Following a great game last week against Melbourne we were up against yet another good team in Belper today, a team we know have some academy players so a good game was on the cards.
Again the lads turned up saying how great the opposition were, when are they going to realise they shouldn’t be scared of anyone, it’s the other teams that should be scared of us ??????? !! Perhaps this is why we once again got off to a slow start, were they scared, I don’t know but it’s noticeable that every week the lads turn up saying how good the opposition are and we start off nervy and concede early and it’s got to stop, something Brendan, myself and Rob will definitely be talking to them about.
As the first half started Belpers quality shon, they were clearly a very good and well organised team so when the first goal went in, it was no real surprise..... when there second and third went in however, that was !! As the whistle blew for half time, both Brendan and I were a little shell shocked although like we told the lads, a couple of there goals had come from individual errors, we weren’t totally outplayed and the second half should be looked at as a new game, we had lost the first one 3-0 but everything was still there to play for, let’s win the second !!
A few changes were made and Harry B was asked to step into the midfield to try and keep there best player quiet and what a job he did, the two half performances were chalk and cheese and this arguably was down to this decision, and Harry playing incredibly ! When Karsen set up Arjen and he cooly finished, it was no more than we deserved. 3-1 and we were back in the game. Belper who ?? This half was all about the mighty Chellaston so when they were awarded a penalty that they scored, making it 4-1, you’d have thought the wind would be took out of our sails and that would be the end of the game but NO...... the lads knew they were the better team this half and really had the bit between there teeth and were on the charge so when we were then awarded a penalty and Karsen stepped up, it was only going one place, in the back of the net. 4-2. In my slightly biased position it was now all about us and the confidence was rising, so much so that when our left back got a sniff of goal, not to be outdone by Barlows incredible goal last week, he shot, again from our own half and straight into the top of the goal it went. Kingy doesn’t do tap ins !! 4-3, awesome goal Josh !!
Now things were starting to heat up, tempers starting to flair, there staff making niggles at us and our players, we couldn’t pull this come back off could we against opposition of such talent ? But then Harry L puts a sublime ball through for Karsen to run onto and in current form the back of the net was where it was destined and sure enough, that’s exactly where it went... 4-4 and that is how the game would end.
What......a......game...... !! And a fair result in my eyes, 2 really good teams playing with passion, but playing fairly, to award anyone a winner I felt would have been harsh so I’ll take a draw and look forward to next week !!
Notable performances today were Karsen who is simply on fire at the minute, 2 goals and an assist against such a good team, just awesome. Arjen in my eyes had his best game in a Chellaston shirt and was well deserving of his goal, Tom is having a great season so far always battling and battling in the middle, but man of the match this week went to Harry B. Being asked to play out of position today to do a job on Belpers best player in the middle he really stepped up to the mark. With Connor not starting today Harry took the captaincy and he really made his presence known, being incredibly vocal from the very off my ears were starting to hurt at one point !! Harry really expects such a lot from everyone around him commanding respect from all and expecting every single player to give 100% just as he always does, he really did lead by example today so well done Harry, great job and fully deserved man of the match ????
Next week we face Kingsway. Always a tough feisty match this one but one that we know we can win, let’s just hope the lads know this as well !! Up the Chello ??????
