Injuries and illness ravaged the Colts squad today and a threadbare side took on Matlock at the usually windy Cavendish Fields.
It didn’t affect the team play though as the Colts dominated throughout. Hunt scored the first after 6 minutes, with a cross from the right that the keeper fumbled into his net. Lowe then burst down the right and as he danced through the penalty box, he was tripped. ‘ Penalty’ screamed the crowd. Up stepped Carter to thrash the ball into the roof of the net, before the referee had blown. With the retake, the keeper managed to get a hand to it but could not stop it hitting the back of the net.
Nerves were now settled. Matlock were restricted to hitting the ball over the top and with the strong wind, this usually carried it through to the untroubled Bate. Booth mopped up any loose balls.
Cook, not wanting to be outdone by his defensive partner, got on the scoresheet with another penalty, from a handball incident. Cook thumped his penalty past the despairing goalie. Three minutes later the Colts were awarded a third penalty when Vardy was shoved over. Carter and Cook argued over the taking of the spot kick before Carter placed the ball down and despatched his second goal of the morning. There was also time for a number of other shots to fly over the bar, corners and blocked efforts before half time.
A change in formation for the second half, brought the best out of Lowe as he battled and distributed the ball around the field. He scored the fifth with a 30yard strike whilst the keeper was well off his line. Not wanting to be outdone by his midfield partner, Vardy hit an almost identical shot minutes later.
It was now time for the Colts to step up their football. Hardy began to get more of the ball and began linking well with the other midfielders. The only effort from Matlock came from a free kick that Bate did well to push around the post.
Hunt scored his second of the match following excellent work by Birks and Hardy, who crossed to Hunt in the six yard box to finish neatly. Langham created the next with a looping cross into the box that Richards flicked past the watching keeper. There was still time to get another and Birks, picked up the ball in the box, seeing the slight gap through a number of players, threaded the ball into the bottom corner.
An excellent performance.
