A slow-starting Boots were comprehensively rolled over by a pacy and attack-minded Calverton AFC side in our second pre-season friendly. In a repeat of last week’s game, the opposition raced to a 4-0 lead inside the first 30 minutes, catching the dazed Boots defence flat-footed with a series of through-balls that their quick forwards could run on to and finish beyond the exposed Frumpton. Boots struggled to hold onto the ball in midfield as Calverton maintained a steady pressure for most of the half, with even the simplest passes going astray and people playing themselves into trouble on a bobbly surface. Despite an injury to debutant Pat, Boots eventually worked themselves back into the game as the defence adapted to their tactics and Luke and Kieran began to find space behind the Calverton defence, finally producing several chances from quick one-twos, free kicks or corners, with one chance falling to Patto who saw his goal-bound shot blocked on the line after Griff’s corner was poorly cleared, and another when Luke, Rich and Ian combined on the left to work several shooting chances that weren’t converted. Boots eventually responded when a long ball from Ash down the right wing allowed Kieran to run free into the box, and he was fouled from behind as he controlled the ball. Ian dispatched the resulting penalty powerfully through the fingertips of the keeper to make it 4-1.
Despite Boots showing signs of ascension and better fitness just before half time, Calverton refused to capitulate like Caythorpe the previous week, and continued to press home their advantage in pace to extend their lead throughout the second half. Boots still had chances on the counter-attack as Griff and Ian worked well to break-down play, and Luke saw two left-footed shots blocked at close range, Ian tried his luck from distance on a number of occasions and Rich (who made an extremely lively debut on the left wing) was this close to lobbing their advanced keeper from half way. At the other end Ash, Brett, Hawrylak and Pete (replacing the injured Patto) continued to clear their lines, while Frumpers made some outstanding reflex saves to stop Calverton picking up a cricket score!
Despite the result, the majority of people got a solid work-out in the searing heat, and although we struggled to communicate and work as a team for periods of the match, there were still some strong individual performances (Ash and Rich in particular) that showed the correct attitude. With two more weeks of fitness under our belts, fewer Sunday hangovers, and a bigger and more committed squad covering all positions, we can certainly get a result against a complacent Calverton in the league and properly test their defence, who looked hesitant at times but were never properly stretched.
