Linby CW FC 3 Attenborough FC 2

A. Keetley, J. Wright, K. McDermott

After Saturday’s battling victory over neighbours Hucknall Rolls Leisure, managers Matt Keetley and Kez Dean again had to shuffle the pack. Joining Jake Keetley and Martyn Gould on the sidelines were Nathan George and Darren Dickens, with Nick Davies unavailable through work. In came John Dilnot and James Hargreaves for their first competitive starts for the club and Julien Wright had sufficiently recovered from his bout of swine flu to partner Kyle McDermott up top.

Linby began the match playing up the hill and looking into a setting sun. The hill is never easy to defend and the low sun made it difficult for the defence to judge long balls aimed at the Attenborough forwards of Oldham and Constable. In a first half of cat and mouse, both sides managed to get behind the opposition defences with just the final ball lacking. With neither side really testing the ‘keeper, the deadlock was broken by a strike of pure quality. Dave Elson strode out of defence before laying the ball wide to Jonty Bradshaw who set Julien Wright away down the right flank. Julien pulled the ball back to the edge of the area before being unceremoniously dumped in the shrubbery. Julien therefore missed the dividends of his hard work, as an onrushing Ash Keetley drove the ball low and hard and in off the ‘keeper’s left hand post to put Linby 1-0 up. A strike right out of the top drawer. HT 1-0

Linby started the second half in distinct contrast to the first. Lethargic and poor in possession, Linby quickly got a wake up call. A half clearance was picked up by Spencer who threaded a ball through to Steve Oldham. Under pressure from Dave Elson, he managed to squeeze a shot away that beat Craig Lear on his near post and equal the scores. With this kick up the backside, Linby again started to play. With most joy in the first half coming from the right, it was no surprise that 2 quick goals came from that source. Firstly, Julien Wright combined well with Jonty Bradshaw who in turn fed Kyle McDermott. As he advanced into the box the ball got stuck under his feet and in the ‘keeper’s haste to get to the ball he dumped Kyle on his backside for a stonewall penalty. Up stepped Julien Wright who calmly sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to put Linby 2-1 up. Two minutes later it was 3. Julien Wright came deep to retrieve the ball and sent Kyle McDermott scampering away down the right channel. With much to do, Kyle cut in from the right and struck a curling left foot shot that nestled into the back of the net.

Several changes were made as Matt Rick replaced Ash Keetley and Ross Horton and Clint Dancer replaced defenders Dave Elson and Mark Robinson respectively. One of the substitutes, Clint Dancer, should have put the game to bed, but we can only assume he shut his eyes as he put a free header from Kyle McDermott’s corner wide. As Linby again took their foot off the gas, Attenborough threw men forward looking to salvage something from the game. With the defence at sixes and sevens, Ross Horton was left with 2 men at the back post, where Constable’s scuffed shot deceived Craig Lear and rested in the back of the net. Sniffing a point Attenborough went all out, throwing centre half Alex Oldham up front to partner his brother. The Linby back line however managed to hold firm for the 3 points.
Linby made this much harder than it ever should have been. At 3-1 the game should have been sewn up. The side will have to learn from this and be more ruthless in future.

Line-Up (4-4-2)

Lear/
Robinson Dilnot Elson Hargreaves/
Bradshaw P.Campbell Martin A.Keetley/
McDermott Wright

Subs:
Rick (A.Keetley 70)
Dancer (Elson 75)
Horton (Robinson 78)

MOM Martin

The game was visited by Groundhopper Sticky Palms so look out for his match report