Kettering Nomads FC

21st November 2009

                                             Thurlow 3, Clark 

For the second round running, Nomads tore up the form book to send higher ranked opposition crashing out of the Junior Cup. This time the victims were Premier Division side Moulton, as Nomads produced some of their best football of the season to progress into the unknown territory of the quarter finals.

Kettering's answer to Roman Abramovich, Nathan Eady, made two changes from the previous week. Joy came back in at right back and Loake was handed his first start of the season following an impressive display as substitute against Daventry. Evans and Piazza were the unlucky two who had to make way, dropping to the bench along with the returning Clark.

Starting Line Up - Panter, Joy, Ingham, Massie, Smith, Loake, Bright, D Morris, S Morris, Thurlow, Norton. Subs - Symington, Piazza, Clark, Evans, Newcombe.

After a rousing pre-match speech by Eady, interrupted only by several repulsive farts from Norton, the match got underway in near perfect conditions. Nomads began confidently and with the slick pitch suiting their passing game, created a couple of early chances for Thurlow and Norton. Moulton were employing more of a long ball game as they looked to utilise their tall centre forward to good effect and Nomads were lucky to escape an early scare when a long range shot parried by Panter was knocked into the unguarded net, only for the Moulton player to be ruled offside.

This stroke of good fortune seemed to spur Nomads on even further, and with D Morris in particular causing havoc down the left flank, the away side saw further glorious chances fall to Norton, Thurlow and S Morris, but all were squandered. Finally the deadlock was broken when Thurlow latched onto a through ball and lobbed the approaching Moulton keeper. Panter was then forced into a fine save at the other end, spreading himself at the feet of the Moulton winger and picking up a painful blow to the knee in the process. 

The second half began in gloomy conditions, however Nomads countered this with a really bright start. With Moulton's attempts at an offside trap failing miserably, Nomads crucially got the next goal. Norton was found in acres of space on the right by Ingham, and after drawing the keeper, unselfishly squared the ball to strike partner Thurlow who slammed the ball home, despite the desperate attempt of the last Moulton defender on the line.

With their lead doubled, Nomads sensed that another upset was very much on the cards. Loake was replaced by Piazza as Eady looked to provide extra cover for the away side defence. Chances now seemed to be coming thick and fast and Thurlow missed two one on ones with the keeper which would have given him his hat trick and virtually sealed the game. It looked as though these misses might prove to be costly, as Moulton then scored to get themselves back into the game. The home side's winger was allowed to cut in from the left, before curling a perfect shot over Panter.

Nomads responded in the best possible way - by scoring a third goal themselves. A corner from the right was not cleared properly and after a couple of scuffed attempts, the ball inevitably dropped to Thurlow, who rifled an unstoppable shot into the top corner to give him his own personal treble.

Moulton understandably pushed more bodies forward as they looked to try and get back into the game again. This caused some panic in the Nomads ranks and the ball was constantly returned to their opponents instead of them keeping it. Moulton's best chance came as a cross from the right was headed against the bar from close range before Smith bravely cleared. This seemed to deflate Moulton even further and chances for Nomads continued with Norton and Smith both going close.

Symington and Clark were both introduced to give some fresh legs up front, and as the clock ran down, it was the latter who put the icing on the cake as he broke the offside trap before hammering a shot into the bottom far corner of the net.

The final whistle saw whoops of joy from the Nomads supporters as the Orlingbury Road side were into the hat for the quarter final draw. Next week sees Nomads back in League action with a trip to Stanwick Rovers.