Another 0-1 defeat late in the game

As today's game against Gainsborough Trinity at the New Windmill Ground stuttered to a close and I dusted down my 'bore draw' headline, one wag in the stand said, 'can we hang on for a 0-0?' Within a minute or two the inevitable happened and our bottom of the table opposition had won the game with a single goal. We weren't very good, they weren't very good, but they seized their chance. Tony Breeden had kept us into the game up to then with two great saves, but there was nothing he could do in the 87th minute as the ball came back off the post and was put in the back of net with a fierce shot.

We didn't look at all comfortable in the opening part of the first half. The visitors were capable of a turn of speed and broke through more than once. The ball was hoofed up in the air far too much and if it hadn't been for some great defensive work by Paul McCone we could have been in more trouble.

In the last twenty minutes or so of the half we did start to play more coherently. Lee Chilton advanced on goal and put in a strong shot and it is to the credit of Trinity keeper Phil Barnes that he was able to tip it over. Elliot Sandy put in a good header on 35 minutes that hit the post and it is by such thin margins that games are decided.

Claran Toner for Trinity suffered a nasty cut above the eye and had to be helped off the pitch just before half time.

We showed no real signs of making a decisive breakthrough in the second half and Stefan Moore was withdrawn in favour of Ricky Johnson. As Simon Russell set up a good attack for Trinity, Breeden had to make a great save. After some casual defending on our part, the visitors had another chance and put the ball just wide. Lee Moore was withdrawn in favour of Alex Taylor. Lee Chilton looked the most lively player, although not all his efforts were effective, but did hit the post. Breeden had to make another excellent save.

In the four minutes added on, new acquisition Will Green was brought to replace Daly, who still look affected by the tonsillitis referred to in the programme but it was too late for the substitution to have any effect.

We are, of course, badly hit by injuries as the presence of James Husband on the bench showed. But we have to try and score some goals, only two in six games now.

I thought that referee Andy Hendley controlled the game well. For most of the crowd of 561, however, the overall feeling was one of frustration, bordering on despair. This was one of the least entertaining games I have seen at Harbury Lane for quite some time. Brakes are now second from bottom above Oxford City.