Kettering Nomads FC

6th February 2010

Bright 

Nomads title train came off it's tracks at Orlingbury Road, as they slumped to only their second league defeat of the season, with a dismal display against then bottom of the table Stanwick Rovers. 

Nathan Eady continued with his tried and tested rotation policy, with four changes made from the line up that had started the previous encounter against Finedon Volta. Clark replaced the rested D Morris, veteran Evans was given his first start this year in place of the holidaying Jackson, Piazza returned in the centre of the park for the unavailable Loake and Symington partnered Thurlow in attack at the expense of Norton. After a couple of impressive run outs in the reserves, Eady was also able to add big money summer signing Ferguson to his list of substitutes - a decision which saw the Isham fridge restocked with hefty supplies of Branston pickle and English mustard, in readiness for the return of the greatest corned beef bottom in amateur football.

Starting line up:  Panter, Ingham, Evans, Smith, Joy, Piazza, Bright, Clark, S Morris, Thurlow, Symington. Subs: D Morris, Ferguson, Norton, Newcombe.

With the Nomads pitch showing the signs of the recent run of games that it has had to endure, the match got underway with Nomads looking to return to the sort of form that they showed before the turn of the year. However, as was the case against Finedon, their early play was scrappy at best, with possession squandered needlessly on too many occasions. 

Stanwick seemed to sense that they may have caught the home side on an off day and began to grow in confidence. Whilst they were still employing their usual long ball game, their two strikers were causing the Nomads defence a few headaches with their pace and power. The first real chance of the game saw Panter produce a fine one handed save to tip a powerful shot around the post from a strong first time effort by the burly Stanwick forward. Nomads continued to huff and puff themselves, but as the half wore on, their frustration began to boil over and petty squabbles between teammates started to rear their ugly heads.

Things then turned from bad to worse as Stanwick took the lead. A long ball forward was mis-judged by the up til then excellent Joy. The Stanwick forward seized on this error and easily outpaced the geriatric-like Smith, before smashing a left foot shot past Panter as he tried to narrow the angle. As Nomads woes continued, the injury plagued Evans was forced to limp off yet again to be replaced by Ferguson, and the home sides bickering went up a level with forwards and defenders berating each other like a bunch of eleven year olds in the school playground.

As the players trudged into the dressing room, Chairman Pete Eady swiftly changed the tea cups from china to plastic in anticipation of son Nathan's expected half time rant. Surprisingly though, Eady was quite restrained, as he urged his players to put the first half behind them and raise their game to the standards that they had shown in earlier games (with an underlying threat of violence if they didn't).

This seemed to have the desired effect, as Nomads began the second half strongly and after ten minutes had drawn themselves level. A Clark corner from the left was met perfectly at the near post by Bright, whose header flashed past the rooted Stanwick keeper. With the momentum now very much with the home side, there looked to be only one winner, however the game immediately turned on it's head as Stanwick regained their lead. Their striker was given too much time on the edge of the box and as the ball bounced up invitingly, he struck a sliced shot off his shin pad which nestled perfectly in the far top corner, leaving Panter no chance.

Eady threw on D Morris and Norton in a desperate attempt to get at least a point from the game, but in reality, despite having large periods of possession, Nomads could not carve out any real chances as the Stanwick defence stood up well to anything that came into their penalty area.

The defeat sees Nomads remain fifth in the table and with other results going their way, means that the title is still very much in their own hands if further slip ups are avoided. Next week sees another home game, this time against Spratton, who are another side struggling against relegation.