Great Doddington 2 v 5 Corby Kingfisher (22-10-2005)

Today the Kingfisher faced a trip to Great Doddington, situated in the oppressive shadows of HMP Wellingborough, as we looked to maintain our deserved 100% start to the season. Missing today were the Bashi, who were in Manchester for the Spurs game, and Danny, who was listed in Adie’s press release as having a ‘sore leg’. Speculation abounds, however, that this is merely a cover story to explain the absence of a player who is clearly unhappy at being overlooked in recent weeks, and still those tabloid rumours of interest from Corby Hellenic won’t go away. Whatever happens, it seems that showdown talks between player and manager are not far away, particularly at a time when Danny’s abilities are very much needed in a midfield which is just about to lose Docs, who has fled to Hong Kong for 3 weeks to escape gossip linking him with a cross dressing trip to Blackpool in a caravan scandal. Adie’s already catastrophic preparations were further hampered with the news that the Corby to Kettering road was closed for the weekend, meaning a detour through Rothwell and a late arrival at Great Doddington, and no time to warm up. Despite this, early season frontrunner for Manager of the Year Adie was able to name an unchanged side; Rooney in goal, a back 3 of Scriv (who had just about recovered from last Saturday night), Scotty Mac and Eddie (who had just about recovered from last Friday night), a midfield trio of Lee, Scotty D and the mercurial Docs, with Steve and Cam on the flanks, and the town’s best strike pairing of Jack and serial grump Gibby ready to cause havoc up front. This meant a place on the bench for young Jason alongside Oags and Stevie Melvin. We decided to shoot uphill in the first half, knowing we could work this to our advantage. It took us time to get into our rhythm, and despite some early pressure and a goal from Doddington, we went in 2-1 up at half time. Our first came from Jack, who pounced on a defender’s mistake, and held off a challenge before drawing the keeper out and planting a succulent chip over him into the net. It was a belter, and Jackie boy enjoyed celebrating in front of the Doddington linesman, who had been guilty of making a few questionable decisions in his own team’s favour. Ten minutes later Gibby grabbed number 12 of the season, picking up a pin point pass from Docs down the left, cutting inside and drilling the ball past the keeper. Even though we were ahead, it’s fair to say Doddington were probably matching us, and passed the ball around well without really threatening us. They had beat our closest rivals Orchard Park last week, and fancied their chances of nicking something from us today. But our back 3 held firm, especially Eddie who was in fine fettle today after last Saturday’s calamities, and the Roonmeister was as commanding as ever in goals.

Within minutes of the second half, Doddington equalized with a jammy break of the ball that ricocheted off 5 defenders into the path of their striker. But we restored our lead 10 minutes later. Gibby’s corners were quality all day, and this one from the right was no exception. Eddie got up highest to nod down to Jack who did what every good goal poacher does and poked the ball home from 3 yards. Adie immediately brought on Oags in place of Steve, because I was suffering from a sore foot after their big doofus of a centreback trampled on me in the first half. But really, the second half was all about Kieran Doherty. Docs ran the show, and it seemed to me that almost everything we did went through him. A comment was even passed on the sidelines that Docs had got back to help out in defence, it was crazy. Any hopes Doddington might’ve had of getting back into the game evaporated with goal number 4. Cam released Docs down the left, and Docsy babe cut inside, turning a defender inside out and upside down to beat the keeper at the second attempt. There was no way back for Doddington now, and we had more chances to go further ahead, Eddie hitting the bar from another excellent Gibson delivery, before Docs capped a phenomenal performance, latching onto a through ball from the impressive Lee Turner, and using his formidable strength to fend off the defender’s challenge and slot the ball beneath the keeper with his left peg to pretty much ensure his name was engraved on the 5 pints trophy back in the pub. With the game all but sewn up, Adie was able to bring on Jason and Stevie Melv for Lee and Gibby for the last 5 minutes. This didn’t please Gib, and he was in a huff for the rest of the day, and probably still is now, knowing him. After the game, attention turned to Tommy and his transistor radio, and the news filtered through that Orchard Park had been held 0-0 by the Corner Flag. 5 points clear! And Dainite at home next week – remember them, lads? They said we were, what was it? – “rubbish”, after we gubbed them 6-1. Yeh, we must’ve been rubbish if we let those clowns score past us. No chance of that next week. FISHER FOR THE TREBLE!

RATINGS:

ROONEY….7

Not much chance with the goals, commanded his area effectively

SCRIV….8

Won plenty in the air, composed on the deck

SCOTTY MAC….8

Making the sweeper’s role his own

EDDIE….9

Was this really the same guy as last week?

CAM…7

Played well enough. His throw-ins are an endless source of amusement

LEE….8

Likes to get involved. Deputising well for Bash Sr

SCOTTY D ….7

Quiet by his standards, but still did nothing wrong

DOCS….9

There’s no doubt, we’re gonna miss him when he goes MOTM

STEVE ….7

Well, I won the toss before kick off and chose to shoot uphill, which is probably the reason we won the match

GIBBY…..8

An inspirational 85 minutes from the Gibster

JACK…..8

2 Goals, and made sure his markers got no peace. In short, another usual day at the office

Subs

OAGS….6

Got last half hour and adjusted well

JASON….5

Never hides

STEVIE…..5

Played some great counter attacking balls in the last 5 mins

League Table

Goal Scorers Chart

Pics from the day