Match Report by Crozier:
Boots were sent crashing out of the cup this Sunday after a trek to the far reaches of north Nottinghamshire! After an inspiring victory last week in the league, Boots were excited at the prospect of a cup run against a North Notts Athletic team who were only promoted to Division One last year, but unfortunately Boots were once again left to rue a slow start where 3 goes were conceded and victory was always unlikely thereafter (even though the performance improved).
Barely 5 minutes had gone when the Athletic striker was able to get through one-on-one with Phil and delightfully chipped the exposed keeper, and a second shortly followed when their winger was able to get to the left by-line and plant a cross onto the oncoming striker’s head. North Notts used one tactic to great effect; long balls over the top for their wingers or strikers to run onto in the space, and Boots were again caught out as Athletic made it 3, the same striker again got through one-on-one with Phil and rounded him, and although Matt frantically tried to block the shot, he was unfortunate to actually deflect the ball into his own net. In this quick-fire period the only real notable incident for Boots came when Adam had to go off after being discovered to be wearing no shinnys! Although he argued “it was personal preference”, the ref was having none of it, and Daz came on to replace him on the right wing.
After this Boots started to work their way back into the game (although North Notts were still dangerous and forced Phil into a number of good saves to keep the score at 3!) Simon and Justin started to break up play up and link with Rich and Luke up front, creating chances for Croz and Rich, before the latter finally made his mark following a delightful cross from Griffin on the left. Griff (now playing left wing) took one touch to get it out of his feet, and curled in a ball which Rich volleyed beyond the stationary keeper. As the half looked to be drawing to the close, North Notts Athletic managed to nick a fourth; a long ball again cruelly bounced past Matt allowing another striker to run through on Phil and finish.
In the second half the Boots defence learnt from their mistakes and were a lot stronger, with Chris and Dan putting in strong tackles and meeting the long balls, and Croz, Daz and then Matt at right back mostly managing their attackers well. At the other end the midfield and attack continued (in glimpses) to show good passing and movement and generated a number of half chances. Adam (having found a spare pair of shinpads) and Frumpy also came on in the second half to add their running and skills to the attack, and Frumpy had a few chances up top (although wasn’t able to recreate his volley of a few weeks ago!) In the last 15 minutes the game became stretched and Boots were opened up with the Athletic striker again bearing down on Phil, and as he took it around the keeper, Chris hauled him down for a clear penalty, which the striker finished.
Boots didn’t give up and got a second consolation goal after Rich T was taken down by the keeper for a penalty. Justin decided scoring a goal from a penalty spot wasn’t good enough, so let the keeper save the initial shot, but as the ball was palmed away, he picked up the rebound, nutmegged a defender and then drilled it home!
So the game ended with defeat, allowing Boots to “concentrate on the league” this season. For me it was another example of us being slow out the blocks that cost us, and we cannot underestimate the affect of having a newly formed and unfamiliar back four. North Notts were nothing special (they had one tactic which was long balls), and in the back end of the first half and in the second half Boots looked more solid. That said, we need to hold onto possession more; we showed in glimpses some very good football, but it was too infrequent. “Simple passes to feet”, “play the way you are facing, not always forward”, “pass and move” are simple football phrases that we should emulate and adhere to, ensuring we maintain possession and build from the back.
