BLUES HUMBLED

When the draw was made this tie against lower league opponents always had the potential to be a banana skin moment and so it proved to be on Sunday at Lamb Meadow against Baldock Town, when Blues became the sacrificial lambs. It was a performance reminiscent of the ignominious display and exit from the same competition against FC Romania. After last weeks accomplished victory defeating one of this seasons title favourites, the manner of Blues meek exit was difficult to understand. They were second in all departments, lacking energy and fight especially in the first period when they gifted the hosts two goals. Baldock richly deserved their win despite their lowly league status. An improved second half did produce an early goal, but after that although it was one way traffic they didn't manage to carve out a clear cut opportunity to get on level terms. Yes, they were missing a number of key players through injury but that does not account for the lacklustre timid performance. Clearly in Jim Cooper's post match interview he was far from happy with the overall performance and lack of adherence to clear instructions of what was required from them.

A bright start that flattered to deceive saw good work down the right flank provide an opportunity for Anointed Chukwu but the ball wouldn't fall kindly and the chance was lost.

A sign of things to come came when a long ball found the hosts Alex Coppin who produced a diving save from Danny Sambridge, it was to be a recurring theme seeing the hosts getting in behind and looking threatening.

Chukwu was again in action when he nodded a Mitch Hahn cross over from close range, but that was as good as it got with Coppin orchestrating proceedings in midfield for Town who gained the ascendancy helped by an insipid Blues midfield.

On 27 minutes there appeared to be no danger when Junior Nkwonta played the ball back to Sambridge, but a poorly paced pass from the keeper caught Ashley Miller napping allowing Owen Robertson to steal the ball and round Sambridge to put Town one up. A goal symptomatic of what had gone before and what was to follow.

With their tails up and Blues chasing shadows it was no surprise when six minutes later Town added a second from a corner, when Josh Furness rose unchallenged to plant a firm header past a stranded Sambridge.

Now with a mountain to climb Blues failed to respond they huffed and puffed to no avail allowing Town to dominate the closing minutes of the half.

HT 2-0

No doubt Cooper would have given his charges a half time roasting for their inept display and he duly made changes, on came Ryan Sammons and Joseph Agunbiade for Mitch Hahn and Ash Miller.

The changes gave more impetus but not before a misplaced pass by Nkwonta let in Robertson whose effort whistled just over.

Blues now had the territorial advantage and came close to an equaliser, when good work by David Knight saw him cut the ball back to Joe Paxman who side footed his effort wide of the upright, a glaring miss.

The pressure was building on the home goal and in the 54th minute it told albeit fortuitously - Freddie Moncur fed Agunbiade out on the right he floated what looked a harmless cross confusing Cameron Groom who let the ball slip through his hands, giving Blues a glimmer of hope.

The hosts still had their moments despite being under pressure and looked dangerous on the counter forcing Sambridge into a number of vital saves but these sorties were becoming rarer. Danny Gould wasted an opportunity after a lay off from Chukwu blasting wildly over. Holding the upper hand Blues still couldn't create a goalscoring opportunity, too many times the final ball was found wanting. The diminutive Groom in the home goal looked vulnerable in the air but Blues failed to capitalise, corners and free kicks were either played too long or not attacked unlike the home defenders whose commitment was clear to see.

As the clock ticked down Blues play became more and more frantic and directionless and only a shot from Gould flashing past the post was all they had to show for their efforts.

The final whistle was met with Blues players looking demoralised, heads down realising that any thought of a cup run had ended at the first hurdle.

Cooper now has a job on his hands this week on the training ground to lift his players spirits. After last weeks euphoria it's difficult to understand why they underperformed so badly - good players don't become bad in a week, which would tend to suggest their mental approach to the game was all wrong. What's certain is that with a resurgent Basildon United to face this Saturday any repeat of today's performance will only lead to one outcome.

Sambridge, Gould ,Joynes, Miller (Agunbiade 45), Nkwonta, McQueen, Moncur (Melaugh 81), Hahn(Sammons 45), Chukwu, Knight, Paxman

Subs not used: Griek, Henry, Watts