A disappointing day today, not because we lost, but because we lost a game in which we did so many things right.

We faced fellow promotion chasers Harrowby, who came into the game unbeaten this season. Our aim was to become the first team to take all 3 points off them to support our promotion push. For much of the opening half, we looked more than capable of doing exactly that.

Having seen the benefits of last week’s setup, we opted to start in a compact 3-4-1 formation, looking to stay organised and make the most of our opportunities. After a tentative opening five minutes, the boys gradually took control of the game. Not only were we playing some excellent football, but the communication across the team was outstanding, showing real progress in an area we have been working hard to improve.

Our positive start was rewarded when returning player Emmanuel, who had been a real live wire in the opening stages, played a lovely ball through to Henry. After battling with the Harrowby defenders, Henry kept his composure to slot the ball beyond the goalkeeper and give us a deserved lead.

We didn’t have to wait long for a second. Joey, who had started the game superbly, delivered an excellent corner that was met perfectly by the free-scoring Mayson. It was a quality goal and a fitting reward for the football we were playing.

At 2-0, we looked in control. The defence was strong, the midfield was full of energy, and our forwards were holding the ball up well and creating problems for the opposition. Everything was going to plan, and the boys were putting together one of their best spells of football this season.

Unfortunately, football can turn in an instant.

Just before half-time, Harrowby won a corner against the run of play and managed to turn it into a goal, 2-1. Even more frustratingly, they struck again just seconds before the break, breaking away to slot home an equaliser.

In the space of a few moments, a comfortable two-goal lead had disappeared. From our perspective, it was the worst possible time to concede, and Harrowby went into half-time having completely changed the mood of the game.

At 2-2, the message to the boys was clear. Their performance had been good, but we knew Harrowby would come out with renewed confidence after their late first-half comeback. We needed to stay disciplined, manage the game, take the sting out of their momentum and gradually work our way back on top.

Sadly, we conceded again early in the second half. In the space of around seven or eight minutes either side of half-time, we had gone from leading 2-0 to trailing 3-2. Harrowby were now full of confidence, and we had given ourselves a mountain to climb.

To the boys’ credit, they didn’t give up. We pushed forward, created several chances and continued to look for a way back into the game. With the match becoming increasingly open, we knew that finding an equaliser could change everything. However, despite our efforts, we couldn’t find that breakthrough, and Harrowby eventually added a fourth to put the result beyond doubt.

Final score: 4-2 defeat

There are plenty of positives to take from today’s performance, particularly our opening 20–25 minutes, when we played some excellent football, communicated brilliantly and looked a real threat. However, the timing of the goals we conceded ultimately proved decisive and a big mental blow to the boys. If we had made it to half time 2-1 up I believe we would have won.

I don’t believe the goals came from glaring individual mistakes, but they were situations we could have been managed better. That is the big lesson for us as a team, coaches included. Good football alone isn’t always enough; we must also learn how to control the key moments in a game, stay switched on when momentum shifts and avoid giving the opposition a route back in at crucial times.

After the match, as we always do, the boys had the opportunity to share their thoughts first. Understandably, there were plenty of negative comments about their own performances. We reassured them that they hadn’t played badly at all. Sometimes football delivers harsh lessons, and today was one of those occasions. The challenge now is to learn from them without losing sight of the many things we did well.

Managers’ Player of the Match – Oscar

A fantastic performance at the back. Oscar communicated brilliantly, stood firm defensively and was incredibly solid throughout. He dominated his opponent in the air and read the game brilliantly.

Parents’ Player of the Match – Joey

As good a first 15 minutes as I’ve seen from Joey in his time with us, the rest of the game wasn’t bad either. He put in a complete performance, combining excellent work rate with skill, strong tackling and a constant attacking threat. His delivery from the corner for Mayson’s goal was the icing on the cake.

Today’s result means promotion is now looking unlikely, which is disappointing given the progress the boys have made. However, the season is far from over, and we will continue to push, compete and develop right through to the very end.

There is plenty to be proud of in today’s performance, but also plenty to learn. The result hurts, particularly because we showed we could compete with one of the strongest sides in the division. Now it’s about taking those lessons forward, improving how we manage games and making sure that performances like our opening spell become the standard we set ourselves every week.