It was three defeats in a row for Corinthian-Casuals as Potters Bar Town came from behind to snatch a deserved 2-1 victory at King George’s Arena on Saturday.
Warren Mfula had put the hosts in front with a second-half strike but goals from substitute Aaron Morgan-Cummings and Dernell Wynter gave all three points to the visitors.
“A couple of weeks ago I said, ‘I couldn’t see anyone beating us’,” lamented Manager James Bracken after the loss. “That’s because we were doing things so well, that was how it was looking at the time. Sadly, we’ve stopped performing to that level. But we had bad spells at the start of the season and we fixed it.
“We didn’t play well enough with the wind behind us on Saturday. We appeared to settle for 0-0 at half time and go for it after the break. That wind was strong enough that we could’ve penned them in and had plenty more wind-assisted shots. We need to take advantage of opportunities like that.
“However, we got our noses in-front and looked more of a threat. Sadly, we took our foot off the gas and relaxed too much. We didn’t win enough first balls or second balls. It just wasn’t good enough. Sometimes we think scoring once is enough. We need to take advantage of good spells and put games to bed.
“The defending for the two goals was poor. We looked at those that we conceded in the week at Lewes. The last two we conceded constituted errors from four or five players. Potters Bar’s first goal was the same. We’ve had multiple opportunities to clear the ball and not one player has been able to do that.
“It was a quagmire out there and the conditions were difficult. The wind didn’t help matters at all. But at this level, players must do their jobs defensively. If we don’t, their attack stays alive, they score and from there, they have the momentum.
“There’s not a lot between Saturday and tonight to address it. At the minute, we need to get on the training ground. We have to give opportunities to players where shirts become available on a Monday or Thursday evening. Training allows us to pick a team that reflects what we’ve seen during these sessions. Now, we’re picking a side that have won, but strayed a little. We’re not being able to see where players are until you put them in a match. It’s difficult. It’s a guessing game as to how you think they’ll perform.
“But we’ll be ready for Tuesday. I believe we’ll win, because I will always believe we’ll win any game we go into. We have to ensure we come out of the match with something and look to build on that come Saturday.
“I’m never one to use excuses but when we went to Lewes last week, our top three goal scorers were all unavailable. There’re not many teams that can afford to miss their three main strikers and still expect to be at the same level. It’s good to have Warren Mfula back from those three.
“We have no budget to bring in re-enforcements when we need them. We have good players and good lads here that are waiting for opportunities and they’re coming along. If they take them, that’s great. If they fall a little short, they can’t say they didn’t get an opportunity.
“It’s not all doom and gloom though. If you’d have said we’d go into Christmas in twelfth position, everyone would’ve taken that. It’s up to us all now to ensure the next few games, we get it right and go out and become winners again.”
Warren Mfula had put the hosts in front with a second-half strike but goals from substitute Aaron Morgan-Cummings and Dernell Wynter gave all three points to the visitors.
“A couple of weeks ago I said, ‘I couldn’t see anyone beating us’,” lamented Manager James Bracken after the loss. “That’s because we were doing things so well, that was how it was looking at the time. Sadly, we’ve stopped performing to that level. But we had bad spells at the start of the season and we fixed it.
“We didn’t play well enough with the wind behind us on Saturday. We appeared to settle for 0-0 at half time and go for it after the break. That wind was strong enough that we could’ve penned them in and had plenty more wind-assisted shots. We need to take advantage of opportunities like that.
“However, we got our noses in-front and looked more of a threat. Sadly, we took our foot off the gas and relaxed too much. We didn’t win enough first balls or second balls. It just wasn’t good enough. Sometimes we think scoring once is enough. We need to take advantage of good spells and put games to bed.
“The defending for the two goals was poor. We looked at those that we conceded in the week at Lewes. The last two we conceded constituted errors from four or five players. Potters Bar’s first goal was the same. We’ve had multiple opportunities to clear the ball and not one player has been able to do that.
“It was a quagmire out there and the conditions were difficult. The wind didn’t help matters at all. But at this level, players must do their jobs defensively. If we don’t, their attack stays alive, they score and from there, they have the momentum.
“There’s not a lot between Saturday and tonight to address it. At the minute, we need to get on the training ground. We have to give opportunities to players where shirts become available on a Monday or Thursday evening. Training allows us to pick a team that reflects what we’ve seen during these sessions. Now, we’re picking a side that have won, but strayed a little. We’re not being able to see where players are until you put them in a match. It’s difficult. It’s a guessing game as to how you think they’ll perform.
“But we’ll be ready for Tuesday. I believe we’ll win, because I will always believe we’ll win any game we go into. We have to ensure we come out of the match with something and look to build on that come Saturday.
“I’m never one to use excuses but when we went to Lewes last week, our top three goal scorers were all unavailable. There’re not many teams that can afford to miss their three main strikers and still expect to be at the same level. It’s good to have Warren Mfula back from those three.
“We have no budget to bring in re-enforcements when we need them. We have good players and good lads here that are waiting for opportunities and they’re coming along. If they take them, that’s great. If they fall a little short, they can’t say they didn’t get an opportunity.
“It’s not all doom and gloom though. If you’d have said we’d go into Christmas in twelfth position, everyone would’ve taken that. It’s up to us all now to ensure the next few games, we get it right and go out and become winners again.”
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