SAL - 26th October 2002

A harsh scoreline, but fair to say that Nottsborough deserved the points from this competitive and very entertaining match.  After a convincing win the previous week, Carshalton were keen to continue their progress.  However Nottsborough started the game brighter with good passing and movement off the ball.  This pattern continued for 15 minutes by which point we found ourselves 1-0 down.  Although it was a good move ending with a cross and header, we made it easier for them by not closing the ball down and leaving a man at the far post for a free header.  However we did rally after this and came into the game a little more.  We had two good chances that went begging; one which rolled across their goalmouth, screaming out for a touch and missing by inches, and a second following some great work down the right wing resulted in a header being put wide. 1-0 down at half time but definitely still in the game. 

Half time optimism soon evaporated as five minutes into the second half Nottsborough got their second via a handling error and a nice rebound from the post.  The uphill task suddenly got steeper, but spirit is good within the team and again we rallied and after five minutes we had pulled one back - Matt Wigham with a deft header at the near post following a Keith Cave free kick.  For the next 20 minutes we had the our best spell, pinning Nottsborough in to their half.  Two chances in particular spring to mind, another touch from Matt Wigham that was parried into the side netting, and a fabulous volleyed pass by Keith Cave which Dave Leach ran onto and shot fiercely across the face of the goal and just wide.  With 10 minutes to go Nottsborough counter-attacked at pace and a good finish from 20 yards left us dead and buried.  The Nottsborough fourth, another good finish, came in the dying minutes as we continued to press in search of something from the game. 

We still have some work to do to raise our standards, but we have the players to do so and the squad will be further enhanced by players returning from injuries and work commitments.  Costas should also have completed his filming of "Holidays To Take During The Football Season" series, although he still has one day's filming left of "Former Footballer's Weddings". 

I would just like to remind everyone that training is from 19:15 every Tuesday. Open to anyone in the club, players with first team aspirations should be there.

Paul Gunter