Team:

1. Liam Cooper
2. Richard Meagan
3. Robbie O’Donnell
4. Craig Dale
5. Max Pashley
6. Connor Bartle
7. Will Gill
8. Chris Cockbill
9. Dylan Farrow
10. Macaulay Kilpatrick
11. George Carline
12. Jack Morris
13. Ryan Shield

Match Report:

Over the past two seasons we have played Gedling Town more than any other team; you will remember that they finished as deserved Champions of Division 3 last season. Despite significant changes to the road system around their ground we arrived knowing that today would be a good game and one where we would need to play to our strengths if we were going to get anything out of it.

The first 26 minutes of the first half were very close and had it not been for resolute defending and cool competent goalkeeping the Colts would have certainly gone behind to Gedling who, despite playing against the wind, were creating the better chances. That said the Colts were dominating the play but were not creating goal scoring chances.

On 26 minutes things changed and Dylan was given the opportunity to open the teams account for the day; he duly obliged and Colts were 0-1 up. The goal certainly lifted the confidence levels for the Colts and 7 minutes later Will scored a second for the Colts.

Football is best played by confident players and the second goal was followed by 2 goals in two minutes. The first of these (the teams 3 rd) was a 25 yard screamer from Will – closely followed by a good finish from Dylan.

Half-Time: 0 – 4

Four nil up at half time, when the reality could have been very different had it not been for the solid start the team made, was very satisfactory. When I talk about confidence it stems from the back and works it way through the team; when the forwards score that is the result of a confident team.

Full credit to Gedling, they came out for the second half looking to get back into the game. They made a tactical change and looked to press home the wind advantage that would favour them in the second half.

On 11 minutes they were rewarded when the Colts failed to defend a corner and the Gedling forward didn’t need asking twice before despatching the ball past Liam who could do nothing about it.

Gedling continued to battle but our goalkeeper, defence and the midfield held firm; when we had the opportunity to attack we did but the wind had got up and this stifled some of the chances that where being created.

Nine minutes after the Gedling goal they looked to have reduced the deficit further before Liam (diving to his right) pulled off a wonder save.

I said to someone just before halftime that games are never won (at least in my mind) until the final whistle (as a Notts County fan I know defeat can be snatched from the jaws of victory). If we had been playing the same way as we played in previous matches (Wilford and East Valley in particular) I have no doubt that Gedling would have come back into this. But we now have a lot more mobility throughout the team; we are closing down from the front, opening up and then closing down in midfield and as a result defending and goal keeping with more confidence. It is good to see that our players are starting to show that they can transition between attacking and defending.

Another goal would have been nice, and Dylan popped up to score his 3 rd (and complete his hatrick). A trademark run with the ball at his feet and another calm and strong finish).

As in the first half one goal can lead to another in quick succession; and Chris scored a lovely goal to make the score 1-6. Chris ran on the through ball; as it dropped he took a touch which bought the ball under perfect control and then crashed it high into the net.

The Colts dominated the closing stages but could easily have conceded a 2 nd goal had it not been for a excellent goal line clearance from Robbie who deflected a goal bound effort with a perfectly timed header. At the other end, Dylan looked as though he had added a 7 th goal but was denied by an brilliant goal line clearance from the Gedling defender. Dylan and the player in question (who looked like his twin) exchanged a hand shake which was a nice sporting touch.

Fulltime – 1 – 6

Summary:

Well done to every player today, we have certainly played a lot better over the past two games in every area. After the game the Forest scout commented on how well we played as a team; organised and hardworking with a good deal of skill and determination. It doesn’t get better than that.

He have to build on this and continue to improve; there are still many things to work on but the signs are good. There will be more tough games to come this season and we will have to face some difficult challenges for sure, but if we give 100% in every game then we will do alright.

Well done boys, as we said after the game you all played very well today and should be proud of your win.

Keep up the good work.

Alan and Mark.