THE ALLIGATORS WEEKEND PREVIEW, JANUARY 14TH 2012.
January 14th, 2012 § Leave a Comment
Well tomorrow it looks almost certain that the Alligators shall at last return to playing league football after a considerable break for both bad weather, christmas and the new year.
An excellent fun and training session indoors at Carn Brea was arranged and enjoyed by everyone between xmas and the new year and we have managed to train most weeks in the cage at Wendron, even if our games were called off.
What we are desperately short of are games, or match practice.
I feel the boys are becoming frustrated with just training. It’s a bit like a boxer that can only hit a punch bag, but needs a real opponent to hit in order to prove himself and actually put into practice everything he’s been training for.
For me I am also really pleased that we can at last play a proper match again and I know the feeling will be the same for the whole squad. A chance to really let off some steam, work hard with a combined team purpose and hopefully enjoy playing a passing game of football.
Early in December Jordan Lawry suffered quite a worrying knee injury in training, which was a big blow to him, to me and the squad. Fortunately he has now fully recovered, has been training for a few weeks and returns to the team tomorrow. A massive boost to the team and great news for Jordan.
Max Pattle, who has also had problems with his knee, also returned to training this week for the first time since early December. His knee appears to be quite a bit better, although I’m told it will for a little while be an ongoing growth problem.
With Max I shall, along with his parents, have to keep a close eye on him to make sure he does not over do it. With his parents permission I shall look to use him more as an impact player over the next few weeks, as with all my players my number one priority has to be their well-being.
The first half of the season is now officially behind us and the Alligators find themselves in second place in the league, having played the same amount of games as the teams around them. A very good start to their eleven aside football. If we can do as well in the second half of the season I shall be very pleased. Well done Alligators, now try to keep it up.
CULDROSE V ALLIGATORS…….
THE HELSTON AREA LOCAL DERBY.
We have had some interesting matches against tomorrows opponents, Culdrose, over the years. Nearly always tight games, Culdrose are a well coached and disciplined side.
Last season we beat them 2-1 at their place on a bitter winters day that is most memorable for a ten minute snow blizzard where at times it was hard to see where the game was being played. The team really seemed to think it was great fun and no doubt the three points kept them warm all the way home.
In pre-season we lost 4-3 to Culdrose at Wendron on the banana pitch, having been 3-2 up with a minute to go !
This season’s league game up at Rame was a similar story.
The Alligator’s held the lead, scoring early in the first half, had dominated most of the game, but not put away a number of good chances. In the last couple of minutes, two extremely soft goals gifted Culdrose the three points.
That defeat was the lowest I have ever personally felt after any game of football, be it playing, watching, coaching or managing. I felt totally robbed. The boys must have felt the same way and this was the game where Sam Young as he walked off the pitch commented to his Culdrose opponent and schoolmate,”YOU WON, BUT YOU KNOW WE WERE THE BETTER TEAM”. There was no bad sportsmanship in his comment, just real disapointment. Yes that game hurt everyone, coaches, players and parents.
The beauty of football is of course that you can dust yourself off, pick yourself and each other up and remember that there are always two league games to a season and tomorrow the Alligators can try to reverse that defeat and thereby regain the bragging rights, particularly in the Helston school playground on Monday.
So another tough game ahead, but nothing to fear if we stay disciplined and all do our individual jobs and remember to give everything throughout the game and particularly in the last couple of minutes..
GOOD LUCK ALLIGATORS. ENJOY YOURSELVES.
See you all at 9.30 sharp.
Coach, Danny Everard.
