been denied them so many times but opposition refs that I
for one never expected to be given anything. Niknik stepped up and shot home
powerfully with a good pen for 3-0.

Rob came on shortly after up front to cause havoc as Kingstonian tired. This he
managed, but without quite converting the opportunities that came his way. Rob
found himself in the clear one on one midway through the second half, but his
shot was smothered. Later a good run was thwarted in the area when Rob just
couldn't get the ball out of his feet. At 3-0 down we were comfortable and
coping better with Kingstonian attacks if not entirely solid. Frangi was
distributing well from a right back berth, but Rocky couldn't quite find the
killer ball. On the left Slouch made a lovely run in from the byline but all our
players were at the back post instead of near or on the penalty spot looking for
a cutback.

The game was sealed at 4-0 after some nice interplay in midfield allowed Slouch
to release Brian one on one with the keeper. Brian slotted underneath the keeper
with ease. Inga had been yelling all game at Brian to shoot and our adopted Scot
justified the gaffer's exhortations with a neat finish.

Inga gave Woody man of the match for his vital saves in the first half and we
wandered off to the changing room pondering what lessons were to be learnt. The
first one should be not to be too down on ourselves - Kingstonian had some
decent players and worked bloody hard to close us down and got plenty of hard
tackles in. Inspite of a bare squad and not being at our best we did eventually
dispatch them with ease when we stepped up in the second half.

Plenty of grist for the mill elsewhere though. That old bugbear - taking our
chances and improving our play in the final third. Billy's goal showed just how
important that second goal is. We also have to work harder as a team to defend.
That includes the defence - we were incredibly slow getting to the halfway line.
We need to move up to get close to the midfield, which in turn helps them defend
us. The lethargy in the team was catching in the first half and something we
definitely need to avoid against West Ham.

task