Chipp54 wrote:

Reginald74 wrote:

Chipp54 wrote:

We hope for the best in the replay, but cannot help but think we had our best chance today. Defending has been our downfall recently, drawing matches we could have won. Ironic really after the first few games of the season when we were very tight at the back but couldn't score. Most of us thought it would be a close game, and I see no reason why the replay wont be close again. Plenty of positives to take out of the game, not least of which we are still in the cup and into the draw for the next round!
 

Wil Richards

Totally agree Reginald74. Most goals conceded are crossed in from wide, Will is the best header in the team. Having said that Slough's equaliser was (almost) undefendable.
 

 
Agree 100%

It seems to be a constant theme of Mark's post match interview Will Richards, of course as a club you are going to miss a player like Will, I once claimed Will Richards was the best ball player centre half that I have seen at the non league level, and I stand by that. Will Richards is absolutely colossal for us and the sooner any player of that calibre are back in the playing squad the better. Will has been keeping himself fit and ready for action the second that arm gets clearance, Will is available and ready to go. 

This truly is the reason I love football, we all have such different views on the game, all valid and all easy to discuss on a platform such as this. I too was speaking to a Slough fan before the game, somewhat ominously we were discussing his last visit, a 3-3 draw between in the sides in the Southern League and low and behold.. 

Breaking the match down, I felt we went in to the lead totally against the run of play, Slough were looking strong with every attack and their distribution from the back was obvious to see they are a well coached, confident and able side. That Haines throw is certainly a weapon no doubt, and Parselle has done fantastic with the header, back to goal and the look of shock on his face when he wheeled round was fairly priceless.  I felt their equaliser was a refereeing mistake (one of many in the first half in particular) with a very soft free kick outside of the area. Very hard to see from my view point but looks as if the ball has gone around the wall, off the base of the post and back into a dangerous area, an area where if stood before the strike, defenders would be called irresponsible for blocking the view of the goalkeeper at such close range. Goal two seemed to follow a similar tone, free kick in from the left side, right to the back stick where September's NLS Player of the Month was waiting to pounce. All this talk of not being able to defend set pieces, corners, free kicks etc. I can see where it is coming from, we do concede a lot of goals in this manner and sadly a lot of that comes down to unteachable skills, you cannot teach height, physicality and as others have mentioned early season with Will Richards aerial mobility, it is a little less noticeable and whilst Kieran Parselle get's up very well, we aren't blessed elsewhere with big height to contest these balls. Even our GK who is superb and has been all season can't be much more than 6ft. 

Into the second half, Foulston's free kick is worth of another twitter bashing session to get that goal noticed by the FA, Soccer AM (for their fabled top bins compilation) and the rest of the football community, I cannot recall a free kick quite like that one before, hitting the stanchion with a left foot curling effort the rocked Hardenhuish Park with a new sense of belief that the game was not yet done. Karnell was absolutely fantastic throughout the second half, his raw energy and pace coupled with the new role in the team playing as a wide man has completely galvanised the lad and more and more of the goals we are scoring now I am calling a direct result of that change by MC and Horgs to push Nell out wide and bring in Guthrie/Ossai to do the same job, Karnell got his reward with what seemed like the winner after a brilliant pick from Zebroski, great control and skill to beat the man and tie him up, Nell lashed his shot expertly off the defender and past the goalkeeper for his second goal in two weeks that he has had to run around claiming after the match  

And then.. 

The one point is disagree with Mr Goblin on, we are 3-2 up, we need to be protective of that lead, dig in deep and defend, changes were made to make sure we could defend but also look dangerous on the break. In that brief 10 minute period where we lead the match again. Slough were allowed the ball in areas that are naive to defend such is the modern game, and we matched them in terms of efforts with Zebroski coming off at the end of the game with a face like a smacked arse for not burying the header to make it 4-2 and tie dead. We were of course punished with an unstoppable Slough corner in which Ryan Bird headed home head and shoulders above the rest. It's important to know that with our defence often taken to task over the concession of these goals who scored the equaliser. In 2013-14 I was watching Birdy at Portsmouth on the odd free night and at 6 ft 4 of former EFL striker, he is always going to be a nuisance in there. On this occasion he simply proved why he has made a career out of the sport and he has put Slough in the hat for the next round alongside us and we must get the job done tomorrow night instead. 

Now by now we all know I am a very optimistic person when it comes to our chances and even I have had to concede that we have missed a very good chance to go through, tomorrow the pitch is going to suit them, they will be surrounded by a very raucous and vocal support no doubt and they will be riding the crest of the wave knowing how fortunate they are to be back there at Arbour Park. But, this does not mean we do not still have that same great chance again. I have said it before, I saw nothing about Slough to fear, we know they are a good team but so are many in the division and they don't have anything out and out incredible to worry about. I genuinely think we have better players at our disposal than Slough and if we go up there with a big club performance and all stand behind each other, I would still fancy us to be in that 4th round tie with a chance at the 1st Round Proper. 

It isn't the longest trip Slough, and believe me when I say that little bit of extra support might be the ingredient, the board, the management, they so often call for unity in situations like this when we are the underdogs its that mentality of togetherness and support that has always made this club unique. How many times in the last 30 years that I have been watching, have Chippenham been the underdog, it's our default setting in many respects and the make up of the club. Those lads absolutely battle for the cause, they wear that shirt with so much pride and if you ever need any justification of that, walk down to the tunnel about 15 minutes after kick off when the players exit for their warm down. It's etched on their faces that they give everything for the club and like Reginald74 has said, they should always be credited for that. 

We have a great club, Neil and the board do a terrific job of keeping us on that straight and narrow and again, you want to know how much these people care, come and talk to them after the match. I quite often break the game down with Mr Blackmore and it's evident from the fact he cannot hide his passions regarding the game that this is a Chairman who cares about the team, the manager and the fans best interests. You don't need to look far in football to know how lucky that makes us. We have a terrific manager, the best we have had in my opinion who has given so much and continues to do so in a way that has brought and will continue to bring success, He will always do something someone disagrees with, make a decision that is controversial or maybe not make a decision that you feel should be taking place, like a substitution, or leaving a player out of the starting 11 you feel should be there. But, he is paid to make those decisions and we as "supporters" should always do our best to back them.

Let's get there in as many numbers as we can tomorrow, let's be united and really drive our boys over the line. One stage earlier I know but it was the best and worst feeling after the Maidenhead game last year, tears, tantrums, disappointment and heartbreak for us but we all stood together, we all pulled each other up off the deck and back to reality that Saturday was only four days away and the league was there for us now. It was horrible but at the same time it united the fans, players, managers and board behind that injustice and we fought it together as Chippenham. Tomorrow we are all needed again. 

COYMB

  

I will probably miss the first 15mins ( traffic from work) or so but will be there for the rest of the match, let's get right behind the team tonight and roar them onto success

Fantastic result, well done everyone from lovely Greece were it's coming up to midnight, stayed up to here the result

Superb result against the odds. Biggest opportunity to reach the 1st round I think we’ve ever had in my time watching Chippenham.
Another 4g pitch though.