HT: 0-0
Venue: St Mary’s, Menston, Ilkley
On Monday 26th July, we endured our first defeat of the season to a good side in Bradford Boys, however, we made them work for their victory. We frustratingly had to wait 4 weeks since our first game in the FA West Riding Veterans League - Bradford Division 3 after our last fixture two weeks ago was unfortunately postponed on the day due to an issue with the opposition team, Addington Vets.
We went into this game with just one sub in the line up, however, we were itching to play after a month off but frustratingly we had to wait an extra 10 minutes after kick off was delayed due to Bradford Boys missing two players.
Our Line Up:
GK: Jonny Nicolson
RB: Clarkie
CB: Jonno
CB: Dougie
LB: Stu
RW: Spanner
CM: Luke Goach
CM: Heath
LW: Joycey (me)
FW: Dorey
FW: Pete
Roll on Subs:
Joey
The game started with the opponents playing with a man down for the first couple of minutes as the match referee was unable to delay kick off any further. This meant that Bradford Boys were using their veteran experience to keep possession at the back and although they were quite effective with their one touch passing, we were playing high up the pitch as a team and were putting some pressure on them and on a couple of occasions we forced some errors but they were able to recover them.
Once their missing players arrived they had full 11 players and a sub and the game then began to open up a bit. Both sides were playing at a frantic pace for the first 10 minutes and there were some breakaway plays by both sides however, it was the live wire movement up top by Pete and Dorey linking up well with our midfielders that led to a few early half chances.
Although Bradford Boys played some great triangle passing moves and had pace out wide that stretched us at times during the first half, we were solid as a unit and defended well from midfield to the back line, limiting Bradford Boys to a handful of half chances.
We earned a couple of corners in the first half from some sharp counter attacks, corners which I took on the left side but we were unable to convert the pressure. Pete made a great run in behind after a beautiful long ball from Joey but his audacious chipping effort just went over the bar.
Bradford Boys did begin to get into a rhythm in the minutes leading up to half time and as a team we were having to defend a great deal and Nicolson was called upon to make some saves.
The second half was a game of two halves. Early on, Bradford Boys seemed to take off where they left off at the back end of the first half and were dominating possession however we were again very well shaped and forcing them out wide in the corners and limiting them to half chances in the middle.
However, unfortunately the breakthrough did come for Bradford Boys half way through the second half after an instep pot shot that we failed to close down sailed past an unlucky Nicolson in goal who just couldn’t quite get a finger tip to it and it went in the right bottom corner. With the drizzling rain the shot gained further momentum which helped it gain that extra zip.
We then were chasing the game and began battling forward and tried to use our over top balls and our pace up top end and it was working. We had some good runs from Pete and Dorey along with Spanner putting in some good link up play on the right. Goach and Heath were both battling hard in centre midfield and looking for the killer passes to help get us back into the game. Playing on the left wing I felt like I had been tracking back chasing their right winger for much of the game who was constantly on the move with their inside right so I made a change in making diagonal runs up top to try and get involved more up top and stretch their defence.
Our pressure continued and we earned a few corners and caused them some nervy moments. As the clock ticked down we just couldn’t get that killer chance to equalise but it was not through a lack of trying. Bradford Boys were counter attacking us late on and had a brilliant chance to seal victory for sure but goalkeeper Jonny Nicolson charged out and slide tackled their attacker with a well timed challenge to keep us in the game.
Unfortunately it was not our day but all in all, we can take some confidence in that we did play a good outfit who were brilliant on the ball and turned out they had several ex lower leagues professional players in their line up. Our defensive players Clarkie, Jonno, Dougie, making his vets debut, Stu and Joey were all solid at the back and did well to limit the chances of Bradford Boys to seal their victory with further goals.
Next up we are playing on the away ground at Keighley in 2 weeks and there’s certainly some things to build on.
BRAMHOPE FC VETS LEADERBOARDS:
Goals:
Spanner = 1
Joycey (me) = 1
Clarkie = 1
Assists:
Goacher = 1
Hugh = 1
Joycey (me) = 1
GK Clean Sheets:
Jonny Nicolson = 1
Foul Throw - ooopsy
I made a big boo boo however that I’m not sure I’ll live it down, after a good run and turn, I put a cross in from the opposite right hand side which was deflected out for a throw in. Lapse in concentration for a moment when picking who to aim at and I did a foul throw - bit embarrassed about that one not going to lie, haha.
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