I think last night's selection, which wasn't a million miles away from the Peterborough game was influenced by the rules of the competition which demand you put out a strong side.

Good first half, took our foot off in the 2nd IMO. Loach showed enough to not put the fear of God into us all as can happen with a 3rd keeper. I'd not worry if he played a League game which would probably see Harrison Foulkes on the bench and he's another good un. Of the rest of the players, I'm still unsure if Oduroh is a top prospect. It may be me being owd fashioned, it may be an issue with him, it might be he's playing to orders but IMO he moves way too far inside, away from the line and his "man". On a few occasions last night we saw crosses come in from our right and, to me, he was too far off his oppo and also making the wrong move thereby giving the player even more time. Stopping crosses is one of the major parts of a full back's role. For their goal, when the pass was made, he was at least as far infield as the penalty spot and maybe a bit further gifting Kiernan all the time and space he would have wanted to run onto the pass, shoot and score, which he did. Jake Rooney was excellent as was Fozzy at CH. With those two, Curt, Stears, Cash and Chester, that's one position we don't need to worry about. Roberts on the left is OK at this level but I'm not convinced he has "it" in enough quantity for a higher League. The 2 DMs had decent games, Tommo involved in the lead up to the first, Max scoring a delightful 3rd. NML, you'd never have guessed he's missed 2 games due to family reasons. Dobbin was very good, again. Sibs seems to have matured at last. Collins? Everything except a goal putting in a lot of work, however... I can't help but start to have doubt creeping in. Our first, NML was right where Collins should have been. Last seconds of the game, a brilliant far post ball from Didzy which Collins (Collo to his teammates) missed by half a gnat's knacker. It's not running for him for whatever reason. Good through ball from Sibs which he couldn't quite control. More similar occasions last night. Is he destined to be a nearly man with us? I hope not but I wouldn't bet against it.

The competiton's rules will ensure we put out an equally strong side at Mansfield and against Citeh youth and it's genuinely silverware we can win.... BUT, is it no more than a distraction? Probably.