MANAGER REFLECTING ON HIS ROLE

First 10 minutes: looking good. Running, passing, moving, shooting, all the good stuff.

Next 70 minutes: not so good. Little running on or off the ball, passing largely poorly selected and/or poorly executed, moving (what's that again?) and shooting? Ha. 2-0 down.

Last 10 minutes: looking good again. That's right, in a reverse of tradition, the 3s pull it back together rather than letting it all fall apart as per. Largely because there wasn't much to fall apart, but beggars can't be choosers and all that. The first corner of the game and a Smith cross finds the head of debutant O'Brien. 2-1. Game on. Then, a second corner ensues. Richards' turns. he takes it, the ball is turned towards the goal by a Norse defender, the keeper allows it to cross a full couple of yards over the line before turning it away, Borough celebrate, Norsemen do not raise a challenge, referee waves play on. Un. Be. Liev. A. Ble. Pressure continues, but time is out.

2-1 probably a fair reflection of the game, but when will the 3s catch a break? Maybe luck will turn their way when both skipper and vice abandon the team to their own devices next week. Smith for one will be frantically checking Sky Sports updates from the church at Saturday's wedding, but whether this is to see his team catch a win or out of fear they are better off without a winger only a month away from vets age is unclear.