All in the timing: the difference a late goal makes
Inconsistency is looking like it could cost us dearly this season.
After working so hard to get ourselves back into a play-off position we then surrendered it with a whimper in our worst performance of the season at Hampden on Tuesday. The only way to look on positively is to say that surely that is as bad as it can get.
We have crept back in to our old habit of giving very sloppy goals away and we gifted Queen's Park three goals.
Please don't think that I'm taking anything away from Queen's Park and their performance as I think I've made my feelings known about them as a footballing side over the last couple of years. However, the bottom line is that they didn't score a goal from anything they created on their own.
We had kept three clean sheets in four games before we travelled to Berwick on 12 February. Although we won that match we've conceded eight goals in the three matches, including that one.
When you look back at those goals, I would say at least five were complete gifts and the other three were certainly avoidable.
I suppose if you analyse everything then there is always a mistake somewhere along the line. But the goals we give away are different and they are goals that we never seem to get from other teams in the league.
Queen's Park took full advantage of some sloppy Annan defending on Tuesday
The games continue to come thick and fast so we've no time to dwell on things too much before we face East Stirlingshire on Saturday followed by Berwick Rangers midweek.
Shire had a bad result on Wednesday so both teams will be hurting after heavy defeats and it could make for an interesting game. We really need to take maximum points from these fixtures before travelling to Arbroath next weekend.
After speaking to a couple of my team-mates recently it really is amazing how a late goal can completely change your feelings and the way you look at a performance.
The recent games against Berwick Rangers and Albion Rovers spring to mind and show you the positive and negative aspects, depending on which way things fall.
Take the Albion game when, looking back it was a good point gained considering they could have been out of sight by half time. As it turned out we found ourselves 2-1 up in injury-time only to lose a last minute goal, dropping two points in the process.
Following that game the heads were down and there were an awful lot of negatives about how we couldn't clear our lines, substitutions, a red card for Andy Aitken and obviously losing the last-gasp goal.
In contrast, we scored our winner in the latter stages of our victory at Berwick with an Ian Harty penalty. We lost two really poor goals going behind twice and generally struggled during certain periods of the game.
Had the game finished in a draw I've no doubt that we would have gladly taken the point but the poor goals would have been the main focal point in the dressing room.
But the late goal meant handshakes and high fives all round and what a fantastic win it was after coming from behind not once but twice in the game.
Jimmy Greaves got it absolutely spot on!
I'll finish with a couple of apologies this week and first of all to two of my mates, Gaz and Moff. They both travelled across Glasgow to watch me on Tuesday night and not only did I mix their tickets up so they had to pay to get in but I also managed to get myself knocked out after five minutes of the game meaning I had to come off.
The second apology is for the supporters who travelled to the game.
I could be wrong but I don't think there was any acknowledgement from the players thanking you for being there in midweek. Obviously, it wasn't great for anyone to watch and you might already have left but you should always be applauded for coming to support the team.
Make no mistake it is appreciated and we'll hopefully be able to make it up to you at Galabank on Saturday.
Hi there, I'm Chris Jardine, midfielder with Scottish Third Division side Annan Athletic. I hope, throughout the season, I can give you a good insight into life at the newest Scottish League club and maybe even a few laughs along the way.
Comment number 1.
At 24th Feb 2011, GhodFatherHooper Neil Francis Lennon wrote:i always look out for your results due to this blog Chris !!
So when i checked the score on the ³ÉÈË¿ìÊÖ site on Wed morning i seen you only last 10 minutes and wondered what had happend thankfully you hadn't been hooked because of your performance haha.
good luck for Saturday
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Comment number 2.
At 24th Feb 2011, Grant McF wrote:Not a great performance Jardy from the Black and Golds at Hampden.
They obviously missed the midfield dynamo. I came down to see the game but you'd already
headed up the tunnel by the time I made it in.
Hopefully Saturday can be the start of a big push to the finish.
Would be great to see my adopted team climb the leagues.
I've told Henry to let me know if there are any testimonial plans announced for you.
Hopefully you can get something arranged soon.
best of luck for Saturday and the rest of the season.
Cheers
Grant
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Comment number 3.
At 27th Feb 2011, Chris Jardine wrote:Thanks, as always, for the comments this week.
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