By stonehousealbion
September 24 2016

For the second away game of the campaign, Albion head to familiar territory in Surrey - Molesey Road, where we will be hosted by ex-Champioship side Esher. They are a similar club to us in many ways - a decent ground with a fair history on international games (U20, Women's World Cup, etc), a few London DR palyers in the line-up and of course the will to regain Level 2 status.

At this early stage in Nat 1 procedings it's hard to draw too many conclusions, but at least Easher (currently 13th in the table with 1 win and five points to their credit) have played one of the same "form" clubs as us. Last week, they met Hartpury at home and lost by about the same score as we did away. The previous week, they were edged in a low scoring, close fixture at Blackheath and on the opening day of the season just beat Nat 2(N) promotees Macclesfield. Not exactly a mountain of proof to go on, but enough on which to hang a fair bit of hope. The online crowd seem to favour us significantly. Looking further back, it was even stevens last year, with a fairly solid defeat early on at Brickfields, but revenge gained in the away fixture back in January.

With Albion currently at seventh (2 wins and nine points on the board), we must hope for continued consolidation as the new squad find their feet. The pack has shown what it is capable of and must get on with providing a dominant platform for the backs. Particular combinations seem to work in the front row, while others are less consistent. Certainly there must be an improvement in discipline all round. We've been on the wrong side of the ref far too much over three games. Playing with numerical depletion and preventing further scores or even defeat is creditable, but no way to put games to bed early on or build the high scoring results which will be needed at least occasionally to carry us up to the upper reaches of the league.

I see us winning, but don't see the home side giving us an easy run; 1 - 4 to Albion. The travelling support will once again be in attendance, doing their level best to shatter the calm of the Home Counties - Day-oh! Day-ay-ay-oh! Plymouth Albion's the team we watch!

National League 1 - 2016/7 Wk 4

Discussion started by Unofficial Plymouth Albion (IP Logged), 24/09/2016 08:10

Unofficial Plymouth Albion
24/09/2016 08:10

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