Kettering Nomads FC

14th November 2009

Hector, Sanders 2 

Manager Rick Conway made three changes from last week, with Calum Conway, Mark Perkins and Darren Charlsey coming in for Kal Lee and Aidy Hobson, who both took their place on the bench, whilst Ross Martin was unavailable.

Starting line up:  Heads, Castka, Stokes, H Lee, Stanley, Conway, Perkins, Hector, Harvey, Sanders, Charsley. Subs: K Lee, Hobson, Glazebrook.

With a gale force wind blowing straight down the pitch and driving rain, it was clear that conditions were not going to be easy to play much constructive football. Skipper Stokes lost the toss, leaving Nomads the task of defending the strong wind in the first half.  After what seemed a bright start for Nomads, when the visiting keeper was forced to smother a through ball, they were made to pay when some poor marking from a throw in left the No. 9 too much time and space to plant the ball past the diving Heads. 

Within 5 minutes matters got worse for the hosts, when once again poor marking from a throw in led to a free header. Heads did well to dive full length to tip the ball onto the post….however luck deserted him as the ball rebounded off the post, onto Heads and into the net -  unfortunately this has to go down as an own goal!!!!  Things went from bad to worse over the next 10 minutes as Whitefield totally dominated the proceedings to score a further two goals, whilst also hitting the bar, to go in at half time 0-4 up.

It would be a total injustice if anyone was to say the weather had in anyway helped Whitefield, as they had played some excellent passing football, leaving Nomads chasing shadows at times in terrible conditions. A shell shocked Nomads dressing room were left wondering if they were going to be on the end of a cricket score, a despondent Rick rallied his troops, more in hope than expectation that an early goal could lead to an unlikely comeback.

The second half got under way with the wind still at full strength, and within seconds of the restart Nomads forced a corner. The impressive Hector whipped in from the left and straight into the top corner for the perfect start to the half. The perfect start got even better 5 minutes later, when some neat football from Nomads led to Sanders nodding in to bring Nomads within two goals of the visitors…….game on!!!  With tails up and Hector, Sanders and Harvey causing problems, Nomads sensed panic within the visiting defence.  Unfortunately, as Nomads pressed for a third goal, a break away by Whitefield's winger led to the No.9 shooting tamely towards goal, Heads seemed to have the effort covered but let the ball out of his grasp to allow the No.10 the task of firing a decisive 5th goal.

To Nomads credit, they pressed on, and with 20 minutes remaining scored a third courtesy of Sanders, to once again reduce the deficit. With 5 minutes remaining, Whitefield wrapped up the points with a break away goal, the game was now out of Nomads reach.

In summary, with a mix of comedy defending, poor goalkeeping and, to Whitefield's credit, some excellent football, Nomads were well beaten. However the second half was dominated by the home side, with Hector playing some of his best football of the season and Sanders working tirelessly for the cause. The most frustrating thing for all involved with the reserve outfit is that the potential is present within the squad to beat all comers, however consistency and a reduction of the ridiculous errors needs to be introduced into the game if Nomads don't want to be dragged in a relegation dogfight.