Newly promoted Boots Wednesday began their EMPAL Division Two campaign with a 5-2 loss away to Ardley Athletic. The first half was a very tight affair, with a lot of passing in midfield from both teams but with little penetration. Neil was rarely troubled in goal, and only had to watch a number of long-range efforts blaze wildly over the bar as Toobs, SuBo, Hawry-lick and Olly kept the Ardley attacks in check, while Fletch ran his socks off trying to breakdown the midfield play with the assistance of Kieran, Danny and Patto. At the other end Boots didn’t really create anything clear-cut, although Patto came close with a series of volleyed half-chances and Dave saw a header go marginally over from a Crozier corner. Man of the Match Kieran put in a lively performance on the right wing, and interplay between Patto and Griffin released him through the centre for the best chance of the half, but the defenders converged to thwart the danger. Crozier and Danny also combined down the left but the decisive killer ball was not forthcoming. Just before half-time Ardley opened the scoring when a corner was knocked into the air by Crozier’s bonce, and their right back produced a sensational (and lucky) volley with his leg peg that thundered into the net from 10 yards, giving Neil no chance.
After the break Ardley attempted a more direct approach and the switch quickly paid off, with their striker taking advantage of some indecisive defending to grab two goals as balls were knocked over the top. As Boots pressured for their first goal, a hurried defensive clearance put their man through on goal for his hat-trick, but an advancing Healy produced a reflex block to stop the opportunity with his hand... Unfortunately he’d run outside his own area! Boots were reduced to ten men and SuBo took the gloves, while a reshuffle saw Fletch move into defence. Ardley grabbed a fourth with an angled header, before Boots started to grow in the game, making better use of possession. Daz saw a shot blaze narrowly over the bar after a one-two with Patto, before playing in Crozier down the left with a weighted ball; the Twiglet-legged winger beat his man and sent in a tasty cross that Patto headed in at the back post. After Ardley had grabbed a fifth (with their striker bagging his fourth of the game), Boots scored a classic counter-attack to regain some pride. SuBo’s sliced kick was taken down by Patto inside the Boots half, and he produced an incisive pass that fell into the path of the sprinting Danny, who beat his markers and rolled the ball under the keeper with a composed finish. Patto missed a fine chance at the death as a corner fell to him on the edge of the box, but by then the end result was long-established.
Alan Hansen’s Match Analysis: With three confident players in midfield, Ardley were clearly suited to the rubber crumb surface and a game of possession football, dictating play and forcing the opposition to come at them. Boots were over-worked and had to chase the ball for much of the game with several players still learning positions, although they produced a spirited performance once they were reduced to ten men, and were by no means outplayed during the course of the match. Improved communication, match experience and confidence for the whole Boots squad will make this a much closer affair at Leyton Crescent.
