Darren Hare delivers his verdict on impressive win
Head of Academy Darren Hare said he was very pleased with the performance of his U18 side after beating Stevenage 3-2 at Beechings Cross on Saturday.
Goals from Charlie Webster, Ross Ibbertson and Josh Staunton were enough to clinch victory in a Youth Alliance Cup fixture, and Darren said the first half in particular was very encouraging.
Talking to the club’s website he said: “It was the second match in the Football League Youth Alliance Cup and in the first half an hour it was the best we have played this season.
“We played at very high tempo and we regained the ball very well, especially high up in their half and we pressed ever so well and looked bright going forward.
“We got one or two telling crosses in from both sides which was very pleasing because all last week we worked on attacking from wide areas and it was just a shame we couldn’t convert more than one.
“Charlie Webster did convert one of the crosses from Ross Ibertson – it was a great cross with great pace on it, Charlie controlled it and finished it very well.
Charlie Webster
“Being one nil up it looked very promising but we always have a habit at the moment of shooting ourselves in the foot and I was disappointed with the goal we conceded.
“That was the only attack with real purpose they had and they scored from it.
“We found ourselves 1-1 at half time feeling a bit sorry for ourselves because we didn’t deserve to be level, we deserved to be in front with the amount of play, possession and chances we had.
“In the second half we did really well and in the first 10-15 minutes we got two quick goals which really settled us down a little bit. The second goal came from a wide free-kick, it was a good delivery from Aiden Blanchard and Josh Staunton helped it in to the net.
“The third came from another cross which was doubly pleasing – the ball was set back to Callum Emptage, he wrapped his foot around the ball and whipped it in with great pace and Ross has come in at the far post to head home.
“I was really pleased with the goals we scored but a bit disappointed with the ones we conceded. We let one in with about 20 minutes to go and that made us a bit jittery and a bit nervous and some of our decision making became rushed and clouded by the state of the game.
“Consequently Stevenage got themselves in to situations where they could score goals, particularly when we gave away one or two silly fouls around the edge of the box.
“However we were well worth the win in my view and could have had a couple more goals on the counter attack, but all things being equal it was a good performance and one of our better ones this season.”
One thing the team certainly do not lack is goals, and Darren said he is now eager to tighten up the defence as the Gills look to put some wins on the board.
and we scored three at the weekend so we are a threat going forward and if we had taken all the chances we had created [during all games] then we would be knocking on double figures.scored four goals last week at CrawleyHe added: “We
“There’s a bit of work I need to do with them in understanding the line they play, when to drop, when to squeeze and that sort of stuff.
“We have some new players this season and they are a bit nervous of getting caught out from balls over the top.
“There are lots of things to work on and for the boys to learn but I was very pleased technically with the play in the first half an hour, and overall it was a positive performance and result.”
: Nalder, Emptage, Dickinson, Bent, Staunton, Blanchard, Leonard, Webster, Ibertson, Freiter, Sellens.Gills