Linby CW FC 0 Caribbean Cavaliers 1

After Saturday’s disappointing home defeat to Wollaton, the side were hoping to get back to winning ways and put on a performance for the home crowd. Being a Bank Holiday fixture, both sides were playing their second match in 3 days and were without players through injuries, work or family commitments. Matt Keetley and Kez Dean gave first team debuts to Tom Endy who replaced the injured Mark Robinson and Tom Walters and Lee Weir who replaced the injured Julien Wright and Darren Dickens. Jake Keetley returned from injury to replace the suspended Simon Martin.

Defending the slope, Linby started where they left off against Wollaton. Strong in the tackle, crisp passing and with youthful pace upfront, Linby made all the early running. Nick Davies was posing a threat down the left and he sprung the Cavaliers offside trap to send both Lee Weir and Tom Walters free. Weir made it first to the ball and as he bore down on goal he could only manage to strike the ball straight at the advancing Martt in the Cavaliers goal. Linby probably came closest to scoring after 20 minutes when Pete Campbell met a low Jonty Bradshaw corner at the near post. Andrew Danlylszyn stopped his first goal bound effort on the line and his follow up shot was deemed by many to have struck the same players’ hand. The referee gave nothing and Campbell’s third attempt was blocked and gratefully grasped by Martt. Pete Campbell again went close from a Jonty Bradshaw free kick. This time Nick Davies cleverly stepped over the ball and it ran through to Campbell who took a touch before firing low toward goal. From nowhere the Cavaliers left back managed to block the ball away to safety. Another shout for a penalty was waived away in the 40th minute when Tom Walters challenged for a high ball with ‘keeper Martt. Walters headed the ball goal wards and as he and the ball headed towards goal, Martt’s follow through took out the young striker. Adding insult to injury, Tom Walters had to be replaced by Ash Keetley as a result of the clash. As the half drew to a close, Cavaliers forced a few corners and Chris Joseph tested Craig Lear with a dipping free kick from the right. HT 0-0

Attacking the shed end, Linby continued in the same vein. With the returning Jake Keetley and Pete Campbell controlling the midfield and Nick Davies and Jonty Bradshaw posing threats down the wings, surely the deadlock would be broken. Nick Davies nearly did so after 60 minutes when after a jinking run down the middle his vicious shot hit Martt’s left hand upright and out for a goal kick. Jake Keetley then did well down the right to hit a high cross into the box that Pete Campbell narrowly headed wide and over. With Linby mounting pressure, the Cavaliers midfield resorted to spoiling tactics trying to halt any attacks. The home side were made to rue not turning their possession into goals as Cavaliers broke the deadlock. A long ball by Ben Simms evaded the Linby back line and Justin Evans managed to break free. Under pressure from Nathan George, Craig Lear was able to tip Evans’ goal bound effort wide and for a corner. From the resultant corner, Chris Joseph rose highest to send a powerful header into the Linby net. FT 0-1

A disappointing result in a game so dominated by the home side. Without a recognised 1st team striker, finding the net was always going to be difficult and it proved so. The side will have to pick itself up after a disappointing Bank Holiday weekend and hope to get back to winning ways against Keyworth on the 5th

Line-Up (4-4-2)

Lear/
Endy George Dilnot Hargreaves/
Bradshaw P.Campbell J.Keetley Davies/
Walters Weir

Subs:
A.Keetley (Walters 40)
Orridge (J.Keetley 80)
Logan Not Used

MOM: Campbell