HT: 0-1
Venue: Marley Stadium, Keighley
Goals: Jonno
Assists: Clarkie
On Monday 8th August on a humid night, we fell to our second league defeat of the Summer Season FA West Riding Veterans Bradford League, Division 3 in a game that was certainly winnable.
It was our third week in a row that we have played now after a friendly fixture against the Division One side Phoenix FC Vets last Monday, which we lost 1-0 in a fairly even game.
This week we were at the away venue in Keighley and was the first time we played at this venue, which is called the Marley Stadium. It’s a nice little set up here and the 5g pitch was good quality and almost seemed a little smaller than the huge feeling pitch at St Mary’s venue in Menston.
We had just a few players missing in this game including midfielder Luke Goacher, striker Mark Dorey and full backs Stu and Joey, however, we had a couple of players making their Vets league debut for us this season in James Kundi and Jonathan Nelson, below is how we lined up.
Our Line Up:
GK: Jonny Nicolson (player coach)
RB: Clarkie
CB: Jonno
CB: Dougie
LB: Nelson
RW: Spanner
CM: Hugh
CM: Adam Dennis
LW: Joycey (me)
AM: James Kundi
FW: Pete
Roll on Subs:
Chee
Both sides had some breakaway moments as the first half wore on but both sides cleaned up defensively, Dougie and Jonno making some nice recovery work at centre back when required and we limited Baildon to very few opportunities.
We had a 10 minute spell where we broke away several times on the right side but we just couldn’t quite get that killer chance. Spanner and Clarkie worked well on the right side to put Pete through down the channel on occasions and we looked threatening. I latched onto
a through pass from Hugh down the middle right from running across from my left side and dribbled into the box taking them on looking to get through on goal but was unfortunately snuffed out by one of their defenders coming across.
Baildon had a worrying moment when their regular goalkeeper turned his ankle and went off injured. We then had some nice breakaway play in the left side where my left back Nelson, making his vets debut made an impressive surging run forward and stretched their back line. Despite our pressure, we didn’t get that killer chance and were limited to speculative chances and Kundi had a shot just wide from outside the box whilst we also earned a corner.
In the last 10 minutes of the first half Baildon began to put more pressure on us and their centre forward who had some nice quick feet caused us some big problems leading up to half time but our back four forced several corners and goalkeeper Nicolson made a nice save to push another out for a corner.
We defended the corners well but the pressure was building from Baildon and an unfortunate situation happened where their midfield intercepted one of Nicolson’s goal kicks and they shifted the ball through the middle to hit the bottom corner past Nicolson who was unlucky not to get a touch to it.
1-0 down at half time, we were still very much in the game despite feeling some pressure going into half time and we were confident going into the second half. Nicolson decided to play two up front instead of using Kundi as an attacking midfielder so we went to a 4-4-2.
We started the better side in the second half and created several counter attacks down the left hand side via some quick link up play between Nelson, me, Adam
in midfield and Pete up top and we seemed to be having some success.
We took control of the middle of the park with some brilliant build up play in the middle between Hugh, Chee and Adam but we just couldn’t quite make the midfield dominance pay.
We had a crazy 5 to 10 minute spell where in reality we lost the game. They produced a 5 minute spell where they caught us on the counters and their forward hit well placed shot from the right hand side through on goal to just sail past Nicolson in goal. Then several minutes later Nicolson took their attacker out and Baildon earned a penalty. Nicolson dived the right way but was unfortunately unable to stop it hitting the bottom corner but a nice effort.
The last 10 minutes we really needed to push and chase the game being 3-0 down which we didn’t deserve. We played some good stuff down the right and Spanner put through several balls across goal from the right hand side which me and Pete couldn’t quite get on the end of. Down the left hand side I had a couple of good runs along with Pete and Nelson to open them up but we just couldn’t get that chance we needed to get back into the game. Then our work paid off after some nice play through the middle lead to Jonno taking in a nice finish but the goal was disallowed for the use of the word ‘leave’, unfortunate but we continued to press for that goal.
Then minutes later we had a corner on the left which I took, a short corner and the ball was then played centrally and Clarkie disguised a wonderful ball to Jonno who cooly placed it away to pull us a goal back. Unfortunately it was too little too late but we played some good stuff at times and the more games we play it will start clicking I’m sure.
Goals:
Spanner = 1
Joyce (me) = 1
Jonno = 1
Clarkie = 1
Assists:
Goacher = 1
Clarkie = 1
Hugh = 1
Joycey (me) = 1
GK Clean Sheets:
Jonny Nicolson = 1
Second half I was much more threatening in attack I felt and made several good runs and link ups down the left flank but made one poor decision I remember after a good dribble down the left. I did a cheeky nutmeg on their right bank and it started an attack that led to our disallowed goal by Jonno. I played a short corner which was then played through the middle by a team mate and then Clarkie threaded it through to Jonno to finish and pull a goal back. I felt like in attack I just couldn’t quite get the moments I wanted to get through on goal or put a team mate through but I was happy with some of my running.
I was also happy with a couple of solid clearances with my weaker left foot in the second half too and also made 2 or 3 headers in the game. Definitely feel like I’m getting more fitter now we’re a good few games in. Next game I’ll have ran a half marathon the day before so I’m hoping Nicolson will allow me to play upfront rather than on the wing to save my legs haha.
Definitely looking to build on last couple of weeks after playing poor against Bradford Boys 3 weeks ago after a goal and assist in the first game.
INSTAGRAM: @joycinho
TWITTER: @rjsports1 @joycinho @rjrugbyleague
SPIRITUAL TWITTER: @JoyceParanormal