The views expressed on this website are not those of the Northants Combination.
Corby Kingfisher 3 v 0 Kettering Orchard Park (08/04/2006)
Following on from skelpings of Park Rovers, Wincanton and Yardley, racking up 14 goals and only conceding 2 in the process, the boys are regaining our early season form at just the right time, kicking off our third last game with the first of our double header against Orchard Park, the team that put us out of the Area Cup on penalties back in December. With Corner Flag still hot on our heels, like an annoyingly amorous little Jack Russell pup, we are aiming for nothing less than 9 points from our last three games. Three wins, and the league is ours. Simple as that. The tash will be removed, surgically if necessary, and who knows – Adie might even remember how to smile again. As far as today went, one point would guarantee promotion and effectively condemn Orchard Park to another season in Makita Power Tools Division 3. Tinkerman Kelly made one change from the team that shafted Yardley 5-0 last week, to bring Scott McBlain in at the back and drop Eddie to the bench to keep his big cuz and young Adz company. So Milney in goals; Basher Jr, Scriv and Scott Mac at the back; Ogs, Scotty D, the Scamp, Big Bash and Cam in midfield; and Gibby and Jack up front. It’s a shame that TV cameras missed this game, because today the Kingfisher were awesome from start to finish. After an opening 5 minutes where Orchard Park saw slightly more of the ball (but did nothing with it – in fact Milney didn’t have one save to make all day), the lads settled in and dominated the match. Scriv commanded the back line superbly, Scotty D, Bash and Docs controlled everything in the middle, and Jack and Gibby pulled the defence apart time after time. Cam down the left was having the game of his life. His tackling, heading, passing and crossing were spot on every time. He didn’t even complain to the ref once. This was tough on Adie – his favourite scapegoat was having a blinder. In fact everyone was, and it was only down to the Orchard Park keeper that the score was 0-0 at half time, as he first denied Cam with a point blank save after a superb cross from the right from Ogs, and then in the last minute, smothering a cute chip from Docs who was put through after great play from Gibby and Scotty D. Could Docs have placed it into the corner rather than going for the photo finish? I guess we’ll never know. Scott D, Gibby, Jack and Scriv also all had chances to break the deadlock, and at half time, the lads were left wondering – was it really gonna be one of those days? The only hearts in mouth incident came when Scotty Mac tried to dribble out of defence rather than clear with his left foot and ended up getting himself into a spot of bother, but like he was telling everyone in the pub later, he had it all under control. ‘Aye right’, the rest of us replied.
So a positive team talk at half time, plenty of encouragement from Adie and able assistant Stitch, as the lads were streets ahead of our Kettering counterparts and a breakthrough was surely inevitable. What was pleasing was that in the second half the boys kept playing the football, stayed calm and didn’t panic and resort to blootering the ball over the top. Orchard Park couldn’t live with our passing and the lads carved open more chances, Scotty D hitting the post with a right foot shot and then rising up to bullet a header right at the keeper from Gibby’s corner. The breakthrough finally came 10 minutes into the second half, and it was yet another goal of the season candidate from Jack the Lad. Docs (I think – correct me if I’m wrong lads) played a pass to Jack on the right side of the box with one defender to do. Gibby was waiting inside for the pass but instead Jack placed a Robbie Keane-esque finish into the opposite corner on the half volley with the keeper well beaten. It was no less than we deserved and there was no real surprise when we went 2 up a few minutes later. Gibby was the creator with the ball on the right, beating his marker and passing inside to Jack, who turned his defender inside out and struck it home with his left foot past the onrushing keeper. It was another great goal from Jack and put the result beyond doubt. With 20 minutes to go, Adie brought me on to give Scotty D a rest, and within a few minutes I was able to get number 3. Another Gibby corner from the right prompted a bit of a scramble, and after Docs’s shot was blocked on the line, I was in the right place at the right time to steer the ball home from inside the 6 yard box. Bringing me on was yet another tactical masterclass from Adie in a season full of them, and there can now surely be no doubt as to where the Manager of the Season trophy is heading this year. Eddie and Adz were then immediately given a run out to justify Stitch asking them for a quid match fees, and Cam and Gibby were given a rest after all their hard work. We pressed forward for the remainder of the match but couldn’t quite manage another goal our play would’ve deserved. 3-0 then and promotion secured. Today was possibly our greatest performance of the season against a team who started as serious title contenders. And now with promotion in the bag our thoughts have to turn to the Championship. Two games to go and two wins required, starting away to Orchard Park again next week. The biggest 180 minutes of our lives, lads. LET’S HAVE IT! Then it was back to the Kingfisher for cheeseburgers, chips and lots of wonderful lager.
PLAYER RATINGS:
MILNEY…………………9
Three clean sheets in a row. Was a virtual spectator today but coped well with what he had to do
SCOTTY MAC……………..9
Solid and dependable. I hope he doesn’t dribble it out of defence anymore because my ticker can’t take it
BASH JR………………….9
Didn’t lose a single header or tackle all day
SCRIV……………………9
Marshalled his defence with a performance worthy of Beckenbauer
OGS……………………….9
Created chance after chance down the right flank
BASH SNR………………..9
A midfield masterclass
SCOTTY D………………..10
Controlled the midfield
DOCS……………………9
Right back on form and enjoying his run in the team
CAM…………………….11
On this form, he is the best player in the world. And that’s no exaggeration
GIBBY……………………9
Our top scorer was happy to turn provider today
JACK………………………10
He doesn’t so much have feet. They’re more like magic wands
Subs
STEVE……………………7
I was happy to get on a grab number 3
EDDIE…………………….7
Kept the momentum going down the left for the last 15
ADZ…………………………7
Another cameo appearance up front and is getting fitter week by week
The views expressed on this website are not those of the Northants Combination.
