Just Back on the Bus

we are in the draw so thats what counts but thought we made far too hard work of it....first half we sat off them far too much and gave them some belief/ confidence...our goal was out of the blue as we hadnt created anything.
Second half again slow start but picked up, especially after the 2nd goal.

Quite amusing to have the whole ground singing " you're getting sacked in the morning" to MadDog Allen.

MOM for me Collins..very solid and calm distribution from the back.

Quoted from Cloudy

A tough physical battle for most part. They had a few big uns but little idea. Typical non league battlers, there is a significant difference between the Conference and League 2 these days!😉

We were no great shakes in the first half when Fox and Collins were our best performers. Couldn’t get hold of it in midfield were only Hessenthaler was on it.

Vernam goal gave us a foot hold and the longer it went on our ‘footballers’ began to take control. Clifton really came to the fore along with Embleton after a quiet first hour and in the end we outclassed them and could/should have had more.

Hope we get a decent draw, hope it isn’t Gillingham or even Luton. Got a feeling we are going to Middlesbrough🤪

Hehe. Strange. I've also got  a feeling we'll get Middlesbrough away!

Quoted from moosey_club

we are in the draw so thats what counts but thought we made far too hard work of it....first half we sat off them far too much and gave them some belief/ confidence...our goal was out of the blue as we hadnt created anything.
Second half again slow start but picked up, especially after the 2nd goal.

Quite amusing to have the whole ground singing " you're getting sacked in the morning" to MadDog Allen.

MOM for me Collins..very solid and calm distribution from the back.

Completely agree. Can't imagine jolley was very happy with most of that performance

Quoted from SpudUDontLike

Concur with Barra's summary - a very satisfactory afternoon, made even better for me by finding myself next to and chatting with Brian Hill, Town winger in the sixties, full of stories about legendary players from Town and elsewhere. A lovely bloke.

One of the best games I have been to was when we beat Scunny 7-1 in the 60s and Brian Hill went past defenders as if they were wearing lead boots.

A really good win maybe not in terms of performance but in terms of learning for what is in reality a young team but one that week by week look like they are  growing in competence, ability, creativity confidence and unity, I so hope that MJ doesn't  lose any of the current stable starting 11 in January.

MJ has talked about mental strength and today all the work the coaching staff are doing on that kind of thing was evident as under Bignot, Slade and even earlier this season we'd have capitulated against the onslaught that we faced n the first 20 mins.

I also thought that MJ out thought Allen today as they clearly had a plan to move us around to try and make us lose "us shape" but despite that and the standard first half Macca hero moment we stood the test and went in with the lead, deserved? Not undeserved as we'd done a professional job.

To be fair the 2nd half started much like the first half but in reality with them pulling us around a bit but never really testing Macca. Then up popped "one of our own" Harry Clifton who now has the taste for goal and did well at he 2nd attempt to finish a really good break and followed it with the celebration to match. Cut this lad in half and he's got GTFC running through him like a stick of rock.

After the 2nd to be fair we toyed with them a bit and it could be argued squandered some great opportunities but what the hell the young kid are backing themselves and once again today 2 of them got on the score sheet which gives real credibility to MJ;s strategy.

The whole team deserve credit for today personally I really liked Collins who was a real warrior and the mid field quartet who once again always wanted the ball and where keen to work for each other.

However the star of the day was won for me before kick off when after his warm up before going in to get changed Macca gave a little lad down the front his goalie gloves - Pure Gold!! "We're all Town aren't we" well  one lad will be forever after today!

So into the hat and on the road to Wembley?........... #wecanalldream

UTM!

P.S. - Funniest moment of the day was when Mitch (I love a pen) Rose warmed up in front of their player to delay him taking a long throw and then got a big thumbs up from Macca once we'd cleared the threat.



    

Wasn't pretty but we did get the job done and even though they were the ones on the front foot for most of the game, we did defend well against their aerial bombardment all things considering. Bar that chance in the first 20 minutes, I never felt truly we were truly in danger.

Once the second went in, we took control and didn't look back.

Easy peasy squeeze the lemon that is tin pot Chesterfield, knew it would be an easy bagsy to the next round. The next game will more more challenging so fingers crossed we get a chance to progress to the next round.

Winning without playing our absolute best, a very good sign.  I'm continuing to love the engine room of Hess and Harry, they give the side real energy in the middle and it's noticeable how few opposition attacks come through this area now.

Still need to work on being calmer when under pressure and clearing the ball into areas where it doesn't come straight back.  Too any shouts for Thomas to chase down every lost cause when he's playing up front on his own.  He seems to have very good judgement about when closing down a defender or keeper is worthwhile and when it's just a waste of energy. Trust him, he's leading the line excellently.

Quoted from bedders78

Winning without playing our absolute best, a very good sign.  I'm continuing to love the engine room of Hess and Harry, they give the side real energy in the middle and it's noticeable how few opposition attacks come through this area now.

Still need to work on being calmer when under pressure and clearing the ball into areas where it doesn't come straight back.  Too any shouts for Thomas to chase down every lost cause when he's playing up front on his own.  He seems to have very good judgement about when closing down a defender or keeper is worthwhile and when it's just a waste of energy. Trust him, he's leading the line excellently.

I looked at Wes's face shortly before he got subbed he looked really knacked,

I agree he works up on his own most of the time and has a very good judgement on when to chase a ball or not,

His work rate is excellent and his goals are a bonus, keep it up Wes you are well thought of by the club and the fans.

Quoted from Mallyner

One of the best games I have been to was when we beat Scunny 7-1 in the 60s and Brian Hill went past defenders as if they were wearing lead boots.

I think that might have been his only hat trick for Town.

A fantastic night (watched it from the open Imperial corner - how I miss the corner area steps, looks so desolate and non-league now being just empty flat spaces)

Rod Green got a hat trick too and the great Sir Matt the other