All I Um...

...is lost for words.

Last season White Roding 45s scored 41 goals in 19 League & Cup games, but conceded over 90 - much had to change at both ends of the pitch this year without much change in personnel. 12 months ago we used nearly 40 players..16 of which scored (6 of which have left the club in the summer)... the joint top scorers amassed 6 each in the league. We averaged 2 goals a game, but conceded almost 5.

Fast forward to today with a squad of 25 players... including 2 emergency goalkeeper signings and The Gaffer going between the sticks too.14 have scored (some for the first time in years)... the top scorers are on the verge of bettering last season's strikers... all in the space of 10 games... including a 0-0! We are scoring 50% more goals a game this term and the defence is conceding 60% fewer at the other end... even taking into account our porous away record. Holly has already beaten last season’s top scorer efforts and I expect at least 3 others to do the same before we reach May.

We will play 19 games this season, possibly 20 if we get to the Cup Final. Forgetting the potential of the bonus game, based on our current record we will score nearly 60 goals and have a positive GD into double figures. We won 2 games and drew 1 in 2018/9 - this record has already been doubled in less than half a season.

Expectations have grown from "avoiding a rout" to "frustrated at not winning."

"Hitting the onion bag" is a euphemism for scoring goals but also one of the secrets behind our success. With a variety of attacking options to choose from and new formations to play, The Gaffer turned towards the much derided vegetable to make the difference but loading post-match meals with red, white and spring varieties to leave the opposition defences somewhat pickled. It has had a big effect on Ian Hollanby, Dom Boom & Mark Corner in front of goal and a less-positive impact on Steve Luxford's behind. The scoring has not been the preserve of the frontline either, with Spencer, Tel, Cyril, Tony C, Si Copper, Dave Dawson, Dave Molt, Dave East, Dean & Woodsy also bulging the back of the net.

This week we faced up against Paringdon for the 2nd match of 2020 in gale-force conditions and a junior-sized pitch. 2 very sloppy goals against the wind gave us the shock we needed as Curfew finished off a slick move to half the deficit before Dean eventually missed the crossbar this season to break his duck from 20 yards. The 2nd half was almost one-way traffic, but headers from James, Easty and Splinters all failed to hit the target from a combined 12 yards, Dan;s 30 yard piledriver freekick turned onto the bar, Dave Dawson was a tad unlucky and Lucy had a goal unfairly ruled offside by a reversed Ref's decision - we will be discussing that with Glenn Thurley on Thursday. Frustrated was the over-riding emotion and we will not shy away from the disappointment of a draw... when last season we would be happy at scoring twice.

Special mention goes to Dean this week returning back from injury with more support bandages that a screening of Carry on Matron.