Defeat at Great Wakering

The weather looking like it was going to be atrocious but actually we were spared the worst of it and I guess you could say it was a fairly mild night out at Great Wakering for this game. The pitch was heavy and slippery mind you and it told as often our more twisty turny players lost their footing and chances were spurned.
This game unfortunately summed up large parts of our season. We had what felt like good control of the game but when the few chances came for the opposition they took them. Our periods of dominance were not rewarded however and time and time and time again opportunities were either charged down by a resolute defence, miss hit, offside or carved up and out of the ground. Great Wakering's stand in and rather rotund keeper was not called into action enough and when he was it was to efforts low down and close to him.
It's bloody frustrating as a fan to see another game and full points being thrown away but that's what happened. I know it's equally frustrating for the players and staff as well..but that doesn't make it easier to take.
Our hosts opened the scoring on 11 minutes with a corner from our left that flew across the box low and somehow ended up in the back of our net. Did it go direct? Was there a flick? was it deflected? hard to tell from down the other end but we were a goal down somehow.
Considering the pitch it was a lively affair. Tom Maycock and Ben Hunter buzzed around a lot and looked a threat but the goal wouldn't come. Time and again Benno's crosses were blocked at source. When we did get Reece in on goal his effort, poked with his left foot that found the bottom corner of the net, was deemed offside. A header flashed just wide of the near post on an occasion where Benno did manage to get a cross away. It appeared that if a shot or cross wasn't blocked then it was scuffed or bobbled along. It's a half where we definitely edged the game but couldn't find a way through.
Surely things would turn around after the break. Of course they didn't. The same pattern. Us with good possession, chances spurned or blocked. Critchley, Temple and Harrison all came of the bench and all had chances to trouble the scoreboard but to no avail. Those chances came and went with frustrating frequency. Surely there would be a sucker punch from our hosts, it's the way these things go.
Harrison taking out a forward in our penalty area seconds after harry Critchley had contrived to miss a ball across the face of goal from maybe a yard out. Well surely it was too much to ask for Walker to save another penalty... well it might have been but the ball hit the outside of the post and rebounded away to safety. A lifeline surely.. now let's push on and get something from the game.
Freekick to Wakering outside the box to our left. Sweetly struck..not creamed into the night sky or bobbled along the deck, nor harmlessly into the wall..2-0 to our hosts.
A familiar tale of possession with no end product...so we lick our wounds and prepare for another trip out in a similar direction on Saturday when we visit tropical Canvey Island.