After a disappointing draw the previous week, we challenged our magnificent lads to respond well, not to overreact as if it was the end of the world, but also not to allow their standards to drop as the season enters the finishing straight. Having won the league by the skin of our teeth two seasons ago, the memory of an un comfortable title chase was fresh in the memory of plenty of the squad. Credit to them, as a team they rose to the challenge and put on a superb performance against Loddon Cobras.

Missing our usual striker, it was Luciano Gouveia who was tasked with leading the line, due to his crisp first touch and superb passing ability. He was tasked with dropping to receive the ball, spinning and releasing winger Josh Smith and Noah Davies. The Sharks started brightly, with good intensity and a positivity in possession, creating a couple of quick chances. Nevertheless, Loddon capitalised on their strikers pace to beat the offside trap out wide, playing a lovely ball into the six yard box for a simple tap in. The Sharks were behind undeservedly.

Jurgen Klopp called his Liverpool players "mentality monsters," something he credited for their success. So much of coaching the sharks this season has been to do with mentality. How do they handle being runaway leaders? How does that affect their training? How does having a massive squad affect team-spirit? How do we manage conceding goals when we are not used to it? Last week, the Sharks struggled to respond when they conceded, today was a different story. Rather than panicking, the Sharks reacted calmly, believing in their superior technical and tactical ability and in each other.

Harvey Rush released Noah Davies who did superbly create a chance in the penalty area, and Josh Smith danced through several defenders to get a shot off with his weaker foot, prevented only by a goal-line clearance. Daniel Stovald and Luciano combined excellently to create a chance for Daniel which went just wide. Luciano himself almost got on the end of a through ball, only for it to trickle agonisingly into the keepers hands.

At the other end, Loddon continued to threaten with their pacy striker, and did not hide the fact that they came here to play the long ball game. One long ball found it's target, only for the onrushing striker to be superbly closed down and tackled by a galvanised Harvey Rush, coming to his teams rescue.It should have been 2-0 shortly after as the Loddon striker beared down on goal, only to be thwarted in outstanding fashion by Goalkeeper Dexter Williams, closing down the attacker quickly and avoiding the temptation to go down early, instead making himself big and deflecting the striker's fierce shot. The Sharks have had a very comfortable season overall, but Dexter showed in that moment just what an outstanding goalkeeper he is. Had that goal have gone in, it could have been a very different outcome.

Two things changed to enable the Sharks to get themselves back in the game. Firstly, the defence, marshalled excellently by Greg Walker and Ali Jennis, avoided the temptation of stepping up to the half way line, dropping deeper instead. This prevented the Loddon players from playing their pacy striker in behind, and all balls subsequently rolled through to Dexter. It also forced Loddon to play in front of the defence more, enabling Harvey, Greg, Ali and Ivan to mop up any attacks easily.

The second thing that changed was introducing Zac Embley into the fray on the right wing. Gifted with excellent technique and positional intelligence, Zac is one of those players that makes football look easy. He either waltzes past players with the ball or somehow teleports into pockets of space to receive the ball, leaving defenders confused and helpless. Linking up brilliantly with Josh Smith, who had moved into the lone striker role to terrify the Loddon defenders with his relentless pressing game, Zac began to open up the Loddon defence in a way that we had struggled to before hand.

Nevertheless, it was a different player who found the equaliser in sublime fashion. Daniel Stovald, who had caused mayhem in the middle of the pitch from the first whistle, was enjoying taunting the Loddon defenders, who quite simply didn't know how to handle him. After a mazy run, Daniel created some space for himself before curling a sumptuous left-footed strike into the top corner. Such was the quality of the strike that there was almost no reaction across the pitch, just a stunned silence at what we had just witnessed. And now, as we thought it would, the Albury machine began firing on all cylinders. It wasn't long before Zac Embley curled a beautiful ball with the outside of his foot into Josh Smith who had made a fantastic run in the box, poking the ball beyond the goalkeeper for 2-1.

Half time
Sharks 2-1 Loddon

The sharksrestarted the second half with confidence and energy, and immediately put Loddon under pressure. What was so pleasing this week was how quickly they moved the ball around, utilising the wide players excellently. The midfield trio of Daniel McGraw, Ben Gregory and Daniel Stovald were crisp in possession, and quick to make decisions which was a real improvement on the previous week, while Josh Smith had great vision to send penetrative passes out to the wingers to create chances. Sending away Luciano Gouveia towards the corner flag, Luciano showed great tenacity and trickery to evade the defence and lay in Josh Smith who had his first effort saved, however quick thinking by Luciano gave Josh a second chance which he buried from close range. Josh is used to scoring from range, but today he did a great job of poaching goals as the main striker.

The game was killed off shortly after when a passing move on the edge of the area saw Ben Gregory, Zac and Daniel McGraw work the ball into Josh Smiuth who was fouled as he was about to pull the trigger. Daniel Stovald reacted quickly to the referee playing advantage to slot the ball into the bottom corner with his left foot: another outstanding finish.

Albury dominated possession well. Ben Gregory, sitting deeper today, acted like a sponge, absorbing any Loddon pressure well. Ivan Iduriaga, playing Left-back, right-back and central midfield, showed a real fight in the middle of the park, bringing an energy and strength that Loddon couldn't handle, reminding everyone why he is affectionately known as "El Torro." Will Parris, returning after a spell on the sidelines put in a relentless shift on the left hand side, doing a fantastic job of creating space by hugging the touchline and stretching the Loddon defence. Linking well with Josh Smith, Noah Davies, Ben Gregory and Daniel Stovald, Will gave the Loddon right-back a torrid time.

In the dying moments, Loddon attempted a couple more long balls. On one occasion, the striker squeezed through, only to be stopped by the ever reliable Monty Byrne catching up with him, and delaying him superbly to allow Ali and Harvey to support him and win back the ball. The Sharks returned to winning ways, and find themselves just four points from the League title, with six games to play.

Final score
Sharks 4-1 Loddon

Goals:
Daniel S x2
Josh S x2

Pauls POTM: Daniel S & Zac
Harry's POTM: Ivan, Harvey & Dexter (Sorry, it was impossible to choose)

Coaches reflections:
1. We asked for a response and we got one. A full squad at training (thank you!), every player on time (thank you!) and a return to intense, creative football. What had concerned me last week was that a team that is likely to win the league, had been so quiet, so it was good to hear such loud positivity from all areas of the pitch. Great response lads, lets keep it up!

2. The difference between the two teams was most noticeable after the opposition had scored. When Albury conceded, their was a calm determination amongst the players, who raised their intensity, and continued to play according to the game plan.

3. It was so great to have Zac play with us today. He is a Rolls-Royce of a player, and brings a calm quality to the team. Although school fixtures prevent him from playing regularly, we really appreciate the effect he has on out team when he is able to play.

4. Players really stepped up to fill the shoes of others today, often playing out of position. Ivan Iduriaga proved once again what a versatile player he is, playing in three different positions, as did Luciano Gouveia. We really appreciate how so many players can just slip into unfamiliar positions and do a job for their team there. Big shout out to Greg for being in charge of the defence today in the absence of Gabe, maintaining a real discipline and solid shape.

5. Daniel Stovald! Wow, what a player! Daniel has always been an exciting player but he well and truly ran the show against Loddon. He has always had fantastic footwork and the audacity to dazzle the defenders with trickery but is adding intelligence to his game, knowing when to take players on and when to release the ball. Both of his goals were outstanding today. What an onlooker may not have noticed was that both were with his weaker foot from outside the box. I had a proud coach moment as I thought back about three years ago during a 1-1 session with Daniel where he committed to working on his left foot. Well done Daniel, your hard work has paid off in style!

6. Finally, I say this a lot but we have the best keeper in the league. Dexter has been one of our highest level performers for the last few seasons and demonstrated this again against Loddon with a superb save when one on one with the striker. What is most pleasing is that Dexter had himself identified that this was an area of his game that he wanted to improve the previous week and had put in lots of hard work to make sure he was ready for a one on one situation. Top stuff!

Man of the match was difficult today (hence why there were 5), but it could have been all of them. 10/10 all round!