Kettering Nomads FC

Stand in skipper for the day Hon Lam Lee lost the toss, meaning Nomads kicked up hill in the first half, playing against gale force wind. It was absolutely vital they got off to a positive start, however after only 30 seconds, Heads was forced into a good block as Roade carved through the leaden footed Nomads.  This early scare followed 10-15 minutes of incessant pressure from the home team, with Heads and Martin combining to block another goal bound effort. Nomads gradually got a foothold into the game with Judd, Hector, Castka and Harvey collectively taking control of the midfield. With Nomads now looking more solid at the back and Sanders proving a handful up front, Nomads took the lead when a through ball found Sanders. His first touch seemed to take him away from goal, but somehow he drilled a superbly struck ball in the bottom corner to put the visitors 0-1 up. The same player had a golden opportunity right on half time to score again, however the home team's keeper spread himself well to keep the score down.

With the wind and hill in their favour, Nomads started the 2nd half brightly, with Sanders once again forcing an excellent save from Roade's chunky shot stopper. The momentum of the game seemed to change, when Nomads were forced into making a change with the impressive Kal Lee coming off injured, replaced by Casey Lynch. The enforced re-shuffle seemed to put Nomads on the back foot, as Roade went in search of an equaliser. This duly came, when a deep cross field ball found Roade's portly substitute, who expertly placed the ball past Heads.
 
With 10 minutes to go the home side went for broke, forcing Heads into another save, whilst camping in a tired Nomads half. The whistle for full time was a welcome break for Nomads, as this gave Rick the opportunity to re-organise, putting Lynch up front alongside Hobson whilst dropping Sanders into the right hand side of midfield. Extra time kicked off with Roade in the ascendency, piling pressure onto the away goal. This pressure seemed to bring the best out of Castka and Harvey, as both were working overtime breaking up attack after attack. With a home win on the cards, Nomads struck with a classic sucker punch. A long ball over the top was met by Hobson who showed great strength to pull away from the home skipper before slotting the ball underneath the despairing dive of the hapless keeper. Could Nomads now hold on in the final 15 minute period????
 
Predictably, Roade threw everything at Nomads, with Heads again forced into a save, whilst a home corner caused panic which led to Castka heading against his own bar. However Nomads resilience and character won the day, and a place in the next round of the Lower Junior Cup. 

All in all this was a fine team performance under difficult circumstances, and with an unfamilliar looking line up, Nomads put to bed last weeks horror show. Once again Nomads reserve side did their bit for the environment, with a shower count of 5 from a 13 man squad.

Next week sees Nomads return to Roade for a league encounter, with the returning absentees from today's tie not guaranteed a starting slot.