Date	Sunday 14th April 2013
Match	Letchworth GCE Blues v Royston Town Youth
Competition	Royston Crow Youth Football League U15 Division 1
Result	Lost 2-1
Royston Scorers	James R

We returned to Letchworth for a league fixture and one we really needed to win if we were going to mount a serious league challenge this season. We were on the same pitch as last week with the only difference being a strong wind. We welcomed back AJ and Bradley but Jack M was still on holiday and Ross was injured knowing Letchworth as we do they were at full strength so we anticipated a tough game.

We asked the back four in particular to communicate more which would help with passing players on also we wanted them to attack the space and pass at a quicker tempo as well as staying switched on at all times. We also needed to get behind the two centre backs and try and turn them around.

We had the wind in our faces first half so we needed to make sure we kept our shape and made sure we did not commit too many forward. It was a slow start by both sides until after five minutes we lost the ball in midfield and in a flash Letchworth had a one on one with Robbie who pulled off a fantastic save to keep us level. Letchworth were having more of the ball but we were defending well. We started to get forward more and were passing the ball really well, one such move broke down when a free kick was awarded against us and once again we did not switch on Letchworth took it quickly and their midfielder who made the run finished well giving Robbie no chance another goal conceded due to our own doing. To their credit the boys did not drop their heads and we were soon level, Richard rolled his marker and his venomous shot was parried by their keeper only for James R to react quickest and put us level. We then had a good spell of passing and finished the better side as the half finished all square.

We did not want to dwell on the goal only to say we had to stay switched on, it was criminal to concede that way again. We focused more on how well we had done and that in our opinion that was a good half and that we now had to back that up with another one. We made all three subs for no other reason than to freshen things up.

We started again on the front foot and looked dangerous although creating clear cut chances was not easy. Letchworth were always dangerous on the break so we had to stay switched on at the back. The game moved into the last fifteen minutes when from a Letchworth attack the ball found its way to a Letchworth player twenty five yards out and he hit an unstoppable shot to give them the lead. We then changed things almost immediately and went 3 4 3 in search of an equaliser. We had a great chance to level in the last minute when from a Ben long throw Rhys flicked on and Sam was unlucky not to score soon after the ref blow his whistle.

I was pleased with the performance and although we did not do enough to win the game thought we deserved a draw, but as I have said the good teams punish you and Letchworth are a very good side. We must learn quickly from the mistakes we have made over the past two matches because as I have said its fine margins in which you win and lose these games.