Calverton Miners Welfare 3 Keyworth United 1

Complete Madness!

Despite the sunshine, this was a grey day for the Greens. Following last week’s splendid, but ultimately fruitless performance, this was definitely a case of after the Lord Mayor’s show as Keyworth paid the price for a sloppy performance, slipping to defeat at the hands of a feisty Calverton.
Yet it all started so well for Keyworth who, taking the game to Calverton, went ahead in the third minute.

Debutant Marek Nowicki collected the ball midway inside the Reds half and, with a blistering turn of pace, showed a clean pair of heels to two defenders as he flew down the left before firing a superb low drive across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

All looked set for another Keyworth victory as the Greens encamped in the home half, continued to dominate and denied Calverton any part in the game. Something wasn’t right though, despite their superiority, Keyworth seemed unusually sluggish and disjointed with too many passes going astray and gaps evident in the midfield. Still, going forward they seemed lively and the much more likely to score, while remaining unchallenged at the back. Then, midway through the half, disaster struck!

Out of the blue, Calverton equalised on their first foray into Keyworth territory, when a seemingly innocuous shot from the edge of the area evaded Sam’s despairing dive and rolled gently over the line. Despite this setback the game continued in the same vein, with Keyworth well in control and twice going close through Danny Hardy who first drove wide when clearly impeded in the box and then, seconds later, forced the save of the season from the home keeper who somehow managed to keep out a close range pile-driver from Keyworth’s top scorer. This turned out to be the game’s turning point as, minutes later, against the run of play, Calverton took the lead. when another hopeful twenty yard bobbler somehow found its way through into the net. Unbelievable as it may have seemed, having totally dominated the half despite being far from their best, Keyworth went into the break behind.

I’d hoped that this would stir the Green’s into life, but far from it! Keyworth started the second period timid, lifeless and devoid of spirit. Gone were the battling qualities and desire so evident in previous games - quite simply we were not up for the fight. Calverton on the other hand, having unexpectedly got their noses in front, were well up for it and, battling like tigers, weren’t ready to give the lead away in a hurry. Gaps in the Green midfield grew larger, forwards went a.w.o.l and the usually solid defence suddenly developed so many perforations that Tetley’s were prepared to give us a sponsorship deal.

No surprise then when a home forward popped up at the far post to make it three to the Reds. There was no way back now, not even Michael Caine could have helped us escape to victory, and well before our lunchtime treat in the clubhouse we’d had our chips! At this point we were a shambles and I was on the verge of cardiac arrest!

Despite efforts to get back into the game, we made it easy for Calverton to shut up shop and when four players, each with clear shooting opportunities, passed the ball in proverbial hot potato style along the eighteen yard line rather than “take a pot”, it was clear that confidence had drained completely and the whistle couldn’t come soon enough. Thankfully, it duly arrived some five minutes later to put us out of our misery.

Driving in my car back to our house - no house of fun that afternoon I can tell you - I couldn’t hide my disappointment. Sure, I’d been disappointed before as a manager, but this was one step beyond the norm.

With an embarrassment of riches at our disposal and superior in all departments up until the break, we’d simply given up and were beaten by a side that wanted it more than we did…and that’s unacceptable! Whether it was down to lack of effort (which, knowing the boys, I sincerely doubt), sleep deprivation as a result of a late night spent watching the rugby World Cup Final (more like it!) or simply the unpredictability of boys aged ten / eleven, who knows, but only Luke, Marek, Peter Hennessy and Cian, all of whom were clearly “bothered”, could justifiably claim to have performed anything near their best in what can only be described as a poor display overall.

That’s football I suppose! We just need to get it out of the system quickly. They say you’re only as good as your next game though, so the boys from Aspley had better beware!

Watch out for the Keyworth backlash as we aim to outshine the Beacon next week!