Today we looked a proper team, playing for each other, and really well marshalled at the back by Jake Goodman.
We had to defend deep for much of that second half, but we did so magnificently with three center backs, and the wing backs dropping deep to make us very hard to penetrate, whatever they through at us.!
We got off to a flying start with two very smartly taken goals. Derry with a crisp shot {showed he is not just a header of the ball ] and Heardie with a similar effort a few minutes later.
At this point we were looking much the better team. Sanogo, big and strong, bossing that midfield, Cole probing with astute passes and Heardie his usual bundle of energy and touch. Derry was winning almost every ball in the air and Smith was sharp just off him. So we went in at the break 2-0 to the good.
Given that we know they are a strong side, we were not surprised when they came at us in the second half. We dropped deep and there were a few scary moments, especially with their long throw ins but we held firm for a very important away win.
Drury made some good tactical changes toward the end to see out the game. Moses came into the holding midfield role for Cole. He was very effective too. Ira came on for Smith, looked really sharp and had a goal disallowed for a debateable offside, and young Jordan Ababbio came on towards the end.
If we continue to play like this for the rest of the season we can forget about any relegation worries.
It has taken a while, I can see a team coming together finally, COYS!
Listening to some of their fans in the stand, they remarked on how big Folkestone were. Think of our spine; Joe, Jake Goodman keeper, Sanogo center mid, and Derry up top, all six foot plus. It's a serious point.!!
I went to Hythe, as Stumpy has said it was an enjoyable game and Hythe gave a good account of themselves, pity they couldn't hold out for a draw and a penalty shootout. I was expecting Chorley to be the usual giants that one tends to see in National League teams so surprised when that wasn't the case and Hythe were able to match them physically.
A good turnout including probably 50 odd from Chorley which is not a bad effort considering the distance they had to travel.
On a completely different subject an interesting (and of course accurate) comment from Gerry about the size of our current team as for many years it has seemed to me that we always looked smaller than the opposition, makes a nice change although as we all know size isn't important !
