Aslockton Cranmers 3 Keyworth
United 7
Keyworth Killers!!
After an indifferent pre-season some might have found it
surprising that I approached our first league match of the
season full of optimism.
By the end of this game however, no-one could question my
right to be Mr Brightside, as Keyworth began the new
campaign in style, demolishing an Aslockton side,
themselves not devoid of talent.
Keyworth were “up for it” and
got the best possible start when Ben Healey hit their first
goal of the season just two minutes in.
An excellent move involving Ben, Reece Farndale and Danny
Hardy saw Danny lay the ball off to Ben some fifteen yards
out to the right of goal. Taking the ball in his stride,
Ben smashed it high over the goalkeeper and into the top
left corner of the net for an early contender for Goal of
the Season.
Things got even better midway through the
half! With Aslockton struggling to clear under intense
Keyworth pressure, the ball bounced around the penalty area
and Jacob Watson was quickest to react, swivelling to hit a
fine shot on the turn beyond the keeper to make it 2-0.
What odds Ladbrokes would have given on Keyworth’s first
two goal-scorers being Ben and Jacob?
Keyworth never make
life easy for themselves though. Sure enough, the lively
Aslockton forwards began posing problems and after
surviving one scare, Keyworth conceded twice in quick
succession. Hesitancy in the visitors’ defence allowed
Aslockton a simple goal before the home team launched a
splendid ball forward for their speedy centre forward to
career past a shell shocked Harry Stolworthy to fire in a
cracking equaliser.
Almost instantly, however, Keyworth were back in the lead
when Danny picked up the ball out left, cut inside and
fired home a low shot from a narrow angle.
As Aslockton
prepared for kick off, you didn’t have to be psychic to
read my mind…it went something like this: “surely we can’t
throw the lead away again?”. You’ve probably already sensed
that the element of doubt in my thoughts was tinged with a
painful realism. Sure enough, for reasons unknown, Keyworth
yet again pressed the self destruct button and allowed an
Aslockton forward time and space aplenty to hit another
fine equaliser. Having dominated much of the game we
somehow went into the break all square.
Half time: 3-3.
Time for a drop of the Brown
stuff! Whilst not bitter, it certainly wasn’t mild and for
the defence it must have been hard to swallow, but in the
end, it went down well! (Thanks Richard!).
Throw in a
re-shuffle with Danny dropping back into midfield and Lewis
Dunkley pushed forward and just like Double Diamond many
years ago, it worked wonders! Keyworth were transformed.
Shortly after the re-start they were 5-3 ahead. Danny first
linking well with the re-vitalised Lewis before drilling
home from a tight angle on the right, then gleefully
celebrating his birthday with a hat-trick, emphatically
converting a penalty after Lewis’s pressure forced a
handball in the area.
Sam Clements then joined in the party. Picking up the ball
just inside the Aslockton half, Sam ran to the edge of the
box where, faced by four defenders, he coolly flicked the
ball up, lobbed it over the defenders, ran through and
lobbed the advancing goalkeeper for a goal of breathtaking
individual brilliance.
At the other end it was all quiet
in Sam’s town, now superbly marshalled by a splendidly
organised defence who denied Aslockton access to the box
for the whole second half. Fittingly though it was left to
Danny to finish off the proceedings, which he did in style,
beating three players before curling in an absolute pearler
from just outside the box for yet another blinder of a
goal. Just as we wondered which would come first, total
darkness or the final whistle, the game ended with Keyworth
running out 7-3 victors.
A magnificent game, once again
played in good spirit, but memorable for three blistering
Keyworth goals and an all round superb display from the
Greens.
It’s difficult to pick out individuals in such a
strong performance but the outstanding Danny Hardy and
excellent displays from Ben Healey and Sam Clements are
worthy of merit while Jacob Watson; Peter Mathews and Cian
Lenihan all showed they’ve adjusted well to the step up
from last year’s White team.
What a game! - let’s hope I come down for Sunday!
