Mens 1st Team Vs Wellingborough

Boots 3 v 7 Wellingborough

Scorers - Riki Wessels 2, James Cameron Williams 1

Our second game of the season had come at a time where a few of our defensive stalwarts were unavaiable and also had to contend with a blank week in the previous week but that didn't stop us turning up to the game in good spirits. Also, Notts cricketer, Riki Wessels was back and available to add his strength to the forward line.

The game started at a fast pace as we expected and we matched the opposition but it was Wellingborough who got the first early chances of the game, but good defensive work kept the score at 0-0. Boots went forward and direct and won their first short corner and the keeper made a good save from Lukasz flick and the rebound fell to one of trusted forwards who decided to play a 'pass and receive' game with the keeper, which eventually was cleared and Wellingborough went straight up the other end to take a 1-0 lead. That improved their confidence and they continued to counter us and create chances and inevitably took a 2-0 lead. Couple of substitutions and positional changes later, Boots began to show their strength and got a goal back through Riki Wessels, with a textbook hockey goal, which I'm sure would of aroused any Level 3 coach! However, it doesn't make a difference if you let the opposition go and score again afterwards, which is what we did. But our heads didn't drop and we created chances (hitting the keeper again!) and once again another one of our stalwarts (Fonts) had to show us how its done and lift it over the keeper and we're back in the game. 3-2 down at half time. 

We approached the second half knowing if we scored first, it would be our game for the taking, but we didn't, Wellingborough did and again we decided to try and make it difficult for ourselves. We continued to search for the goal (in the same place, never had moved) but again it was Wellingborough who got the break-away goal to make it 4-2. It was the Sikh Union game all over again as once again we got back into the game, only to let the opposition score. Wellingborough scored again as they played it round with us ease but it didn't stop us running (into other players Riki!!) and a direct ball into the circle was deflected into the goal by Riki to grab his 2nd of the game. At 5-3 we still created chances, the keeper saving low from a Manny drag flick and Riki missing at the near post (jug avoidance!) but Wellingborough and credit to them continued to look dangerous when they went forward and Boots were realising time was running out.

A lot to improve on but still early days...onto Loughborough Town this week! Skipper Bowerman knows them all. 

Boots Mens 1s are sponsored by Slumdog and H3 Performance and we thank them for their continued support.