Kirton Towns last game of 2014, was a hard away trip to swineshead, it didn’t make it any easier, with Marc Neall suffering a hamstring in training mid week, work commitments of the goalkeeper Jamie hall, and forward Dean Fisher, and the missing pair of Ben Harris and James Hardy from midfield. Kirton Towns manager Dale was also way for this game (he was at Nottingham watching a Christmas pantomime were his beloved Leeds United were performing), So in came Lewis Dunworth who was able to sneak time of work, the return of Kyle Bates, and playing his first game of the season for us Karl Louth, Joe Gilbert returned in goal from his right back position, and Paul Fossit and Steve Skinner took charge of the team, the rest of the team was unchanged.
First few minutes was a tip tapping start, but the game sprang into life after 10 mins when a brilliant threw ball from Kurt West set Declan Sands on his way towards swinesheads goal, he evaded the tackles of two players before firing a shot into the bottom right hand corner of the goal to put Kirton 1-0 up. The game never really got started in the whole of the first half ,as the referee kept stopping the game for one thing or another ....i.e. either a lost ball (as Swineshead only seemed to have one),dog pooh that was found on the pitch , or fouls !!Kirton were having the better of the play, but on 28 minutes Swineshead were level, a break down the wing and cross into the box, the player had time to control the ball 6 yards out and tap the ball into the net to put them level, Kyle Bates was a threat for Kirton down the wing and a couple of times sprang the offside trap to go running through, but his crosses were missed inside the box.Totaly against the run of play Swineshead went into the lead on 38 mins,the ball was worked through kirtons midfield and on the edge of the box ,Martin Durrant the captain diverted the ball towards the Kirton goal Joe Gilbert made a brilliant save pushing the ball wide ,but only into the path of a Swineshead player who smashed the ball into the goal from a angle, this was bad luck on Kirton who had been the better team in the first half , no real more chances in the first half but some good football was played and some crunching tackles were made but first half ended 2-1 to Swineshead.
Second half started and Swineshead had changed their formation, pushing another one up front looking for the third goal, but it was Kirton who had the best chances early on, and on 55 mins deservedly drew level ,Kirton won a corner and Kyle Bates swung the ball over ,Declan Sands got a flick on the ball and it fell just right for Martin Durrant to crack the ball home from 8 yrds.This goal gave Kirton spirit and it was them who upped the pressure , Reece West sprang the offside trap, but just as he was about to shot was tackled, and the ball was put out for another corner, then a few mins later Kurt West went running through on goal, but shot tamely with only the keeper to beat,Swineshead had a couple of chances ,but didn’t really bother the Kirton goalkeeper, as Callum McDonald and Martin Durrant ,were strong enough for Kirton in defence,whith the help of Lewis Dunworth and Karl Louth too. And it was Karl Louth who gave Kirton the lead on 75 mins, as another corner from Kyle Bates was floated over Karl Louth met the cross with a bullet header straight into the net this put Kirton 2-3 up. Now Swineshead pressed and 5 mins later were again level as a scramble in the box, the ball was headed into the Kirton net, Kirton had another couple of breakaway chances after this, but Swinesheads very eager linesman put his flag up as soon as it looked as though Kirton would break away. Then on 88 mins Swineshead ,had their bit of luck ,they won a corner and as the ball came into the box, Joe Gilbert in the Kirton goal, managed to get both his hands on the ball, but in the tussle the ball was kicked away from his grasp by a Swineshead player, the ball rolled straight to another player who knocked it back into the unguarded net, more to the astonishment of the Kirton players the referee gave the goal and said that the keeper didn’t have both hands on the ball, of which he did, this caused quite a few harsh words between Kirton players and the referee, When the game did re start Kirton tried everything to get there deserved equaliser, but as the final whistle blew they had lost 4-3,It was a outstanding team performance, the best of the year and were very very lucky not to have got anything out this game ,the management would like to thank .......Joe,Lewis,Martin,Callum,Richard,Kurt,Reece,Declan,Raddack for turning up for the team, Kyle for returning and playing brilliant and been laid out from the Swineshead keeper at the end of the first half ,and Karl Louth for returning and making his first appearance this season , when he was asked to help out ,also not forget the 3 unused subs ,Nick,Niall and Steve, thanks for coming just sorry we couldn’t get you on,........................ENJOY YOUR CHRISTMAS LADS ,HAVE A GREAT TIME (LAY OFF THE CHRISTMAS PUD REECE!!) AND WE WILL SEE YOU ALL NEXT SEASON,!!!!!MERRY CHRISTMAS TO YOU ALL !!!!!
