One point from six over the Bank Holiday weekend was both a disappointing and frustrating return from the games at Aldershot and at home against Gateshead.
Two things have really stood out and they are individual defensive errors as well as missed chances.
That’s where the frustration of the weekend really comes from with clear-cut chances being missed in both games, but especially on Monday where we really should have been out of sight.
On Saturday, we were heavily defeated 4-1 by the Shots but it was not a 4-1 match or performance overall.
We regularly threatened Aldershot, got a good goal through Reagan Ogle, who had a good weekend all round, and played some decent stuff.
Each goal we conceded though was categorised by defensive errors and that was particularly disappointing as we had been so tight at the back in the opening three games.
It was a very quick turnaround to face the Heed, who had started their season unbeaten and in fine form.
The first half really followed that pattern as we allowed our opposition to control the game amid very little positive play from us.
The second half though was excellent. The slight tweaks made by the manager, Micky Mellon, at half time certainly worked and we were an entirely different outfit, zipping the ball around positively and attacking at will whilst also not allowing Gateshead time to play their usual game.
It paid off with an early equaliser from Manny Monthe, and from then there was only really one side going to win it. But we missed a number of chances and were also unlucky a couple of times when the ball just wouldn’t fall for us, including hitting the post and rolling away.
As Frank Rothwell said to me in the Fans' Bar after the game, it was probably unfortunate that James Norwood could only manage an hour on his return to the team following his calf tear, as he would likely have put away those chances and given us the three points.
However, it wasn’t meant to be but there are still many reasons to be positive looking forward.
With Norwood coming back to full fitness, Joe Garner not far away and a new signing to be announced this week, the squad will continue to get stronger and I’m looking forward to going to Altrincham on Saturday for another stern test of our promotion credentials.
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