By Neil Ravenscroft
September 30 2002

A look at the one goal victory over Sheffield Wednesday this weekend. Neil Ravenscroft reflects on what was a good weekend all-round.

Teamwork Wins Out

What an exciting weekend that was!

Having had some time to recover, it’s time for some reflections on a good weekend for me.  It’s always nice when the “small” team gets one over on the “big” team.

It was a classic example of how the molding of a good team spirit can work in your favour, even with a disparate team of players from different countries.

It was a triumph tactically, as everything worked the way it was supposed to on the day.

It was a great example of good attacking play in the first half, followed by dogged determination in the second.

It was an example of how supposedly big, well paid stars can be made to look ordinary by a team prepared to work for each other.

Yes all in all, it was a very pleasing result, which leaves only one question to be answered.  Do I post this on “thesaddlersfc.tk”, or one of the golf sites?

Seriously, I thought it was a very good, workmanlike performance on Saturday and shows how far we have come, when we can attack and defend like a first Division side.  The only slight downer was that we should have created a few more clear cut chances in the first half, when our football was exhilarating at times.  Second half, I thought we defended well, considering it was getting harder and harder to hold the ball up following the departure of Zdrilic, but I also thought that the only way Wednesday would score was from a defensive error, as we did look very solid.

Man of the Match? Pick any (yes any, even the left back, who had what might have been his best game in a red shirt) from the back four, O’Connor, Wrack (who worked tirelessly), Simpson or Jorge (great unselfish running).

Plonker of the Match?  Mark Wright was obviously too excited and was ignoring Colin Lee’s constant orders towards to end to just get it into the corners!  Mind you, he does look very skilful.

Lastly, considering how I started this, can I just say that I do like to watch golf, but don’t get excited by it.  Yesterday I was jumping up and down shouting at the radio all afternoon, which made decorating my mother’s bathroom very difficult.  Well done Sam and the lads!