Oh dear Alan. Not sure why you missed this one.
As you know I get castigated by DeePee for only occasionally buying a programme but this match has been on my 2018 calendar for some time. And the crowd of 77 was at least half the usual suspects from the zebra clad faithful - if not higher.

Yes, apart from game time for Jake, Ollie and the returning SPB it was our U23 side.
That will allow Frank two full training sessions with the 1st team squad this week ahead of some crucial matches.
More useful ‘Men against Boys’ experience for our youngsters too.
Personally, I thought it was very noticeable how much Tope has benefitted from his recent games in the 1st team.

A few struggled at times with the step up and possession was given away a bit carelessly on occasions but they grew in to the game and by the then end were flying in to challenges.

I agree it is a shame we have not gone on in the competition but it is a juggling of priorities.

You see Mike, I was right, I am not in your gang.

I am absolutely delighted to learn that you really do enjoy watching your team. And that you are one of those who cheer them on.
The club can't afford to lose a single supporter. And certainly not one who is committed enough to make such long return trips.

Let's hope for a good performance and 3 points in the crucial game today.

Not going.
No trains from Mitcham Junction AGAIN this weekend and whilst getting in to London is the easy bit leaving at 11.30 is ridiculous.   It is only Harlow in Essex, not half way up the country.

I’m also sadly missing the game today and Dullwits on Boxing Day.
Just paid £6.70 to enter Wales!  Tried to explain that we only wanted to stay for a few days, not buy the country, but got no joy.
Merry Xmas to all the zebra clad and will be eagerly looking out for some more points.

According to Official TMFC no pitch inspection planne£ and game is on.
Hooray!!!!   Footie again.

And we have a new player.  A winger!!!   
(Steady Bondy.   Keep your powder dry.  Still 3 hours to go)

Come on you Stripes

Can I have a bung for my half full glass please Santa. It seems to have sprung a leak and is draining away. 

That was really quite poor.
My overriding concern is how long it took the team to simply pass the ball between them a few times.
I was not looking for anything too complicated. Just receive the ball, control it, move away from the opponent and pass it on to a teammate, hopefully someone showing a degree of attacking intent.
To achieve that took until nearly the end of the 1st half.

Instead we saw the ball simply lumped forward or a player would opt to run with it - and then lose it.

Still, we lost by 3 goals to a very good side.  Err, no.   As poor as we were they looked decidedly average throughout the 1st half until sufficiently encouraged by our mediocrity to simply jump for the ball at two corners.

If some of the budget has been freed by the recent departures then we will need to shop wisely.
But who would want to join us at the moment?  Surely not a player in the starting 11 of a team above us in the division.  And that is the level of player all supporters are looking for.
Ho Hum.

I can be accused of being too positive, looking at things through rose tinted specs etc.
Yes, I know, what sort of attitude is that to have in life eh.
However I believe the majority of zebra clad who attended the game agreed that we not only matched them but dominated the game for lengthy periods.
(And that without Omar, Callum and Jeuven)

It would be wrong of me to suggest the lads created a mass of good chances. I agree with Alan that the final ball often left a bit t9 be desired. But it was hugely unfortunate that their first goal, coming from a misjudgement while playing the ball out of defence, came at the end of probably our strongest period when we had them under real and sustained pressure.
And had that chance from Dom gone in.........
Well that is perhaps how things go when you are bottom 5 and not top 5. (Opps, there I go again)

Plenty to be positive about and solid displays from the two youngsters given their chance.

No draught beer in the club bar last night. And all the bottled stuff ran out very quickly as well.
And that was after I complemented them on the beer supplied on Saturday and was assured another barrel was being delivered for Tuesday.
Shame with two consecutive home games.
Now that really is something to moan about!

Thank you HH (and Andy).
Hopefully that will put an end to the usual doom & gloom, scaremongering postings that are never intended to be so, but always are.
Once again, I only wish him well.

I’ve never managed to spot Where’s Wally however I can confirm seeing Chris Nurse at two recent games, both in the stand and in the bar afterwards. And I directed a friend/family member to his location.
So he is even boosting the attendance!

Don’t forget Bogenders, only two coaches can stand out on the touch line. Unless of course you are Bill & Dicky in which case you think you have an unrestricted entitlement.

Sorry Alan but I agree with Dac.  I thought we were pretty poor.
The goal well finished off by Danny was a fine move where we allowed the movement of the ball to outwit and outflank the oppo. The rest of the game our passing game was distinctly average but that goal should have been enough to show the way to beat them.    Not so.

And despite a considerable list to chose from I think the first goal we conceded was the worst so far this season.  Neither central defender even remotely in contact with the single striker who converted.
Shocking.
And they cut us apart time after time breaking forward quickly.
Pick up and mark the players in yellow. Pass the ball to the players in purple.  Simpleski?

We were unlucky to lose at home but we were very, very fortunate to be level at half time.
The first period of the 2nd half showed some encouraging improvement. But, rather like Tuesday, our ability to find teammates was decidedly limited. Running with the ball and losing it proved much easier.

The exception was the great chance created for Sandy where the ball was played behind the defenders directly in to his path. One touch and slide the ball home?       Ah.........shame.

A nice surprise was finding that, when the ref brandished a yellow and then a red, it was not to Sol for contesting the possible off side for their 3rd goal but to one of their lot, presumably for verbals. Very odd. All seemed mystified.

Sorry Boggie but my high volume vocal support from the sidelines will again be missing this week.
My lame excuse?  Mummy Bondy’s 90th birthday celebrations with a 3 line whip on timely attendance.
Had it been a home game she could have trotted out as a zebra clad mascot.

I was at that 2011 game. What a cracker.  And what a keeper Jamie Butler was for us.
However must admit I am struggling to remember too much about Terry Dixon.
Good luck lads.

Not surprisingly given our positions in the table and the importance of this game both teams looked extremely nervous and wary of making mistakes.

It was great to score the first goal which settled things down. But then we still conceded two soft goals.
Not sure why Quincey was judged to be the one who had to make way after the capitulation on Tuesday. Not my candidate for sure.

Playing with Mike and Omar being strong and determined up front we had to get the ball in the box a lot more. And we settled in to a pattern of doing that which worked well.
Win the ball at the back or in midfield. Quickly get it out wide and press them down the flanks.
But...we still had players dwelling on the ball too long and losing possession.  Thankfully not Dominic who led by example in keeping things simple through a very impressive 2nd half.
And when a break came in the game who was it going round making sure all the boys were singing from the same songsheet?  The senior players?   Our illustrious leader?   That was Dom too.

Oh how we desperately need a right back. And one that will not get injured the moment he arrives!

What a relief.  Onward and upward.

I know this has probably been posted somewhere and I have missed it.
And it would certainly have been included in DeePee's excellent programmes.
However........just in case anyone (else) has missed this......our game against Folkestone scheduled for Tuesday appears to be off as they still involved in the league cup.