Corby Kingfisher 6 v 2 Kettering Park Rovers (17.09.2005)

With Star Player Robert Cameron sunning himself on holiday in Spain, the Kingfisher had to go out today and prove we’re not a One Man team.  This we did with a 6-2 score line that flattered the away team, and sent the crowd (which included celebrity fan Neg Sludden) home happy after what was easily our best performance of the season so far.  Only one change this week, with Oaksie stepping off the treatment table into the left wingback slot in place of AWOL Cam, which meant there was 30 million quid’s worth of talent on the bench in the shape of Danny, Scott McBlain and 97 year old Stevie Melvin.  For the second week in a row we started out by giving our opponents too much respect and allowing them too much room in midfield, and for the second week in a row we went behind in the first 5 minutes. Poor marking, no communication, a jammy header, call it what you want, it should never’ve happened. But it gave us the kick up the arse we needed and we responded well enough, going ahead within 10 minutes. The first, well what can you say? Just when you thought you had seen old Bash do it all, he pulls out a left foot toe poke from outside the box through a crowd of players that nestles right into the top corner, leaving the fiery headed keeper stranded and feeling a berk.  The good news was that Jack had his boots on the right feet this week and robbed Docs of a certain goal by stabbing home number 2. Shockingly we let them back into it with another woeful display of slapstick defending that had Adie in palpitations on the sidelines, and Rovers couldn’t believe they were still in it at half time. They had some decent players, but the game should’ve been out of sight by then.  Adie wasn’t too despondent at half time, we had gifted them both goals after all. Other than that they had rarely threatened, and Scriv, Gibby, Jack and Docs had all had chances to give the scoreline a more realistic complexion.  Even Stitch tried his best to help them out by keeping his flag rooted firmly to his side every time they were 10 yards off, but no dice.

The second half featured some of the best football Woods End has seen in many a year, as the Kingfisher destroyed Rovers with fluid passing football. Wave after wave of creative attacking play saw us bag 4 goals to send them back to Kettering with their tails between their legs. Our hard work in training paid dividends as we treated Adie to some Fantasy Football, with Bash providing the base in midfield for Scotty D and Docs to get forward and join Gib and Jack, who was magic today, in attack. The back 3 were solid as ever and me and the boy Oaksie were back defending one minute and launching crosses in the next. Big Al even caught the odd cross on the rare occasions Rovers got the ball in our half. But really, the second half was all about Stephen Gibson, who rattled in a memorable hatrick for the second week running. He’ll have Jack to thank for the first, whose unselfish play set up the Gibster inside the box. Is it just me or did Gib take it past the keeper 3 times before he drilled it past the defender into the net? Jack then grabbed his second of the game after a thunderous 30 yard strike from the outside of Docs’s right foot cannoned back off the crossbar leaving the keeper in no man’s land, and Jack was happy enough to nod the ball into the empty net from 6 yards. Scriv was provider for Gibby’s second with a 50 yard pass which left Gib one on one with the keeper, who bottled out of the challenge completely. Gibby will rarely have an easier chance than this, and sure enough he headed home. The poor old Rovers goalie was having a torrid time, and taking pelters from his teammates. Rovers threw caution to the wind with 25 minutes to go and inexplicably sent their central defender forward in search of goals, when damage limitation seemed the better strategy. Adie replaced Bash Snr with Danny who ran riot and almost scored a goal to rival last week’s, taking it past 7 defenders and the keeper before hilariously missing the target from 4 yards. Once again Adie proved the tactical master by subbing Eddie to give Scotty Mac a run out. Scott’s first contribution was to put Gibby through to complete his hatrick with a sensational goal, sealing a miserable day for the Rovers goalkeeper with a curler into the top corner from an impossible angle. With the clock running down, Adie showboated by bringing Stevie Melv on, who showed some nice touches as we searched for another. But no probs, we’ll settle for 6. Cup duty next week, and what’s the odds on a clean sweep for the Kingfisher this season?

RATINGS

ROONEY…8

Not at fault for either goal, getting more assured as the season goes on

SCRIV….8

Never put a foot wrong

BASH JR….8

Last year’s Player of the Year picking up where he left off

EDDIE…8

Playing with confidence, never broke a sweat

OAKSIE….8

Great close control, never lost the ball, kept it going in the nightclub later on

BASH SNR….8

You don’t want to be on the receiving end of his big left toe, I can tell you

DOCS….8

More of the same from the Maestro

SCOTTY D…8

Different class

STEVE….8

Probably my best game so far this season

JACK….9

Scored 2, had a hand in a few others, defenders must dread playing against him. MOTM

GIBBY….9

Two hatricks in a row and still doesn’t get MOTM. You’ll have to get 4 next week, wee man

Subs

DANNY….7

Pushing for a starting spot with another skillful performance. His miss still makes me laugh

SCOTTY MCBLAIN…7

Defence splitting ball for Gibby’s goal

STEVIE MELV ….5

Did alreet