Keyworth United 2 Radcliffe Olympic 3

Keyworth Stumble and Fall!

The first Sunday of 2008, and the sun’s shining brightly at 10.15 in the morning as we arrive for the first of three successive games against high flying opposition.

On this occasion Radcliffe are the visitors - although you’d think they were at home, having arrived by 9.45 am for an hour long, almost military, pre-match training session…. this lot look keen! We have a game plan though - play Harry as a holding midfield player, push on tight and defend stoutly high up the pitch in the first half, then use the slope to our advantage to attack strongly in the second.

From kick off, the plan looked to be working a treat as, for all their good looking football, Radcliffe barely threatened, with the Keyworth boys holding the visitors at bay in midfield and breaking well. 
Keyworth were working hard and just shading it and midway through the half were rewarded with a goal.

A high ball from the right was met by Harry whose fine twenty yard volley beat the diving keeper and rifled into the left hand corner of the net. The Greens lead didn’t last long though. A weak goal-kick fell at the feet of a Radcliffe forward who ran unchallenged through a static defence to fire home the equaliser.

Despite the setback, Keyworth continued to have the edge and almost took the lead when Josh drove a firm low shot beyond the keeper only to see it skim the right hand post. Minutes later another Josh shot from an identical position was well saved and we went into the break all square - a job well done by Keyworth!

So far all had gone to plan!

Keyworth roared into the second half with Radcliffe back-pedalling from the start. It was only a matter of time before the Greens took the lead. A fine move saw Danny collect the ball thirty yards out and work his way past several defenders and into the box before being upended just as he pulled the trigger….Penalty! No doubt about the decision, nor who was going to take it! This time, there was no way Danny was letting the ball go! Up he stepped to smash home a perfect penalty.

Keyworth were now totally in control and almost increased their lead when a magnificent twenty-five 
yard drive from Douglas crashed against the bar with the keeper beaten. Playing some excellent football, Keyworth looked menacing every time they went forward. Danny tested the keeper and Sam C and Tommo fired wide before the move of the game so nearly brought Keyworth a third. Luke, Doug and Reece combined well before finding Ben out wide right on the half way line. Ben’s first time pass was cushioned perfectly into Tommo’s path, leaving our Black Belt with a clear run on goal. Tommo powered forward and let fly some fifteen yards out. With the ball flying low towards the keeper’s right hand corner, Tommo, along with most of the home fans, was on the verge of turning away in celebration, only for the keeper to leap into action and expertly parry the ball away at full stretch. Danny, was quickest to the loose ball, but driven wide, fired his fierce shot into the side netting from a tight angle.

This proved to be the game’s turning point.

With Keyworth looking comfortable the game entered its last seven minutes. A rare Radcliffe attack was easily repelled by the Keyworth defence only for a loose clearance to be picked up by an unchallenged Radcliffe forward just outside the box. His speculative lob seemed to pose little threat but fell like a stone, dropping into the top right hand corner of the net, giving poor old Sam no chance. If this was an injustice, worse was to follow two minutes later when Keyworth’s defence switched off and a fine move left a Radcliffe forward one on one with Sam who made fine saves from both the initial and follow up shot.

Sadly for Sam, his teammates were somewhere else and as the ball bounced around invitingly a Radcliffe forward nipped in to head home. So much for the game plan! Time to rip it up I think! The final few minutes saw Keyworth create several chances but on at least four occasions drive straight at the keeper when well placed and Radcliffe held on for a gift wrapped victory.

In fishing terms this was the one that got away. I’ll be up all night wondering how we managed to lose it!! Having dominated the game throughout, how we managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory is beyond me. Radcliffe really must think Christmas came late!

In general, we played well, particularly Peter Hennessy, while Josh had his best game for weeks. Not for the first time this season, the result was a travesty, but, in fairness, I can’t help this feeling I’ve got that we’re a good side but will always be the nearlymen until we become more ruthless, killing off games when we have the chance and cutting out the concentration lapses that cost us so dearly.

We also need to learn to hold on to a lead late on. We’ve conceded far too many goals in the last five minutes of games - something we have to stop immediately, before I fall to pieces! Maybe we can start next week as we aim for a place in the last eight of the Notts FA Shield?

Perhaps then we’ll be able to celebrate a Happy New Year for the Greens!