Preston v BWFC ............Match Thread

Certainly a very good away result.



There was a tremendous amount of endeavour but a shortage of skill.



To fight back from 2-0 down was excellent but we stopped at half time and just played it tight for the second half when we could have had Preston on the rocks.



We started slowly, allowing Preston to have the ball and sitting back which is fine if the opponents don’t score but defensively (both midfield and defenders) were very casual and sat back.



Someone – don’t know who. I need to see it on TV – played a square ball across the defence straight to a Preston player and it left Wheater up against a 2 on 1. Preston did what a good team does and played it through for a simple goal.



One goal down in 12 minutes and still we were casual. We just stood off when Brown got the ball 25 yards out. He allowed it to drop unchallenged and hit a wonder shot in. We cannot give people so much room.



At this stage, Preston were 2-0 up but were no great shakes. Their sole attempt at attacking was hitting long balls over the heads of Wheater and Beevers and hoping to out pace them but their long balls were just awful hoofs. They played more long ball than us!



We at last woke up.



Williams was doing well in midfield and we were pressing. Ameobi and Olkowski were playing well down the right but balls into the centre were poor and of no danger.



Ameobi, obviously frustrated at his awful attempts to play centres in, decided to have a blast and Declan Rudd made an awful mess of a good shot that he should have saved.



So 2-1 and it was all us now.



We got our reward when Olkowski got onto a loose ball on the edge of the area and rocketed an incredible shot in.



2-2 and we were definitely on top.



End of first, we were happy after a poor start.



Unfortunately, half time involves the manager talking to the players and for the second half we just sat back and gave possession away. We should have taken the game to a rattled Preston but we gave up attacking.



Preston huffed and puffed but were poor.



We had 2 scrambles from corner/free kicks when shots were blocked on the line but these were now isolated incidents.



And that was that except for an amazing fracas after the final whistle. I hear that Pearson headbutted someone but all I saw was 30 people all wresting.



A good result from the position we were in but how I wish that the manager had a positive bone in his body because we should have at Preston in the 2nd half.



Alnwick - 7 No chance with either goal and a couple of reasonable saves.



Olkowski - 8 Some outstanding tackles when he won the ball. He does get caught for pace. Linked up well with Ameobi and what an outstanding goal.



Wheater - 7 Won loads in the air and a couple of good blocks. Left in no mans lad for the first goal.



Beevers - 6 Solid enough.



Taylor - 6 Couldn’t link up with Wildschut but decent defending.



Lowe - 6 I think he stood off too much and allowed Preston time on the ball.



Williams - 7 Impressive debut. Nasty little devil but won a lot of tackles.



O’Neil - 7 I was horrified when we signed him but he has been very steady. Hardworking game.



Ameobi - 7 He and Olkowski dominated the right side in the first half but his final ball in was atrocious on numerous occasions. Good shot but thank you to the goalie for his goal.



Wildschut - 6 Couldn’t get at Preston’s defence like we hoped.



McGennis - 5 Tries like mad but his first few challenges were given as fouls and he risked a booking. He rarely won much and his hold up play is non existent.

2-0 down and I thought it was going to be the same again but we got back into it, credit to them for that. Going into the international break with a point plus a shiny new striker and im a lot happier.

What's more we've not been beaten away and really could have had maximum points, chances to win today. Never thought I'd be saying that about us.

There are some questions still to be answered though. Can Hobbs find away into this team. What is the best midfield? How can we get more consistency from the inconsistent Ameobi, Noone and Wildshut. Can we start to use Oz? Are we better without Vela? Is it a case of Doidge or Magennis? And was there ever a point of Donaldson?