STEPHENS SPORTING AGAINST OLD BOYS

Bosworth Dreaming

The Vets made the trip to Roundhill College, first game of the season and the WhatsApp group was filled with the normal “running late” and “not sure if they have changing rooms” but it was great to be back. Found wandering like a lost soul around the college grounds was a young referee looking for the pitch. The Director of Veterans Football aka Miami Vice escorted the lost referee pitch side with 40 fresh notes in his top pocket. Some may call this corruption or bribery but we call it care in the community, a personal touch.

The opposition manager advised the ref on his arrival that three of the lads need to wear a slightly different colour kit due to the new one not being the right size, if you’ve ever watched the BFG, they resembled Bonecruncher, Meatdripper and Fleshlumpeater on the pitch, quite intimidating for little Sophie but not for the Bozzy Boys. This was classic Vets stuff!

New Keeper Jim was on Wedding duty we were informed, so Eddy was looking to pull a rabbit out of the hat midweek, that rabbit was named Aaron Blackwell, an experienced goalkeeper and a coach at the club. The DoVF and Gaffer Eddy were listing names of potential targets midweek, misreading the WhatsApp exchange, DoVF advised Aaron is a Bee Keeper and Eddy read it as “Used to be a Keeper”… luckily both were true and thankfully Aaron turned up with his gloves rather than in his Bee Suit. A late Thursday announcement from Fabrizio Romano and the paperwork submitted ready for the weekend.

Fabrizio Announces Aaron Blackwell

A long list of absentees on an Eddy Poll is a banker but strength in depth means this season we can have a real chance of turning up with more than the bare 11 so a strong 15 made the trip down the A46.

The game got underway and it was apparent Sporting OB were looking to play direct and would try to ruffle a few Bosworth feathers but we played Bozzy Ball working the ball from back to front and through the lines making Sporting chase the ball. Bosworth missed chances in the first half, Hutch fired over, Carl forced a good save, Rich Canavan nearly scored from the half way line and Scott’s free-kick worried the keeper and he pushed it wide of his post. However some good football allowed Stephens to spin his marker and play in captain Scott who rounded the keeper 25 yards from goal and he ran the ball into the empty net. A melee followed after an accusation of cheating was thrown as the opposition defender told the linesman to put the flag up even though it was clearly onside. The goal was given and we were hoping Aaron had brought his fine water mist to calm things down.

Sporting went close a few times, clipping the top of the bar, it was clear that set pieces, long throws and balls into the box was going to be their strength and for the most part we dealt with it well. However enter “The Spoon”, big Rich Canavan mis-kicked a ball on the edge of his box, as the ball spun behind him and the striker pounced he made a superb recovery tackle to hook the ball away.

Our best chance to go 2-0 up came from almost a copy of the first, Stephens played in Daniel who tried to place the ball round the goalkeeper and he made a superb save 1v1. Going in 1-0 at Half-time with a relatively dominant performance meant it was just more of the same and not to get involved with the opposition who were trying to unsettle our play. Eddy made no changes which was a clear message of “more of the same please”.

Immediately from kick off it was clear the opposition had a game plan as they pinged the ball into the corner by our corner flag in the hope to pin us in. We were finding it hard to break them down but our best chances came from distance or crosses from Stu cutting back onto his left. The Gaffer made two tactical switches which worked almost instantly, Dave Bell came on at right back which allowed us to push Matt forward so he could run at their defence and it was a good sequence of play which put him through on goal and he calmly placed it past the goalkeeper. The second tactical switch saw Matt being replaced by Neil who went left wing with Daniel coming right and it quickly became 3-0 when Daniel rampaged down the right side and crossed for Neil to slide in at the far post to shouts of “Go On Nobby”.

Credit to Sporting Old Boys, they didn’t give up and made a formation change pushing bodies forward, this left them a little more open at the back and Bosworth were rubbing their hands together at the thought of more goals however for the next 10 minutes they were very much the team on top, long throws, corners and balls over the top caused problems for the back line of Matchett, Dicko, Canavan and Carl who had defended so well. Sporting pulled one goal back when a goal kick decision was changed by the referee to a corner, Bosworth failed to clear despite a scramble on the line and it was 3-1. It quickly became 3-2 when a long throw was cleared but fell to a player outside the box who hit a hopeful half volley which dropped in just under the bar.

The wind was very much in the Sporting sails and the Gaffer who was about to make changes before the goals went in had to have a rethink about how the rest of the game could play out. The opposition were using dark arts and any trick in the book to gain any advantage, standing on the toes of Stephens, blocking runs and pulling Scotty down when he was bursting through on goal near the half way line.

A few moments which changed the game, Sporting had a great chance to make it 3-3 when another long throw caused problems, Aaron managed to get across goal and push it round the post. Just moments later he made a good block with his feet. One end to the other, Bosworth were on the attack, the ball looked to be heading out of play but a scampering Scott just kept it in and played in Dave Bell who rounded the keeper and finished from close range to make it 4-2. Unfortunately Sporting picked up an injury late on as their defender had to bum shuffle off the pitch holding his hamstring by the Bosworth portable bench and Stephens was kind enough to signal to the empty opposition bench advising them make an enforced change, in fairness they had a great battle all game.

The game done and dusted, team stalwart Sammon entered the fray with Stu and Matt returning to the pitch after being substituted a little earlier. It could have been 5-2 when Scotty worked the ball across goal which was just out of reach for our attackers and whistled past the far post.

The game ended 4-2 and it was a good start for the Vets, apart from the nervy ten minutes when Sporting pulled two goals back, it was a solid performance. Well done to Aaron on his debut and potentially saving all three points at a crucial time and to the outfielders who looked really sharp all game. Special mentions to Jack and Carl who were industrious in their work and along with many up there for Player of the Match this week.

Player of the Match - Stephens

Assistant Manager Griff said after the game.

We took the 3 points, had a beer in their club house and had first dibs on the food. Everyone put a shift in and the substitutes attitude was just as important as the starting eleven which needs to be repeated each week. Special mention to Sammon who⁩ was even willing to miss playing as the game was tight for a short period so fair play and great team ethos. Player of the Match for me is difficult but going to say Stephens as he was kicked to bits all day but led the front line and did not react.

Hutch's Heat-Map (8.4km)

A weekly feature is Hutch’s heat-map, it may look like a toddler was let loose with a Crayon but he managed 8.4km this week. It would be good to have caught Griff’s heat-map as he was more active walking up and down the touchline this week than his previous game at left back against Grove Farm.

Well done lads, a good start to the season.