BISHOPS STORTFORD
I made a number of changes to our successful cup winning team in order to manage the remaining games we have. We are gradually collecting a number of injuries that are depleting our squad. Lewis Rolfe and Ben Walster join long term casualties Lucas Kirkpatrick, Jay Dowie, Elliot Bailey and Kieran McCaffrey and I am finding it harder to give other players a much needed rest. Fatigue is definitely playing a part in our approach play and this was evident in the Stortford game.
We were fortunate to come away with the three points but I am not complaining about a 1-0 victory and another clean sheet.
DORCHESTER
I actually enjoyed the first half against Dorchester. Both teams tried to play attacking football and I felt we had a couple of decent phases of play.
As the game wore on I could possibly see us getting more and more tired and we paid the price when Dan Webb pulled his hamstring on the stroke of half time to finish his season.
Whilst in the last three games we have not been our vintage selves the endeavour and hard work has been there for all to see and we have been rewarded with three consecutive clean sheets.
HEREFORD
We welcomed the worthy league champions Hereford to a slick Top Field pitch that made football easy to play. I opted to play with a 5-1-2-2 formation which saw us set up to stay in the game for as long as possible. The idea was to frustrate Hereford and restrict their chances.
We had three good opportunities to score ourselves despite giving up a lot of possession. We worked very hard to defend as the movement from Hereford was exceptional and we had to cover so much ground to thwart them.
We conceded a well worked and well taken goal which saw us trail 1-0 at half time. Unfortunately Kevin Byrne was injured in the first half and was unable to continue which meant I had to move Brett Donnelly to centre back as I had run out of defensive cover.
Hereford scored a second goal soon in to the second half and I had to make another change with James Budden having to come off. Once again I had to shuffle the pack and Robbie Burns fitted in admirably at right wing back.
Again all the players gave 100% effort and did not deserve to concede a late third goal. However there was no disgrace in losing to the league champions with such a depleted squad. I am very proud of the players doing jobs they are unaccustomed to and working hard to the very end.
WEYMOUTH
We travel to Weymouth for our final game of the season and we really are down to the bare bones as Roy has outlined in the bulletin. If we had not had such a large squad we would be struggling to field eleven players!
However I know the players left will give their all and hopefully we can return with some reward