Hayes & Yeading United v The Rocks

[paphosroger]

Nearly 24 hours after yesterday’s cup match and as yet no one has made a comment. Was the two late goals the reason for the silence. City boy you usually have plenty to say good or bad so for us who didn’t go how good or bad was it please!

[stevebone]

Here's a report from Liam and pictures by Lyn and Trevor - www.bognor.co.uk/sport/football/bognor-score-three-at-hayes-but-still-suffer-fa-cup-agony-3371391

[Irish Rock]

I think we should take the positives from the game.
1) Scored 3 goals away from home.
2 Out of a cup, giving more time and less distractions to concentrate on getting promoted.

[Dave Silk (ex shottermiller)]

I think both Paphosroger and Australianrock both make good points. Several thousand quid down the drain let alone the prospect of a bit more on advancement.

I heared on Rocks Radio that Peter Helsby was at home recovering. Not much of result for a pick me up for Pete but let's all send our good wishes to him for a speedy recovery. Good Wishes Peter.

[Pete Helsby]

Thanks Dave. I actually go in for my op on 15th. I decided it would be wise to keep out of the way of crowds before I go in. Very disappointed with the result. Im not in the same place regarding being knocked out and can now concentrate on the league. Success breeds success and a good cup run can rub off in the league. Also, of course, its financially good for clubs to be successful in the cup. After the pandemic wrecking the last two seasons, i think the majority of us would have been looking forward to a good cup run.

[cityboy]

I was actually at my sons club last cricket game of the season. Therefore unable to comment.
Disappointing we are out of the cup. Hopefully we will have a good run in the Trophy to compensate for it !!!

[paphosroger]

Knew there had to be a good reason hopefully your sons team performance was more successful but at least as you say there’s always the Trophy!

[jackswoolyhat]

There will be many different views of The Rocks performance, but I came away after the match feeling positive about how we played but disappointed about the result.

Firstly we need to put into context that this was the worst possible draw we could have got in the competition. With the first qualifying round only consisting on Step 3 teams and lower we managed to be drawn against a side that have won 5 out of 5 of their games and are top of their Step 3 league, the Southern Premier. So basically we couldn’t have drawn a stronger side and we also managed to get them away from home.

Joe Cook was still unavailable due to his bruised foot and Jake Flannigan remained out due to the concussion he suffered against Haringey Borough.
Craig Robson returned to centre of defence after his three match suspension and Joe Dandy continued alongside him. Joe Hancott was at left back with Calvin Davies at right back.
Playing a 4-3-3 formation Ethan Robb moved into midfield alongside Harvey Whyte and Ashton Leigh.
And then in attack we played with a front three of Jordy Mongoy, Kayne Diedrick-Roberts and Nathan Odokonyero.

We absolutely flew out of the blocks in the opening minutes with some sharp crisp passing that cut through the Hayes & Yeading defence. After 20 seconds we smashed a shot against the right hand post and then with our next attack Jordy curled one into the top right corner. There still hadn’t even been a minute played and we were 1-0 up.

H&Y are a very strong physical side with several good players especially their front three of Omar Rowe, Moses Emmanuel and Francis Amartey who would all walk into any team at our level. Although the homeside started slowly they soon began to impose themselves but the Rocks defended well.

There was a controversial moment that led to the H&Y equaliser when Joe Hancott was bundled over the perimeter fence in the 13th minute which was deemed a fair challenge by the referee.
From the resultant play it was therefore frustrating when Harvey Whyte conceded a penalty with an unnecessary challenge with the H&Y player appearing to be going nowhere. The penalty was well saved by Amadou Tangara low to his right but unfortunately Jalloh was first to get to the rebound and hooked home the ball to make it 1-1.
The impressive Amartey then made it 2-1 six minutes later.
Shortly after Hancott was forced to limp off and was replaced by James Crane at left back.
Bognor continued to battle and play same good sharp football, both Ashton Leigh and Mongoy had great chances to equalise but were denied by Constable who was on-duty guarding the H&Y goal.
The equaliser game on the stroke of half-time following another Rocks attack that looked to have again be repelled. But the ball was only partially cleared out to the left and was drilled back across the goal by Leigh and was deflected in at the near post by the keeper.

Half-time came with supporters of both sides probably feeling that the 2-2 scoreline was about right.
The second-half began with H&Y looking very strong winning several challenges, but with the pace of The Rocks side going forward it was easy to see the home side getting caught on the break just like Worthing were five days earlier.
Although the H&Y were a powerful well organised side it was frustrating when we went behind in the 76th minute having initially given the ball away in a wide area, then lost a 50-50 challenge in midfield and finally failing to block the impressive Emmanuel.

For the final 10 minutes Bognor introduced Ben Mendoza and Gavin MacCallum in place of Whyte and Leigh in the hope of finding an equaliser.
With the Rocks pressing it was the home side that doubled their lead in the 90th minute when Emmanuel was again on target.
In the added minutes The Rocks poured forward and substitute McCallum made it 4-3 in the dying seconds but unfortunately it wasn’t enough with the final whistle being blown moments later.
The home side will have been relieved to have progressed and will have acknowledged that they needed to work very hard to overcome a fast paced young Bognor side.

So what happens next?
Joe Cook should be available to return to the centre of defence on Saturday against Carshalton but it seems unfair to replace Joe Dandy who has been very impressive in our last two games. Crane and Davies as wing back provided a threat throughout the game on Saturday, so I wouldn’t be surprised to see us play a back five with Dandy deservedly holding his place alongside Robson and also accommodating Cook.
We then have Robb as part of a defensive midfield alongside Jake Flannigan and Leigh playing in a number 8 role pushing forward.
Jordy and Kayne are great mates off the field, they are both lightning fast and are forging a great partnership up front. There look to be plenty of goals in the partnership and will be giving opposition defenders plenty to worry about in the season ahead.
Young Nathan Odokonyero has only just turned 18, and shows lots of promise. He looks to be a great prospect with good technical ability and plenty of energy. He’s currently holding his place ahead of the more experienced McCallum who clearly is a very good player but looks a little short of match fitness.

In my opinion we currently have a very great squad and there is far more to be excited about rather than to worry about.
When we begin to click and cut out the silly mistakes we will be a match for any side in our league. I reckon we will be challenging for promotion and we all have a lot to look forward to in the season ahead.

Although our FA Cup exit is a disappointment there remains plenty to feel very positive about. Which makes the loss at H&Y all the more frustrating as we probably deserved a replay.

[kof]

Excellent report, jwh, and I agree with your perspective on things, with the caveats that, if all goes well, with a bit of luck, and free of significant injuries, we could well be bucking for promotion. An exciting season ahead, imo.

[Pete Helsby]

5 across the back for a home game? I think we have to be a lot more adventurous for home games.if Joe Cook is fit the difficult choices for the management team. But thats what you get when theres strength in depth!!!!!

[jackswoolyhat]

Sept 6, 2021 14:09:11 GMT 1 Pete Helsby said:

5 across the back for a home game? I think we have to be a lot more adventurous for home games.if Joe Cook is fit the difficult choices for the management team. But thats what you get when theres strength in depth!!!!!

If you have the two wing backs like Calvin Davies and James Crane bombing forward on overlaps it's often far more risky than a steady back four.
It's actually a very attacking formation where you need to be able to trust your three defenders to make sure they can cover when we lose possession.

[Pete Helsby]

Cant argue with that. But can you take a chance and play it when we are continually making individual errors that are costing us goals. Haringey was a prime example and l am told it was the same again on Saturday.