Match Report by Rob Crozier:
Boots hosted the early unbeaten leaders of Division 2, North Notts Athletic, and after an inspired performance took a deserved 3 points from the game. Spence started with the 4-5-1 formation that had seen Boots claim their first win of the season last week, with just a few personnel changes. The line was still led by Luke, in front of a central midfield trio of Ian, Si and the returning Sam and wingers of Rich on the right and Bally playing an unusual left winger role. The defence and keeper remained unchanged, with Chris Horlicks passing a last minute fitness test to take up the right back position, Subo and Patto continuing in the middle and Crozier on the left in front of Phil.
The game was relatively even in the opening exchanges, with no team getting on top and not many clear cut chances other than a volley struck from 20 yards by Crozier that fizzed past the right post when the goalie was all at sea! Midway through the half Boots won a free kick on the halfway line and sent the giant at the back (aka Subo) forward. Patto lofted the ball into the box and it caused panic, Simon H competing with a defender and the North Notts Athletic giant (aka their Keeper) and the ball bounced up backwards in the air off a defender’s head for Subo to nod into an empty net.
North Notts Athletic were shocked by this development with one defender actually asking after the goal “Are we losing?”, it sounded like it was a new feeling for them, and they tried to respond. The main tactic was lofted balls trying to utilise the pace of the attackers and wingers, but the defence stood up to this test, Chris and Crozier managing the wingers well, and anything through the middle was met by Patto and Subo. If anything did get through the defence it was cleared up by Phil relatively easily. Boots extended their lead in what was described as “the Greatest Goal ever Seen for Boots” Scothern, 2011. It was a sublime move and beautifully dispatched by Bally. Luke held up a pass from Bally and played it through for Si who was charging forward. He played a one touch pass to the sprinting Bally, beautiful weighted so Bally could run on and strike the ball home first time into the bottom right corner. The scoreline remained at 2-0 until half time, with Boots maintaining a clean sheet with Phil only having to deal with a few headers from corners that he tipped over the bar.
The second half saw North Notts Athletic come out with more purpose and increased the pressure on Boots. It was important to maintain a discipline and keep it tight during the early exchanges, however they did get one goal back after their striker followed up a good save from Phil. The goal did give the opposition impetus but Boots weathered the storm and defended as a unit and as a team. The defence and Phil continued the good work, and the midfield supported the defence well with Bally and Rich covering the wings, and the midfield trio snapping into the tackles where needed, Sam especially making a few goal saving challenges near the death.
Spence freshened up the side making 3 changes near the death, Marcus came on for Bally, Griff for Luke and Kieran for Si, but as you would expect the game got stretched in the final moments as North Notts Athletic chased the game, although Boots had their own chances as Rich missed a long range shot into an open goal, Sicky nodded a header wide (from Rich’s excellent left-footed cross) and Marcus ran through on goal but miscued his shot with the keeper bearing down on him. The turning point was a great reaction save from Phil, as a cross from the left was turned goalwards by the striker inside the 6 yard box and Phil reacted to push it away. Minutes later Patto intercepted a pass and laid it over the top to Sicky, who had acres of space to run into and then lobbed the goalie from around 25 yards.
And that was the match, the fight was taken out of North Notts Athletic after that and Boots saw the game out for a 3-1. Overall, it was a really good battling performance, and one where we played with a lot more confidence on the ball and got a great win!
Man of the Match was SuBo for another towering performance in defence, and a quality goal!
