Goals: Big William, Kieron ‘fearless’ Hart
When an official looking chap approached me after the final whistle and asked me whether he could have a word I thought that the NSPCC had finally caught up with my team talks.
When said man showed me his Nottingham Forest ID, told me that he was scouting for their academy, that he had been impressed with what he had seen of our team and would like to come and watch us again I thought that I had died and gone to heaven.
The pre match routine had the usual mayhem that I’ve grown to know and love…Cedrick failed to show at the rendez vous point and the Duffield secretary had sent us to the wrong ground (groan) meaning that one of my Dads and 2 of my players had to leave halfway through the second half for another engagement with an odd shaped ball.
Our defence were superb today. Josh and Matthew were quite outstanding in central defence. Sajid was seriously composed at left back (special skills award for some outstanding chest control – watch out Jabed he’s gonna’ be better than you) and Anupam is making the right back position his own. I don’t think that Duffield managed a single shot in 60 minutes of football.
In central midfield Mat H and Ahmed worked their socks off – the positional responsibility they showed was the bedrock on which this result was based. Take a bow guys. When Kirk and Nass remembered to stay out wide and close down the opposition we looked a solid unit.
At half time the Duffield manager was generous enough to say we should have been winning 4-0. He wasn’t far wrong. We missed half a dozen golden opportunities. My water bottle got a bit dented after the sixth of the misses.
My usual calm half time team talks have seen us trot out like a bunch of zombies in the second half and snatch loss after loss from the jaws of victory. There was nothing for it - Alex Ferguson hair dryer…. Half the lads in our team have got that much white noise going on in their heads that I seem to have little option but to shout at them to get their attention. I’m scouring the internet for a portable naughty step as an alternative…any other suggestions gratefully received.
The first 10 minutes of the second half saw us seriously wobble as the half time subs struggled to get to grips with their roles. But the team dug in and then it happened…
Quote from last week’s match report:
…when William gets his first of the season – and he will…
and today he did. Time stood still as the ball landed at William’s feet and cool as a cucumber our big target man slotted it home as though he’d been doing it all his life. Cue wild celebrations – William’s Dad once got the bends following some excessive diving. Today I thought that altitude sickness would kick in as he cart wheeled around like a lamb on as sugar overdose.
Kieron’s second goal put the game beyond doubt and rightly impressed the Forest Scout. Kieron may at times lack control and subtlety but his determination and single mindedness are a Godsend for a team that at times couldn’t hit a barn door with a banjo.
What did we achieve today:
This is our first victory of the season
This is our first ever victory in the Derby City League by more than one goal
This is our first clean sheet of the season
This is only our second ever clean sheet in the Derby City League
This is the 5th time this season (out of 6 matches) that we have scored 2 or more goals
This was Big William’s first ever goal in the League.
The Squad of Record breakers:
Tom S, Sajid, Anupam, Matt D, Josh, Matt H, Ahmed, Kirk, Nass, Robbie, James, Kieron, Ryan, William
Perhaps the last 6 years of riot control have been worth it….
Please tell me today wasn’t a dream…
..and finally, in the hope I’m not about to wake up, thank you to Duffield who were, like Allestree, courteous hosts and a credit to the Derby City League. The pitch took some finding but if there is a more beautiful ground in England I’d love to go there.
No comments:
Post a Comment