After a cross-country 40 minute journey to our ‘home’ pitch at Eastwood, and following a kit-related kick-off delay of 30 minutes, an experimental Boots side were eventually beaten by league leaders Queen’s Head, who now have a 5 point lead at the top of the table. Spence went with a bonkers 3-5-2 formation, with Frumpy in goal and Fletch, Patto and stand-in-Captain Horlicks in defence. Sicky and Simon were joined in central midfield by debutant Bilal, with Bally and Rich on the wings and Griff and Kieran up front.
Following a scrappy start on a small pitch, Queen’s Head began to get some joy with long balls for their pacy forwards to run on to, and they were soon in the lead when their midfielder was granted too much time on the ball, and he produced a looping pass over the top to their striker, who lobbed the onrushing Frumpy from the edge of the area. Boots still saw plenty of the ball, with Rich and Bally causing some panic down the wings, and eventually Boots were awarded a penalty when Griffin took the ball down around the flapping keeper but was tripped in the box (before Bally stood on his hands!) Unfortunately Sicky missed the resulting spot-kick by inches, and Queen’s Head were suddenly stirred into action, scoring a second only minutes later when their striker rose to head home a cross from the right (having pushed his marker, Sicky, in the back). Queen’s Head grabbed a third just before half time when another penetrating run down their right wing went unchallenged and the resulting low cross was accidentally stabbed into the net by Patto, who got in front of their pouncing striker at the front post but miscued the clearance. Bilal and Patto both came close with long range efforts, but Boots struggled to keep hold of possession in attack and eventually Spence swapped back to a 4-4-2 in order to strengthen the defence (Rich moving to right back).
The second half was a much more even affair and Frumpy had very little to do as Queen’s Head sat back on their lead and Boots tried to create chances, but were restricted to long shots once again. Sicky and Griffin both had free kicks in good positions but couldn’t worry the keeper, while Boots did get some joy from Simon’s throws, and Patto saw two shots go over the bar while several 50/50 hand-ball decisions in the box went unpunished. Marcus and Howard came on to offer fresh legs as Kieran and Bally made way, but despite the Boots midfield successfully hustling for most of the half, the breakthroughs never really came.
Bilal was awarded a debut Man of the Match Award by the opposition for an energetic performance, linking up well with Sicky in midfield.
