What a frustrating Saturday this turned out to be. It could and should have seen us further our recent run of good league form and set us up for Tuesday nights local clash with Bury, the big one, the A134 derby that Sky wish they had the rights to, instead it just didn't happen, no matter how much we huffed and puffed.
The lineup was a little different due to niggles and players being rested. Billy Holland slotting back into Joe Whights role along the back as the Skip was rested ( in theory ) on the bench as he eases himself back into the full rigors of the season. Lewis O'Malley came into the back line also and Ben Hammett came into midfield. On the bench there was a place for Rob Harvey, freshly signed from Braintree the day before.
We started well, bossing possession and mopping up comfortably at the back. We worked the ball left and right probing the Hullbridge rearguard and it was Critchley who seemed to have a bit more space at times today. He worked a few good angles in a solid start. For all our possession though the Hullbridge keeper was not being called to action. Midway through the half a deep diagonal cross from the right found Critchley ghosting in unmarked and he showed wonderful technique to volley home on the run. Great goal.. he wheeled away in celebration, it was a well worked and fantastically executed move. Offside! A decision that felt very wrong but... you have to roll with it. Except we didn't, we conceded. A simple ball into the box from our left and an unmarked Hornsey was allowed to head home. Where did that come from? For the rest of the half we carried on in the same vein. Lot's of possession but no cutting edge.

Surely the second half would be better. I had already learned that my beloved Crystal Palace were trailing 4-0 at Spurs but nah, that could be wiped from concerns so long as Sudbury showed up during this coming period. Unfortunately they didn't. No matter what we tried we just didn't work a clear sight of goal. We made a triple substitution midway through the half, changing to what i think was more a 343, Sam Girling, Harvey for his debut and the not to be rested after all Whight all coming on but it was to no avail. Of course during this period we were hit by a sucker punch and conceded a second after Bennett lost possession in the Hullbridge half and with us having loaded the forward areas we were exposed to a run, a twist and a fine shot from Monshejo that left Walker grasping at thin air and us returning from Hullbridge pointless and with our tails between our legs. Sean Marks did find the net late on but this too was ruled out for a push in the box. So a day that promised much left us leaving with not many positives at all. I may come up with one and if i do i'll add it to this report but until then... disappointed
We go again Tuesday..we go again