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23rd December 2009 -
Hightower's Christmas Address
Steady as she goes.
If I
were a captain of a huge tanker at sea that is how I’d describe the 1st
team’s form going into Christmas. Southbank isn’t a tanker…although the
assessment still stands.
As the 1st
team enter their first Christmas as a Senior Division team we have steadied
ourselves after by our own high standards set over the past couple of years, we
had a bad start. Heavy opening day defeats to Abbey Rangers (4-1), followed by
crushing defeats to AA (Berks & Bucks) (3-1 aet) and Woodley Saints (4-2) have
tested the resolve of the team right to the core. We aren’t used to losing is
the players own assessment of the situation.
However, the team’s
evolved quickly, the 4-2 defeat to Woodley Saints was the turning point, 20
barmy first half minutes when we found ourselves 3 nil down was actually good
for us…the team found itself on the edge. There really was only two ways to go
and that Sunday afternoon proved difficult. The signings of Steve Marshall,
Jonny Adey, Alex Cooper and Will Strang during the autumn have helped balance
the books following the departure of some key players, notable Danny
Fitzpatrick, James Fletcher and Daryl Fairbrother. The squad although not
overloaded is big enough, talented enough and I hope determined enough to stay
the course now.
Credit to the
players here, the 5-1 defeat of Richfield, minus the gaffer was awesome no
question. If the team had lost that game, who knows where we would have gone
from there!!! This victory has seen a further 4 victories, 1 draw and just the
single defeat to Dee Road up to Christmas which has steadied the team and seen
them consolidate themselves into the top half of the league.
If the commitment
remains, the team should win more than it loses during 2010 and consolidate in
the division but the Senior Division is unforgiving and you can go backwards
quickly. If you have a weakened team you will get found out. The team remain in
the Tilehurst Charity Cup with Whitley Tavern standing between them and the
next round. Could they make the final??? Time will tell if the tanker hits
choppy waters over the coming months.
Happy Christmas
HT
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