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FIRST TEAM ‘SCRAPE’ TO VICTORY
The inaugral inter club game between the first
team and the rest of the club ended in narrow victory for
the Ones who got the better of a seven goal thriller, with
three goals being scored in the last ten minutes.
The day began with the distribution of the new
training tops which were proudly worn by the players who
had purchased them. There had been a long wait for these
tops to actually arrive, but the players agreed that they
look really smart and were worth the wait!
Retiring ref Kev Whitehead had agreed to officiate,
although the game was played in a good spirit and he had
little to do as the players got on with the football and
surprisingly didn’t kick each other very much!
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The ones began with their usual 3-5-2 formation,
but manager Colin Spencer was obviously a worried
man as he felt compelled to poach second teamers Dave
Smith & Richard Shaw to bolster his squad. The
‘rest’ opted for a 3-6-2 formation, a tactic
which wasn’t spotted by Paul Atkinson until the
game was at least half an hour old!
The underdogs began the game much more brightly that
their supposed masters. They knocked the ball about
pleasantly and created some good opportunities, while
the Firsts hit the ball forward quickly, obviously
forgetting that usual striker Marcus was absent.
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The ‘rest’ deservedly went in front
on 15 minutes when a near post corner was flicked on (possibly
by Dave Edwards) for club top scorer Tony Dickinson to nod
home from close range. The lead was held until five minutes
from half time when a free kick was headed over stand in
keeper Rob Johnson by Martin Swannell, who was playing his
last game in a Notts shirt before his Summer transfer to
Devon. This gave the scoreline a lopsided look as the ‘rest’
had played all the worthwhile football of the half.
At half time, first team coach Spencer ranted
and raved at his troops while the seconds & thirds enjoyed
a quiet drink and a chat on the side of the pitch.
The second half was a much more even affair
as the Ones superior fitness began to tell. However, it
was the twos & threes who went back in front after an
hour. A quick Bloomie free kick released Derek Thompson
down the right and his cross was expertly punched into his
own net from 6 yards out by keeper Dave Edwards. This time
the lead only lasted two minutes. Nick Dracott deflects
a header into the path of striker Paul Atkinson who finishes
easily from 6 yards.
The drama was then reserved for the last ten
minutes. With both teams having now sneaked on ALL their
subs, the 25 men on the pitch were all pushing hard for
a winner. Firstly, the ones thought they had sewn it up
when Chris Westerby seized on a misplaced defensive pass
to fire home before defender Chris Arthur stole forward
to turn home another right wing cross, although another
Dave Edwards deflection gave him a realistic shout for a
rather unusual hat trick!
With the mouth watering prospect of penalties
looming, a right wing cross from Atko was turned in by Chris
Westerby for his second goal with just three minutes remaining.
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There’s so much green out there
it’s like Sherwood Forest”
Colin Spencer
On the Twos/Threes tactics
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