PITCH OUTPERFORMS BOROUGH

In a weekend that contained a much-diminished fixture list across the AFC, Boro weren't able to capitalise on finding themselves on a surprisingly firm pitch in Bexley, which for those wondering, is apparently still London. They were bested by four goals to nil, but the efforts certainly didn't warrant disgrace. On another day, things might have been different. This however, was not another day.

Mary's started the much sharper, hungrier, better, and could have gone up within the first 5 minutes. However, Boro initially managed to ride the storm and started to have some possession themselves, but it didn't last long. Perhaps it was the unexpected call that the game was on, or the new look 3-5-2 formation, but whatever it was, Mary's were causing issues and Boro soon found themselves down 1-0, then soon after 2-0. The defending wasn't perhaps at the top of Boro's capability, but one of the goals was taken superbly, chipping over the advancing Watson, who appeared to have closed the angle well (that was the best thing their striker would do all afternoon, despite 10 more audacious and wayward efforts).

Captain Crow rang the changes midway into the half, introducing Small and Glover. Boro then began to grow into the game and for 15 minutes before half time and 25 after half time were arguably the better side. Ramsay came on at half-time and Crow came back on, and with Tsukamoto out wide, Boro started to have some good chances. After good build-up Glover shot from just outside the box with an effort that threatened to threaten, several corners were met well, notably by Fisher and Werger, and a golden chance fell to Crow in the penalty area, who shot wide.

Despite Charles-Hill, Fisher and Cozens-Smith shoring up the defence, these missed opportunities would prove costly. St Mary's began to come on strong in the last 10-15 minutes, as the uphill (metaphorically and literally) battle started to take its toll on the Boro combatants. St Mary's scored two late goals to make it 4-0, and not even a consolation goal could be mustered by Boro. A bad day out East for the boys from the South-west, but not least for the assembled Crow family tree who gamely cheered the odd bit of decent football from the sidelines.

Soundly beaten in the end, but some positives (and negatives) to learn from as the Boro march on.