Match Report by Rob Crozier:
Boots Wednesday saw their 2011-12 season get off to a losing start against AFC Calverton, but it was a match that could have been so different as Boots were left to rue missed chances. With Subo stepping up to Captain and Manager for the day (with Brett and Spence absent), he named a team with Frampton in goal, a defence of Horlicks, Patto, Subo and Crozier, a midfield of Pete, Simon, Sicky and Griffin and a forward line of Ian and Kieran. There was also the traditional “strong bench” of Ed, Bally and Daz.
After playing Calverton in a pre-season friendly we knew what to expect in the form of long diagonal balls that the quick wingers would look to exploit, and this was evident from the kick off that this would be their style of play again. Boots (who had been guilty of slow starts during pre-season) were much quicker off the blocks this week and with Simon and Sam hassling their midfield pair it became a quite even contest. Kieran was unlucky on a number of occasions as he played on the last man and looked to get through but was called offside and also sent a left foot volley narrowly over the bar following a long throw from the right. At the other end Subo and Patto were winning most balls in the air and the defence was only under pressure a few times. Chris made an exceptional saving tackle and Calverton had two penalty appeals against Patto turned down in short succession, and when the defence did seem caught out Frumpy was there to clear up. The first half ended with Ian having the best chance of either team as a long ball bounced through (pass was by Pete I think) and over their centre back, leaving Ian with a one on one, but unfortunately he missed the target.
After a few minutes in to the second half Kieran had to come off due to an earlier injury to be replaced by Bally, and the half settled into a similar path as the first with few chances for either team, Calverton were kept long range efforts that Frumpy dealt with ease. Bally also had a chance for Boots after a throughball again found our striker one on one. It was a tight angle but with calls of “time” from Pete and Sicky echoing around Harvey Hadden it was put over. The deadlock was finally broken with around 25 mins to go when the right winger played the ball through Crozier’s legs (and he called it the b*****d!) to their forward who drove the ball powerfully through Simon’s inside post. To Boots’ credit, heads did not drop and changes were made to swap Pete and Griff for Ed and Daz. Boots then created their closest chance of the game when Bally hit the bar. Simon Hirst played a delightful ball out to the wing where the marauding left back (Crozier) took one touch and fizzed the ball across the face of goal. Bally connected and headed it down but saw it bounce off the wet turf to hit the bar and then the rebound hit Bally again to go narrowly wide! After that let-off, Calverton then extended their lead when their central midfielder curled the ball into the top corner. The ball was bobbling around and even with the attentions of two players (Simon and Patto) he was able to get the shot off and produce a good finish. Nevertheless, Boots still had chances as Bally saw another shot go over the bar after a flick on by Ed, and Ian missed a chance when the goalie was out of position following pressure from Bally.
Overall it was a disappointing result after a battling performance. The defence played well, all standing up to the challenge of their pace and limiting the opposition to long range shots for the most part. The one time that they really opened us up, they scored. The midfield did a great shift breaking up play and the movement in attack was good, creating clearer chances than the opposition, just failing to convert. Let’s put it down to being a bit rusty first game in, next week they will fly in the net!
Sicky received the Opposition’s Man of the Match Award for a bustling performance in midfield, and Crozier received the new Manager’s Choice MOM (sponsored by Pimms), which was chosen by the Manager on the Day (SuBo) with the prize a typically Middle Class can of Pimms (although it may have just been a sympathy vote following the embarrassing nutmeg for their first goal!)
