Despite an inconvenient last-minute pitch move from Chilworth to Wilford, and a rushed warm-up on a wind-swept pitch, Boots Wednesday rose to the occasion to comprehensively see off the high-flying but ill-disciplined Nottingham United A.
Simon only made two changes to the unbeaten eleven from the week before, with Chibbert coming in to replace Crozier at left-back, and Dave Eite beginning on the right wing in Sicky’s absence. With United taking advantage of the wind and putting pressure on the Boots defence, it took a goal-line clearance from Brett to see off their most dangerous move in the opening minutes, before Boots began to see more possession in midfield and play along the ground to Danny, Rowan and Dave up front as Pete and SuBo began to dominate the ball. Battling into the wind, Griff rose highest to win a header against his marker, which was taken down by Pete to produce a beautifully-weighted ball behind the defence. Danny raced onto the pass and slotted a shot beyond the onrushing keeper, and Rowan zipped around the static defenders to finish the move from 3 yards out and give Boots the lead. Rowan was denied a second goal almost immediately after as he was put clear on goal, but found the going tough as the wind and defenders conspired against him, but he made up for it moments later when a poor pass was punished in the United defence, and Rowan muscled his way through to finish with aplomb and claim his fifth of the season to move above Bally in the race for the Golden Boot! Wednesday could have extended their lead before half time, but Eite’s volley drifted wide and a third Rowan finish was given offside despite Danny’s best efforts to get out of the way! Simon Frampton was rarely troubled in goal but United hit the bar with almost the last kick of the half, and it took the calming presence of SuBo to clear up in defence, helping to remind Boots that they still had some defending to do.
Boots went into the second half expecting a United fightback, but after making all three substitutions their response was tepid at best, and after Griff had put away his first Boots ‘goal’ (celebrating comically despite the whistle being blown minutes before), the opposition simply imploded as several of their player’s lost their cool and saw red. The first player (a half time substitute) went for two stamps on SuBo and Hawrylak while they were on the floor (following perfectly good tackles) and the second player was penalised for abusive language towards the ref after an elbow had ‘inadvertently’ struck Rowan in the face. Boots instantly punished the last incident as Pete struck a thunderous free-kick straight at goal which the keeper could only parry, and SuBo mopped up from 6 yards to volley into the net (and clash heads with the keeper in the process). Patto, Bally and Ash all made appearances from the bench as Boots dominated possession (and dodged the deliberately late challenges) for the final 20 minutes to claim their first league clean sheet since April 2010, with Brett, Fletch, Hawrylak and Man of the Match Chibbert all producing commanding and cool performances in an extremely impressive defensive unit.
