This time the stats don't lie because it was that bad. We got just the one shot on target and that came from the man that was substituted to make way for reserve keeper Steve Taylor to take his place between the sticks and then seconds later pick the ball out of the net.
The reason for Taylors appearance was down to Scott Bevan being the last man when Gary Thompson beat the, ever risky, offside trap and our defenders stood waiting for the whistle. It never came and Scott tried to get the ball from the Morecambe strikers feet but, as always, the slightest contact is going to bring a man in full flight down.
Thompson couldn't avoid it and we can't argue with it. As it was the best player on the pitch until that moment was sacrificed to make way for Taylor and only Mark Yates can tell us why he made such a lamentable decision.
The game started with Christie and Constable this time with it being obvious that after starting with Hay and Reynolds mid week didn't work and was never going to. Ironically it looks like the pairing of our two first choice strikers isn't working either and one wonders wether they're on the same wavelength because they just don't seem able to work as a team.
Add into the equation that the midfield was non existent yet again and the lack of service to our front two blindingly obvious.
Another reason for our poor home form can also be directed to the groundstaff - Eric, I think his name is - that have failed to water the pitch since the Aldershot game, that was only watered after that game had ended, and could explain why the pitch was bone hard, too hard to pass a ball comfortably on. Are the sprinklers running at Aggborough as I write this?
As mentioned Russell had our only shot on target when he volleyed just over the bar after spotting the Morecambe keeper slightly off his line with their goal coming late in the half.
Simon Russell
