Weekend Round-Up 14th September

Ransomes will not be judged by results but by their performances. They tried everything to win this game but were left feeling disappointed as Cops emerged as victors. If Ransomes can find a solution to deal with those transitional moments during the 90 minutes where lapses in concentration, focus and awareness let them down, then, in the long term, this young group of players will be successful. They can however, take heart from a lively performance.
Ransomes enjoyed an 8th minute escape as Cops struck the bar with the hosts eventually taking the lead after 16 minutes. It came from a deep corner to the far post that was eventually bundled over the line and the visitors had it all to do.
Ransomes fearlessly took the game to Cops and thought that they had equalised on 37 minutes only for Mo Fike’s effort to be ruled out for offside by the club linesman’s flag – it left the visitors disappointed and frustrated.
There had been a growth in the Ransomes performance as the half wore on and that improvement continued after the break. On 51 minutes a quickly taken free kick by Jack Randall was the instigator for Ransomes equalising goal. Lamon Haynes-Sparkes collected possession on the right flank and a retreating back line offered him the space to race into the 18 yard box before he fired home a superb right-foot shot high into the roof of the net.
That joy however, was short lived as Cops were back in front three minutes later, a shot from distance dipping over Lewis Cates. Chances grew scarce for Ransomes after that but the contest stayed in the balance until the 71st minute when the home side opened up clear daylight by adding a third.
The hosts were now able to hold Ransomes at arm’s length but they could not afford to relax as Kavanagh Warner passed up a great opportunity in front of an open goal.
Ransomes can only reflect (and hopefully learn). It is the most frustrating thing in football when you get back in the changing room believing you should have got something from the game. Being self-critical, Ransomes weren’t effective enough in the decisive moments in both boxes. The application of the players is not in question; there were some moments of quality in the team today but our off the ball decision making could improve. That was missing at times and unfortunately, that made a big difference in the game. As the structure and organisation improves, so will the individual and team performances.