Before the game we would have been more than content to take a point. Memories of the weekend thumping were fresh and several key players were still not fully fit. The loss of Aluko’s early goal came like a hammer blow and we feared the worst.
Kick off - attendance 6,882
It speaks volumes for the spirit of the players that despite the concession of a barrow load of goals, mounting injuries and a rocky start that they did not panic and took time to play themselves back into the game. The conditions did not make good football easy, we played into a howling gale in the first half, but as more and more passes were completed it became apparent that we had taken control.
Jeffers, in his first start, looked keen and sharp. Sutton was an effective collector and with Murphy behind and his new partner close by, we began to press in the beach end of the pitch. Jeffers collected his debut goal with the help of a Craigan assist and could have added more but for the good work of the Don’ goalkeeper.
At times passes went astray but there were few occasions when the home side threatened as we fought to regain possession. Murphy produced what turned out to be the winner when he managed to shrug off the attentions of Vujadinovic before finding the corner of the net.
Jeffers, still short of match fitness, and Lasley, having taken Hartley’s boot in the face, were given relief when Humphrey and Hammell were given a run. Gunning stayed at left back while Hammell, not running freely, played in midfield.
Messrs Brown and Knox escaped much of the expected attention of the small travelling support who were forced to the back of the stand as they sought shelter from the elements but there was plenty of satisfaction that we had beaten the man who left for “the bigger job”. It was also noted that Nick Blackman hardly got a touch of the ball, and was pulled with twenty minutes still on the clock.
The good night cannot hide the fact that we’ve won only two of the last thirteen league games but it did demonstrate that the team has the will to play good football and that results will come if we persist. And in Jeffers we might have unearthed a forgotten gem.