Bestwood Park Rangers 0 Keyworth United 8

Greens Go Wild in the Country

After last week’s victory over Celtic, (of the Priory variety), Keyworth’s impressive start continued with a convincing victory over a hard working Rangers (of the Bestwood kind) to record the sort of Old Firm double that most of the SPL can only dream of.

On the world’s widest pitch, on the edge of Bestwood Country Park, Keyworth were quickly into the groove and almost took the lead on three minutes when Danny Hardy skillfully created space in the box before firing firmly against the post with the keeper well beaten. 

In an opening spell as bright as the prevailing autumnal sunshine, the Greens were well on top and took a deserved lead ten minutes in when fine work from Harry Stolworthy and Jacob Watson released Danny to smash home from the edge of the box.

Keyworth’s dominance continued and ten minutes later Lewis made it two, unleashing a beauty from twenty-two yards over the keeper into the far corner of the net. The Greens were totally in control but, frustrated by borderline offside decisions and a hatful of missed chances, struggled to put the game out of reach. Cian came closest to extending the lead, firing a fine effort across the face of goal and no-one on hand to tap in. With seconds of the half remaining Keyworth had one more chance to make it three but the luckless Josh miscued from close in.

2-0 at half time was a poor reflection of our superiority. Despite a solid performance, we needed to convert our chances into goals and make use of the width. With each child told “go out and express yourself” we hoped for more success in the second period. Bizarrely though a mystery illness inflicting temporary deafness on all in green struck the team for the duration of the interval and on restart Keyworth proceeded to do the opposite of all we’d agreed. For the first ten minutes of the second period we were languid.

Lethargic and playing it far too tight, confined to a central channel rather than spreading it wide, we were making it easy for the boys in blue who were gradually coming more into the game. This was no holiday for the Greens! Luke’s crisp twenty yarder and a fine run and shot by Ben which tested the keeper provided the occasional ray of light but generally it was pretty bleak …infuriating for the manager! Thankfully, along came Danny to rescue me - and my vocal chords! -from this touchline torture, with a goal out of nothing. Picking up the ball on the left side of the area, Danny looked up and superbly drove high into the net to relieve the tension.

Then came a moment for the manager to cherish. Within seconds of re-introducing Douglas McConachie into the fray, Douglas added a fourth. Fine interplay between Reece and Ben put Douglas free some twelve yards out and our own Captain Composure calmly slotted home - an inspired substitution if ever there was one!

Suddenly Keyworth were on fire and playing the sort of football of which Arsene and his Wengerboys would be proud. No surprise then when Lewis made it five after latching onto Ben’s fine first time cross following a loose clearance. Everybody was now getting in on the act and after the exceptional Peter Hennessy’s fierce shot had been cleared off the line, Sam Clements made it six. 

Reece’s magnificent turn and reverse pass creating space for Danny who slipped the ball forward for Sam’s to finish with aplomb. Now using the width to great advantage, we were forcing Bestwood deeper and deeper and causing a commotion in the home defence every time we went forward. Time for the spotlight to return to Danny!

Never one to rest on his laurels, young Hardy completed another fine hat-trick in style, firing past the keeper from the right of goal and following up to emphatically crash the ball home from an inch “just to make sure!” With seconds remaining, Douglas rounded things off with a majestic top corner finish to seal our eight goal victory.

Time for the boys to take a bow!

For most of the game this was a splendid and at times awe inspiring Keyworth performance. We just need to cut out the ten minute post half time nap! On this occasion we can thank our lucky stars that we weren’t punished. Overall however we were too strong in every department for Bestwood, who despite battling well throughout, failed to trouble us and gave Sam in our goal an unexpected day off.

On a day of strong performances, Peter Hennessy and the magnificent Jacob Watson excelled, while Reece Farndale had easily his best game to date. In a season which is rapidly becoming one to get excited about, next week’s tester against Greasley will give us a measure of just how far we’ve progressed - more of the same will do very nicely! ...Bring it on!