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Fisher vs Weavers Old Boys 11/02/06

• After a disappointing draw last week saw our advantage at the top of the league cut to one point, and with no other team in the league seemingly capable of taking points from the Corner Flag, it was vital that we got back to winning ways if our dream of a league and cup double (and a tashless Adie) is to come true. Boss man A.K. made two changes from the team that were held by Flamingo last week, and with Jack the lad missing next week, he made way for new signing Raynaldo, who was given his first start up front alongside Gibby for Adie to get a closer look at him, and Edinho was back in place of the injured Junior Basher in defence. This meant Milney kept his place between the sticks, a back 3 of Scotty Mac, Scriv and Ed, a midfield of Oags, Scotty D, Senior Bash, Docs and Cam, and Gib and Ray in attack. The vast array of benched talent consisted of Steve, Jack and Tom. Talk about strength in depth! From the minute the game kicked off, it was all Kingfisher, and we seemed comfortable all over the park, but were guilty of over elaborating in attack, and not testing their keeper enough. Our midfield had plenty of the ball, and always found passes despite having to cope with some juicy challenges, and Scriv was organizing the back 3 superbly to deal with any rare Weavers attacks. Milney was back to his best today after last week’s horror show, and commanded his box efficiently. We got the goal we deserved halfway through the first half after some excellent refereeing allowed play on following Eddie’s long through ball down the left. Eddie was taken out a treat but the ref could see that Ray was racing in on goal and he duly toe poked the ball under the keeper into the corner. But we seemed to take our foot off the pedal and some slack play at the back let them in behind us and a cross ball got caught in the wind and looped over Milney into the top corner. It was rough justice but we only had ourselves to blame for letting them back in it and at half time the score was 1-1.
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• The second half was more evenly balanced as maybe a bit of anxiety crept into our play. We should’ve been a few goals up at half time, and as we ploughed forward in search of the winner, we left spaces at the back and Weavers broke once or twice, although really they done nothing with it. In truth, the Weavers lads would’ve been well chuffed with a draw away to the league leaders at fortress Woods End, and were happy to see us frustrated rather than send everyone forward to try and sneak an unlikely goal. With half an hour remaining, Adie brought me on down the right and moved the boy Oags into the centre to give Docsy babe a rest. We had the ball in the net not long after, although it was rightly ruled out. Gibby’s corner from the left was curling into the top right hand corner with the keeper in no man’s land, so you’ll have to ask Scotty D what he was doing when he leapt up at the back post and punched the ball into the net. With the clock ticking down, Adie brought on Tom in the centre for Big Bash, and let Jack loose for the final 10 up front in place of Ray. Still we went forward, and still we were frustrated by a combination of woeful finishing and desperate backs to the wall defending. Some good natured banter down the touchline saw an ever confident Adie verbally sparring with some Weavers lads, as deep into injury time we won a corner on the left. ‘This one’s going in’, Adie was heard to remark, rebuffing their linesman’s claim that Weavers had done a Houdini and escaped with a draw. And sure enough, cometh the hour, cometh the Cam. Gibby’s corner caused mayhem in the box, and following Scotty D’s touch, Cam the Bam hooked the ball over his head and into the bottom corner. 2-1! Joy, relief, a feeling of GIRFUY – you name it, those emotions were shared by every Corby Kingfisher-minded person. Much merriment was had in the Fisher camp, and there was much wailing and gnashing of teeth in the opposite corner. For the second week in a row we had pulled a metaphorical rabbit out of a metaphorical hat and turned the game in our favour with the last kick of the ball. In his post match interview, Adie remarked ‘It’s testament to these lads that they keep going till the final minute. That’s what we try to teach them in training and it’s great for a manager to see it all pay off on the pitch’. THEN IT WAS BACK TO THE FISHER FOR SAUSAGE, CHICKEN AND CHIPS! Cup Semi Final next Saturday lads – nae swally or wummin on Friday night, by order of the management.

PLAYER RATINGS:

MILNEY………..7

Good command of area. A more confident display

SCOTT MAC ….6

Good tackling, but passing not at his best today

SCRIV………..8

Our best defender today. Good organization

EDDIE………..7

Pleased to be back playing. Needs to be more committed in the tackle

OAGS……….7

Is more involved when he plays through the middle

SCOTTY D……….8

Best player on the pitch

BASH SENIOR…….6

Carrying an injury but still kept the midfield together

DOCS………7

Tried to beat Weavers single handedly. Booked for a wild first half lunge

CAM………8

Hero

GIBBY……….6

Quiet by his own high standards

RAY………….7

Will be pleased to get his first goal for the boys. Good movement

Subs

STEVE……..6

Slotted in down the right

TOM……..5

Into the holding role for the last 10 minutes

JACK……….5

Used his pace and skill in the search for the winner

The views expressed on this website are not those of the Northants Combination.