Well as coach its always hard to know if the plans you make will work or fail. Belief in what you do and trust becomes very much a fine line.

A Squad started well , warm up and mental attitude was perfect, subs also were ready and fired up for a game. Pembroke came out very cocky and i thought over confident in their wasteful shots on goal way outside the box.

The first 15mins was picture perfect Barcelona style , we played from the back and developed passing up to 23 and lots of 10 to 13 , this created possesional football and lots of chances within 5 mins true to form in the last few weeks Uni missed several chances, however kept the pressure and structure to a tee.

As the game went on Pembroke become frustrated and tackles and shoulders/elbows crept in with several crunching tackles – a very tough and physical game.

The play swayed back forth, some parts uni whites dominating play the other Pembroke, defence lacked some real integrity and confidence dropped to old style with Dan also succumbing to pressure of going long…

However despite the errors (a learning exercise to improve) some great play developed, Whites played a variation and created some opportunities that would have given us 2 or 3 goals up 1st half, newbie Rob who played a varied role due to players away smashed the back of the net with a nice counter from a corner the opposite end, displaying courage and confidence that the Pembroke goals are open for business. Pembroke swung into action and pushed hard for about 10mins however again giving whites several opportunities to deliver pressure. Anoop also had input with a fiery shot which on all accounts would have reached escape velocity and missed the back of the net fractionally , ( paint is gone on the post).

Here Pembroke lofted ball after ball to their wings and forwards , loopy balls which caused some break down in defence and corner fest for Pembroke, despite this Pembroke could not break through , despite having 100 chances and missing every one, more so the pressure and pressing on the players which ashwi delivered without a thought and kept them completely caught off guard. Pembroke frustrated began the heavy tackle and hard hitting crunches , Jon was first to go with concussion and wondering where he was and who he was with.

Half time came with whites up 1 nil but not out of the woods. Defence had been under a lot of pressure and confidence was low, however some extraordinary calmness and great passing out wide produced some interesting frustrations with anoop displaying some excellent skills and calmness to develop play. Pembroke again got rough and tough and things started to take a low point, it seemed whites were breaking down. Under enormous pressure holes started to appear in Pembroke, and with this opportunities opened up with several runs into goals, one these was a tackle from behind and penalty ! much to the disgust of the Pembroke fans, the coaches ear was extremely sore with the ear bashing of every possible word or dissent and disrespect to whites, complaining about the ref, how much we paid them and so on. Even how tough and dirty we are ???? even my instructions were being mimicked especially the 70% ! in fact the more they talked the more funny it was as they really wanted to know what it meant and harassed for 65% or even 45% anyway while the coach was getting a sore ear from the %$%$#$ off the field , Crab decided to step up on the spot, keeper read it well and follow up on the save was tough with the goalie just getting hands to it. Pembroke was happy and things seem to turn to desperation for whites.

Some poor mistakes by defenders led to a penalty the other end with unnecessary tackles and this one went into the back of the net for Pembroke – 1 all.

Whites still had the game and rob again pulled a counter attack with several players involved with the penalty making up for the mistake with a good setup and put away , 2 -1 , Pembroke was not happy and intensity of toughness lifted , players were going down , 3 counters and white produced 2 goals for the taking but failed to slot them quickly , in desperation ashwi tried to flick a ball on while on the ground and twisted his knee- this was a terrible blow and some restructures had to take place with 10 men 15 mins of time seemed like an eternity but white showed grit and determination to deliver a fatal blow to Pembroke and take points , this year looks like its going to be tough , physical play can be intimidating and loss of confidence , it is my hope that the unbelievers are now believers and see that by possession of football even the toughest opposition cannot win by physical alone they tire too, playing smarter and with a set plan will overcome any team that thinks it can bustle its way, after all football is about brains not brawn and we at the whites have this.

Well done; it wasn’t pretty but it was a WIN !!! Go UNI WHITES !!!!!

All should be proud team work even with faults will still be team work. Hope Ash you are ok and well see you soon, rest up and well see ya soon.

JamesTop