The lads have done so well to put themselves in with a chance of a play-off place, and that, of course, brings with it a pressure that they perhaps didn’t have a few weeks back and perhaps because they are such a young group haven’t had before. We spoke before the game about the opportunity they had created and to make sure we didn’t have the disappointment of getting so close only to miss out by not performing.

We got a great start when Kai Neil-Gray made the most of a misplaced back pass, and I hoped that this would relax us and see us at our best, but for many reasons that didn’t happen. There is pressure, so it might have been that maybe the goal came early, and we felt it was done even though there was nearly a full 90 to play, maybe the heat, or the 3G surface. Who knows? After the goal, I felt we allowed Copthorne a lot of the ball. They were certainly quicker on every second ball, and whilst not threatening our goal in open play, they did force a number of corners and definitely had a territorial advantage.

It was a mixed bag at half time from the staff. I was annoyed and said as much. Andy told them to relax and just enjoy it, and that if we missed out at the end, so be it. Reidy tweaked a couple of things, and so we went again for the second half, hoping for better.

I don’t know whose words made a difference, but we were much better. We started to complete more passing phases, were getting around the pitch better, and looked like the team that we had become accustomed to watching over the last few weeks. Copthorne were still a threat, and so when Archie Morgan put us 2 up just after the hour, it made all of us feel a bit better.

That was short-lived though, as just 2 minutes later, from an overload down our left, a cross into the box evaded Sang and unfortunately hit Bailey and rolled into the corner. The last 30 minutes that I had hoped for were gone, but to be fair, we did have better control of the game, although with only a slender 1-goal lead, you are always vulnerable. We created a few bits and pieces going forward and dealt with Copthorne's threat quite well, but of late, the final 10 minutes of games have become difficult emotionally.

We scored again in stoppage time following a defensive mix-up pounced upon by Bailey Ellis, and it was job done. It's stressful and enjoyable in equal measures, and with a busy week ahead, starting with Worthing United at home tomorrow, it's not going to be any different. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Gaffer Glynn Stephens
First Team Manager