Kettering Nomads FC

17th October 2009

Nomads unbeaten start to the season ended emphatically at the hands of Earls Barton, in a comprehensive defeat which saw them crash out of the League Cup at the first round stage.

Yet again, zillionaire manager Nathan Eady was unable to field an unchanged side. Norton, Morris and Massie were all unavailable from the team that had thrashed Cold Ashby the week before, Paul Smith was still out injured with an infected wound from the coat hanger which permanently resides in his shirt and Evans was on the bench in order to give his dodgy groin a much needed rest. This meant starts for Marks up front, R Thurlow on the right and a brand new central defensive partnership consisting of Jackson and Joy.

Starting Line Up - Panter, Ingham, Jackson, Joy, Robinson, R Thurlow, Piazza, Bright, Clarke, C Thurlow, Marks. Subs - Newcombe, Cross, Evans.

The early stages of the match were fairly even, as both sides looked to try and play some attractive football. However, slowly but surely, the home team started to cause the Nomad's defence some problems as they looked to utilise the pace and quick feet of their two strikers. After a couple of half chances had gone begging, the pressure that had been building finally brought Earls Barton the opening goal. Their midfield player was allowed to turn and then ride four challenges, before squaring the ball to his unmarked team mate who slotted the ball into the bottom corner with ease.

Nomad's were struggling to cope with Earls Barton's extra man in the middle of the park, and when they did manage to gain possession, they very quickly squandered it. Their only real chance of the half fell to Marks, who cut in from the right before unleashing a shot which was confidently beaten away by the home side's keeper. At the other end, Nomads were fortunate not to concede what appeared to be a stone wall penalty when Jackson hacked down his opponent after he was once again beaten by some skillful on the ball trickery.

With the lead only a slender one, Nomads were still very much in the game as they started the second period. Eady decided to go like for like with the Earls Barton formation, and moved Ingham and Marks into midfield, Clarke up front and switched to a back three of Jackson, Joy and Robinson. The move seemed to have an immediate effect as Nomads enjoyed their best period of possession for the next 15-20 minutes. However the final ball was always lacking the quality required to unlock the Earls Barton defence, who comfortably dealt with everything that was thrown at them.

The crucial second goal came soon after Robinson and Ingham had been replaced by Evans and Cross respectively. Jackson failed to deal with a long ball down the left, and despite Evans making a great last ditch tackle to thwart the initial threat, the striker recovered the ball before teeing up an arriving midfield player to stroke the ball past a helpless Panter in the Nomads goal.

With the game now becoming even more stretched, Panter was forced into two more saves to prevent the lead being extended even further, the second of which saw the post hit twice. However Earls Barton's passage into the quarter finals was sealed, when despite getting a hand to the ball, Panter was beaten by a shot from the edge of the box.

Next week sees Nomads at home in the last 32 of the Junior Cup, where they will start as massive underdogs to holders Peterborough Northern Star from the UCL. Eady will no doubt be hoping for both a full squad and a positive reaction to what was a below par performance this week.