Boots claimed their third win of the season with a fairly straightforward victory over a poor and depleted Wollaton Pirates Reserves. After the traditional pre-game injury list was announced (get well soon Neil, Chris and Luke!) Caretaker Manager Phil had to reshuffle the team, putting himself in goal and Rowan at left-back.
Boots started rather timidly against the ten men of Wollaton, but finally Patto managed to test the keeper and open the scoring. A ball from Brett on the right was fizzed in towards Bally, who took the ball down (receiving an elbow in the face and a bleeding nose for his troubles) which allowed Patto to swivel and get a left-footed shot away that crawled under the tumbling keeper and over the line at a badger’s pace. Boots started to increase the pressure, and Paul saw three shots balloon over the cross-bar after good work from Ed and Luke on the wings, Rowan had a well-worked shot blocked in the area, Ed saw a shot fizz across the goalmouth after taking down a "majestic" (Allaway, 2009) left-footed pass from Patto, and Brett almost scored from a high cross that then fell to Paul to put into the net, although Referee Allaway(s) decided that Ian had pushed over the keeper in the melee. Suddenly out of nowhere Wollaton equalised – a defensive error allowed their striker a free shot on goal, and he coolly lobbed the onrushing Phil. Boots began to struggle to keep the ball down and find the simple passes, and it was only minutes before half-time that they regained the lead – another pass from Brett finding Ian on the right corner of the area, who floated a lovely ball into the back post where an unmarked Patto stooped to head home from 5 yards.
Boots had to sustain some pressure at the start of the second half as Wollaton found an eleventh man (although he was about 70) and began to play the ball down the wings. Spencer and Fletch competently read the play and cleared their lines with ease, although Phil was required to make one good save and patrol his area to clear up any backwards headers. The game was finally put beyond doubt when Paul and Luke combined down the left, and Paul’s cross was dropped on the line by the keeper. Bally tried to put the ball in the net but instead knocked it into Ed’s chest, who then had a simple tap-in for his first Boots goal. With space beginning to open up against a beleaguered Wollaton midfield, Paul produced a sublime chip over the static defence, and Patto (who was kept onside by their right-back) shot into the bottom right corner to claim his hat-trick. Aidan and Danny then came on to offer fresh legs and some pace on the right, keeping the pressure on the Wollaton defence. During the second half other chances fell to Parker (who replaced Ian in the centre) after good work from Aidan, and Patto came close with a header (from a delightful Tooby cross), while Luke and Rowan tried their luck with long-range shots, but the majority of chances finished disappointingly high of the crossbar.
Wollaton's Secretary and Manager very kindly gifted Man of the Match to Patto (£5 well spent), but their Captain gave it to Paul, who along with Spence and Fletch put in a good performance across the 90 minutes, and some of our approach play and passing was very nice (in patches!) Lack of communication and concentration cost us at times, but in the end we completed the job and saw out an enjoyable game, but possibly need to focus on our shooting at training this week!
