Kick-Off: 10:30am

Referee: Burton Joyce Official

Result: Burton Joyce 3 v Cotgrave Colts 3

Team:

Match Report:

When we left Cotgrave this morning the conditions were ideal for football; bright, sunny and hardly any wind. These are the conditions that suit our preferred style of play. By the time we reached Burton Joyce the slight breeze had been replaced by condition that would suit me when I go sailing; it was blowing a howler.

We started with the same team that started against Clifton but had to make a change within the first 3 minutes when Will pulled up with an ankle problem. This change meant a bit a bit of a re-shuffle which got us off to an uncertain start.

The first goal came after 18 minutes and was scored by Macaulay. A good corner was whipped in by Liam; the ball broke loose in the penalty area as both team battled to gain possession. As Burton Joyce tried to clear the ball Macaulay pounced on the loose ball and drove it high into the top corner.

The windy conditions were making it very difficult for either team to play any good passing football. Although Burton Joyce did manage to make some very good moves our defenders were up to the task, especially Craig Dale who has started the season playing as centre half and is excelling in the position. What is disappointing is the amount of possession we conceded in midfield – this is something that we need to work on in training this week. We are playing a different system this season and it will take time for it to work consistently well.

The Colts are a team that will always score goals when the opportunity arises and 7 minutes after Macaulay’s goal, Dylan popped up with a second goal, an individual effort that resulted from good strong running, speed and self belief.

Self belief and team spirit are important and credit to Burton Joyce for continuing to battle; on 30 minutes of the half they got their reward scoring to reduce the deficit

Half-Time: 1 – 2 (This score line has been ratified and is correct ;-)

The Colts certainly didn’t have this game won at halftime and the conditions were certainly making it difficult especially for the young players in the team.

The half kicked off at 11:13am with Burton Joyce getting the proceedings under way.

At 11:35am Burton Joyce rightly levelled the scores with a well taken goal.

The Colts were struggling to get into the game and Burton Joyce were starting to cause real problems down the right hand side. A tactical decision was taken to put Chris back out on the left to try and combat the threat posed by the right sided attackers. Like Craig, Ryan B has got off to a good start this season playing in a new position from the one they are used to.

How did we respond? Fantastically, because within the same minute as the Burton Joyce goal the Colts restored their advantage. Chris won the ball well on the left, launched a great cross to the far post and Will was on hand to put the ball into the back of the net.

From this point onwards, the Colts dropped deeper to absorb the Burton Joyce pressure as they strived to get something from the game.

At 11:56am Burton Joyce got the equaliser they wanted. We can’t begrudge them the draw because they did well and perhaps had the better of the game.

Within seconds of the re-start the referee blew the final whistle.

Fulltime – 3 – 3

Summary:

A draw in our first away game of the season is not a bad start. The players were disappointed not to have collected maximum points having led the game right up until the last seconds, but that’s the way it goes sometimes in football.

We learnt some lessons today as players and as managers and coaches and we need to put right some of the mistakes we made. But the boys have again shown that they have the ability to perform against well established Division 2 sides, like Clifton and Burton Joyce this season.

I am off to the sponsored walk this afternoon, hope to see some of you there. If not, then training is on Friday at Radcliffe between 7pm and 8pm.

Thanks to John and Spugy for running the line today; as always an excellent performance by both.

Well done boys, keep up the good work.

Alan and Mark.