WATCHING Arsenal’s amazing 7-5 League Cup win at Reading made me wonder if we are over-critical of non-league footballers.
Former Worcester City manager George Rooney always used to say to me: ‘You’re doing OK but don’t get carried away because you will never beat the game’.
I would never have admitted it at the time but I didn’t have a clue what he was on about, it didn’t make any sense to me.
But, as you get more experienced, things happen and now I understand exactly what he meant.
For Reading to be 4-0 up courtesy of some comical defending and then lose 7-5 was incredible. The emotions the managers must have gone through.
Arsene Wenger probably couldn’t believe his side had started like that and, by the end, Reading boss Brian McDermott must have been thinking how on earth they had thrown away such a lead.
That’s the beauty of football, it’s unpredictable and that’s why we love it.
Occasionally the unexpected does happen and sometimes it’s extreme, as on Tuesday.
When you see Premier League stars making mistakes like that you have got to expect it from part-time players who train three-hours-a-week over two sessions.
It’s about reducing errors and keeping them to a minimum.
There were frustrations with individuals, and collectively, in Monday’s 2-1 defeat against Brackley, particularly with the second goal but, on reflection, you have got to be reasonable.
Worcester play at a good standard and if you make an error you’ll get punished. Brackley went top of the table with that result and are currently the best team in the league.
Along with Chester and Guiseley, they have had great starts and, in other leagues, our points total would be good enough for second or third place.
We are doing well and it’s been a long time since our supporters have been able to see us as genuine play-off contenders.
There’s a long way to go but we have got a chance. We went to Boston and won 2-1 last Saturday and there won’t be many teams that achieve that — Chester have already lost at York Street this season.
On the day, it’s the team who makes the least mistakes that invariably wins and we are one of those teams that can beat anybody.
I would also like to mention the crowds at St George’s Lane because the support has been fantastic and it’s great to see four-figure attendances.
We play some good stuff and, even though we lost to a good side on Monday, we are still up there.
However, despite our league position, it’s important not to get carried away because, as George said, you will never beat the game.
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