Basford Utd 4 Linby CW FC 0

Recipe for opening league game defeat. Meet one strong, physical title contending side, add a weak and poor referee, throw in 2 quick injuries and a well below par performance, result a 4-0 defeat.

After an unbeaten pre-season run with good wins against 'higher ranked opposition', the squad were buoyant ahead of the game. After a couple of early scares, the sparring between the sides was halted when Martyn Gould went down under an innocuous challenge. Straight away he feared a recurrence of his ACL injury, from which he had only just returned after a 2 year lay off. Jake Keetley was also withdrawn due to a recurrent rib injury picked up playing Sunday football. Replacing them were Tom Campbell and Darren Dickens, with Kyle McDermott moving to the centre of midfield and Darren Dickens partnering Julien Wright up top. This unexpected change clearly disrupted the side and with no main striker to hold the ball up, the defence was going deeper and deeper under the pressure. Despite this the game could have changed when Basford ‘keeper Curtis MacDonald raced out to clear a through ball only for it to rise up and strike what the referee believed to be his arm. Now in modern day football that could be deemed a red card, especially as Julien Wright was behind him and would have been through on goal. The lenient referee deemed it only a talking to? The Linby defence finally cracked midway through the half as a poorly headed clearance fell to Jon Bower who fed John Manders to crash home from just inside the box. It was quickly two as Will Heath fed John Manders who twisted and turned 2 defenders to then fire across Craig Lear. But for the linesman’s flag, Manders would have had a first half hattrick and Linby were thankful for the half time whistle. HT 2 – 0

Despite the half time team talk, Linby started the second half slowly. Walker and Manders were a constant menace, but they failed to capitalise on several half chances and corners. Linby started to get a footing in the game, as Julien Wright managed to wriggle free on a couple of occasions and Darren Dickens headed over a Tom Campbell corner. Another bizarre refereeing decision had a hand in Linby going 3 down. As Julien Wright burst to the bye line, he pulled the ball back for Dickens whose goal bound shot was deflected wide and towards the corner flag. Despite this the referee gave a goal kick. From this punted goal kick Basford managed to free Ash Murdoch who fed Lewis Johnson just inside the box and he shot across Craig Lear into the far corner. Linby still had a few chances to get on the score sheet as Kyle McDermott twice went close and Dave Elson shot straight at MacDonald on a surge forward. Basford compounded a miserable night for Linby as Austin Wallace managed to get free down the middle and slide the ball past Craig Lear despite the best attempts of Nathan George to clear. FT 4 - 0

A very disappointing evening for Linby after such a positive pre season. The side will have to quickly pick itself up with the visit of local rivals Hucknall Rolls Leisure on Saturday.

Line-Up (4-4-2)

Lear/
Robinson Dancer George Elson/
Bradshaw P.Campbell J.Keetley McDermott/
Gould Wright

Subs:
T.Campbell (J.keetley 20)
Dickens (Gould 20)
Dilnot
Hargreaves
A.Keetley