Cringleford are beginning to look pretty formidable, emerging, possibly a little too late, as the most impressive side in this Veterans league.
We travelled to Thorpe School once again on a blustery day with the memory still intact of last season’s triumph inspired by a couple of ageing canaries. This time Cringleford arrived with a depleted squad, missing in-form Shane and large-form Bartlett. A new blossoming tactical partner-ship of Limon and Izzard decided to go for a deceptively negative looking 4-5-1. It was far from negative and agreeable to Karl mainly because it gave him a free role.
The first 20 minutes Sprowston could not get out of there half with the whole team pressing high up the pitch, the home side were visibly rattled. The system would not have worked without the tremendous efforts of Super-Chef Hickman whose constant closing down and hassling was a nightmare for the opposition. Roger soon got his just desserts and showed that his pressing and poaching skills aren’t just resigned to the kitchen, a moment’s hesitation from the centre-back and Roger was in, stabbing the ball round the defender. The ball bobbled past the keeper and towards the corner of the goal. It looked like it might end up just wide, but must have hit a vol-au-vent or something because it seemed to suddenly deviate and nestle in the pan-fried onion bag. 0-1 to Cringleford.
The away side continued to press and harry and soon a won a corner. Dan Barnston, who is emerging as one of the best deliverers of the ball in Cringleford history, assessed distance, calculated wind-resistance and sent a side-footed peach of a cross onto the in-rushing Simon Nichols’ head. 0-2 to The Vets.
Sprowston resorted to intimidation and body-line tactics, the large crowd of angry middle-aged men on the sides screamed their venom at the young 12 year old reffing the game, a threat that he would tell his mum if they didn’t stop seemed to fall on deaf, probably hen-pecked ears. The fact that Sprowston felt that they were being out-muscled speaks volumes of the level of strength, solidarity and commitment shown by this very brave Cringleford side.
Half time brought the introduction of young Limon for the heavily puffing Barnston. His first contribution was to give away a free-kick which resulted in a Sprowston goal probably mainly because of Nicholls’ confident shout of “Safe!” 1-2.
Ecky moved to the left side and shortly after, the best move of the game resulted in what proved to be the Killer goal. The Frenchman won the ball in his own box travelled to well inside Sprowston’s half and layed off to Izzard, a square ball to Hicks and a sublime reverse past later and Ecky was in on goal. The connection wasn’t brilliant and all watched agonisingly as the ball didn’t seem to have the legs to reach the goal. A weird top-spin sent it however triumphantly home. 1-3 to Cringleford.
The Home side were by now deflated and agitated. Cringleford went on comfortably to claim all 3 points, keeping possession and composure with remarkable style and class.
A special mention to the solid, hard-working back four of Westy, Jennings, Nicholls, and Potter, Stevie J putting in a commanding performance at Centre-Back and his first 90 minutes for a long time.
No question Cringleford by far the better team and a result which gives them a faint chance of the Championship as long as Horsford can do us a favour…….Oh…..Costessey then.
Whatever the final outcome of the league, Cringleford on this form are looking all-conquering.
