DRAGONS V WITHAM TOWN WHITES

We ended 2018 with a win last time out however we started 2019 with a heavy defeat on paper as our Witham Town "hoodoo" continues.

Today we started brightly with a quick tempo all over the pitch, applying early pressure to Witham Town not allowing them any space or time on the ball. Our good start gave us a reward with Jenson firing home hard into the corner. We didn't settle on that lead and pushed further with Ryan having a shot saved, Jenson again coming close and Kian trying his luck with a couple of well struck shots unfortunately just missing the target. As the half progressed it was clear it would be another tight encounter as have the previous two games against this opposition been earlier in the season. Deep in the half we were caught in possession at the back and in trying to recover unfortunately Kian gave away a penalty. The Witham number 7 made no mistake with it, George went the right way just couldn't get close to a well struck penalty.

At half time, as has been familiar with this fixture, we were level at 1-1.

Second half we started the same as the first half pressing high up the pitch to try and get ourselves back in front. Our best chance fell to Ryan's feet one on one with the Witham keeper but as Ryan went to strike the defender made a great tackle to whip it off his toe. As the half continued it was still very tight, sustaining a Witham attack we gave away a free kick on the edge of the area which the number 7 again dispatched well into the top corner. We made our changes but in search of the ball we left space in behind to allow Witham through more frequently and the subsequent 4 goals were all pretty much carbon copies of each other, a break through our defence, a strike met with a superb save from George each time only for the rebound to fall to a yellow shirt to tap into the empty net as we finished the game by a scoreline hard to swallow.

Sometimes you get the luck and run of the green and some days you don't. Today I don't think lady luck was on our side with the way the ball dropped at times but hats off to Witham. They are a good side but we aren't as far off the the scoreline suggests. First game back after Christmas is always hard, it's important we keep our heads up Dragons and try again next week!

Dragon of the Week - George Sadler
"Safe Hands" with another great display just unlucky the saves he made fell to a Witham foot each time. Well done George!