Beeston Centurions 1 Keyworth
United 0
Life is a roller coaster
As anyone following Keyworth United Green will tell you,
that Ronan Keating chap has a point – which is more than we
got here!
Life on the emotional roller-coaster of
watching Keyworth continues unabated and normal service has
again been resumed. Following pre-season performances which
were consistent only in their inconsistency, we seemed to
have put everything together perfectly for our emphatic
victory in the season’s opener at Aslockton, only to fall
to Beeston in a battling, but far from convincing
performance, just four days later. Certainly watching
Keyworth is never dull!
Frustrating?... yes - particularly as a manager! - but
dull?... never!
After taking our lives, and suspension, in our hands over
the humped back bridge and dodgy single track, we arrived
at the ground ahead of the opposition and lay in wait for
the Weirsiders (calm down Jacob – not those Wearsiders!),
getting some practice on an undulating pitch that made the
famous old slope at Yeovil look almost pancake-like by
comparison.
Centurions duly arrived and, after the
beanpole of a ref’s most telling contribution of the day
(putting the nets up!), the game kicked off, with Keyworth
kicking downhill with the stiff breeze (the Skegness
Tourist Board would describe as “bracing!”) at their backs.
Needing to take advantage of the conditions Keyworth
initially struggled, with the home team playing the neater
football and looking threatening, but as the half wore on
it was the Greens who took charge, although showing little
of the incisive play which brought rich rewards at
Aslockton.
That said, we were creating chances, with Luke Crisp
particularly influential on the left. Luke, Reece Farndale,
Danny Hardy and Thomas Leatherland all had shots well
saved, birthday boy Lewis Dunkley fired wide when well
placed and both Tommo and Luke narrowly failed to connect
with teasing crosses. When Tommo, having taken up a good
position, fired over from close range following Danny’s
excellent work, you sensed it was going to be one of those
days…even more so when the ref tried to draw the half to a
close some nine minutes early!
0-0 at the break!
The second half was going to be hard work! As predicted,
Beeston threw everything at the Greens but thanks to some
defiant battling from a well organised defence and the
tigerish Peter Matthews and Jacob Watson in midfield, were
largely restricted to long range efforts which, with the
exception of one which bounced off the top of the crossbar,
failed to trouble Sam who was looking assured in the
visitor’s goal.
On their rare foray into opposition
territory, Keyworth looked threatening and so nearly took
the lead against the run of play. Fine work by Lewis, Josh
Coulthard and Jacob set up the onrushing Cian Lenihan whose
fierce goal-bound effort cannoned to safety off the
outstretched arms of a defender.
“Penalty” went the cries
– but to no avail (“I’ve seen them given” muttered the
relieved Beeston manager - that made me feel much better!).
This proved to be the turning point as, with minutes
remaining, Beeston were gifted a goal. There seemed little
danger when an innocuous cross rolled into the Keyworth six
yard box, but a catastrophic mix up between goalkeeper and
defenders saw each leave it to the other and a grateful
Beeston toe get enough on the ball to divert it goalwards
before trickling agonisingly slowly over the line. Even
then Keyworth almost replied when the unmarked Sam Clements
was unable to make sufficient contact to guide the ball in
at the unguarded far post.
Final score 1-0.
Overall, a disappointing result from a close encounter (of
the Beeston kind!...we’ve had three of them in the past 11
months - all with the same outcome!) from which we deserved
at least a share of the spoils.
Far from our mesmerising,
“Thursday (definitely not Sunday!) best”, we still created
the better chances and, in general, defended well with
Isaac Brown, Peter Hennessy and Peter Matthews outstanding.
Having worked so hard, to throw it all away at the death
was bordering on unforgivable.
At this level we’ll be
punished for any silly mistakes and failure to take our
chances - it’s a painful lesson but learning’s the name of
the game this year and we need to learn quickly if we’re to
have anything like a successful season.
As for our emotions however, this is better than Blackpool
Pleasure Beach! … the Big Dipper re-opens at Platt Lane
next Sun at 11am!
