KJM SPORT MATCH REPORT Millbrook 0 Shepton Mallet 3

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Created on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 06:47

Last Updated on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 08:11

Published on Tuesday, 29 March 2022 06:47

Written by KEVIN MARRIOTT at Jenkins Park

Sometimes when you arrive at a ground and first set eyes on the team sheet, your heart sinks just a little bit.

You notice the first choice goalkeeper’s name is not there; nor are three of the regular defenders; and still no sign of the team’s top scorer on that list.

Before a ball is kicked, you know it’s going to be a tough ask for the team you follow. 

Of course a manager can’t think like that; he needs to get the best out of those available to him. And there are still many good players among the group, as well as a sprinkling of highly-rated youngsters. 

But there’s no getting away from it. That is not a full strength team, not by a long way, and they are going to need a decent start to the game to give them the belief they can get something out of it.

Unfortunately for Millbrook on Saturday, they were 1-0 down after only two minutes, 2-0 down by the 25th minute, and finished off by a third goal midway through the second half.

Take nothing away from Shepton Mallet. They are a good side, they play the game the right way, and in Jake Sloggett out on the left they had the match winner and player of the match.

He scored the opener with a glancing header from Andy Martin’s corner, and then set up the other two goals with his blistering pace leaving defenders in his wake. Joe Morgan and Josh Williams finished off his pinpoint crosses.

There was no lack of effort from Millbrook; they had spells when the quality of their passing hauled them back into the game, but with few options up front, they never looked like recovering.

Millbrook manager Macca Brown said: “You’re obviously always disappointed after a defeat, but it’s really the nature of the defeat that is frustrating because although I think they’re an excellent side, I did think we beat ourselves really by gifting them two goals which pretty much made the game a foregone conclusion after an hour. 

“It was a disastrous start, concentration levels weren’t anywhere near where they should be. Tets (Ryan Tetley) mis-kicked on the edge of the box which conceded a corner and then a free header inside the six yard box put us behind. 

“They were alert and ready and we weren’t and that was the first of two gifts in the game which ultimately cost us. 

“I felt we reacted well though, and were playing some decent stuff albeit not really threatening too much. 

“It was a really difficult pitch because the weather has changed so drastically in the past week or so and the bobbles made it hard for both sides to find real quality but we were doing well enough.

“They then scored a superb goal which I felt was somewhat against the run of play. Their left winger turned into peak Gareth Bale, roasting our right hand side and then delivered with quality for a tap-in and I think that summed up the difference between the two teams on the day.
 
“They got into good areas and the outcome was always one of quality, whereas we got into some great positions and the cross or pass was limp or straight into their goalkeeper and we didn’t test him all day for that reason and it’s an area where we need to improve for sure.

“But at half-time it was difficult to be too critical, there were some good individual performers but we were punished in moments where quality mattered.” 

The second half was more even and Brown said: “We knew the next goal would be key – unfortunately it went to them.

“We were caught in possession on the halfway line by their striker, who punished us with a straightforward opening and it was effectively game over with half hour to go.

“We only really had ourselves to blame as the game was pretty even and while I can somewhat accept conceding a goal like their second, the other two are hard to swallow and that takes the game away from us.”

Brown still managed to look at the positives. He said: “We had lots of encouraging debuts, Josh Hambleton was outstanding in his first game in centre midfield and we finished the game with three or four teenagers on the pitch who all did brilliantly well which is a good sign moving forward.

“But I can’t argue with the result, football is decided by what happens in both boxes and they were better than us in those areas. 

“We can be pleased with everything in between on Saturday but that doesn’t decide the game.

“They certainly deserve the four points they’ve taken from us this season and are a really good side, but we are kicking ourselves that the points were gifted to them on Saturday by some sloppy moments.”

Player of the day - Mallet's Jake Sloggett image by SWSN

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