Match reports on all
Nailsea United Reserve matches are provided by our Finance
Director "Dog".
The most recent game is
at the top.
Nailsea
United Res 1 - Imperial 1 (06/05/04)
Nailsea rounded off their campaign with a hard-fought
draw against an Imperial side who had a man sent off for
two bookings, and then saw their manager sent from the
dugout to the upper reaches of the John Hobbs stand. Mat
Vickers supplied the Nailsea goal.
Full Report to follow...
Nailsea United Res 2 - Frome
Town Res 4 (05/05/04)
Nailsea pulled a 2-0 deficit back to 2-2, but then conceded
2 late goals to slip to their second successive home defeat.
Full report to follow...
Nailsea
United Res 0 - St David EIG 2 (28/04/04)
Nailsea played at home to promotion hopefuls St David
EIG, with only one change from the weekend's victory,
Japanese returnee Barnyard Chin replacing captain Roberts,
out with multiple injuries, again.
Nailsea won the toss and opened against the elements
of wind and rain to make much of the early running, but
they failed to support their creative forwards with the
service they required, and found themselves facing a team
who were willing to play long ball with the wind behind
them.
The home team had a blatant penalty turned down when the
wandering Wring found himself chopped in the opposing
area to the dissatisfaction of the Nailsea firm. A treble
nut-meg from player of the year contender Vickers saw
him finish by planting the ball across the face of goal,
but a hesitant Ridge failed to pull the trigger and the
chance went begging. Within seconds Gordano had pulled
the trigger on the counter attack, and having raced down
the slope Clinton's powerful effort was met by the hands
of keeper Hollway, but unfortunately the wrists were not
strong enough, and the ball trickled into the net to put
the visitors one up.
Nailsea opened the second half as the dominant force
and threw everything at Gordano, but they were unable
to capitalise on any of their opportunities in what was
a tight game. Having not scored in the 30 minutes of constant
pressure, and having had yet another penalty appeal turned
down (that's 5 not given in the last 2 matches, and by
the same referee!!!), Gordano relieved the pressure when
Major found the Nailsea defence sleeping and scored a
well-taken header direct from a corner.
The home team lifted their heads and looked to the excellence
of Buxton, Ridge and Iles to conjure a miracle, but the
damage was done, and a whenever the ball fell, it landed
at a notorious foot.
As the players left the pitch on of the St. David's men
shouted "Stick that on your website" - he will
no doubt be pleased to see we have.
Jungle Jim's MOM verdict - Alex Parsons
Nailsea United
Res 5 - Banwell 1 (10/04/04)
With the first team calling upon reserve
team resources, management were forced to 'slice and dice'
the team changes, giving Davies his first Reserve team
start at the back, Horton his first appearance of the
season, and bringing Taylor off the medical slab ahead
of schedule, after he had scored both goals in the season's
earlier encounter at Banwell.
Some attendees on the day were dissappointed not to have
seen the long awaited return of Mills, of which has been
delayed once again due to more physio work being required.
Nailsea attacked up the slope in the
first half, but Banwell gave as good as they got, and
forced Nailsea to concede a number of corners. Both teams
countered on the break to serve up an end to end appetiser
in the first half, but neither team tested the keepers
on the zippy surface.
Nailsea looked sound at the back with Wring playing particularly
well, and it was his powerful forward run that led to
the opening goal. Wring managed to break through numerous
tackles before his low cross was not cleared effectively,
and Vickers creamed it clean on the volley
to put the home team ahead, as the ball fizzed into the
corner of the net. And that was half time.
Nailsea showed yet again that the second
half is where they play their best football, and within
minutes of the second half restart they were pulling the
visitors from side to side. A Parsons corner from the
left finished with the ball in the back of the net, with
2 Banwell players, Oatway and Parsons all with a fair
claim on the goal, but the officials on the day dubiously
named the goal-scorer as Parsons.
At this point the official saw his crazy-arms
come out as he set about booking several Banwell players
for their protests, and the visitors' frustration was
taken out on midfield maestro Taylor as he was kicked,
slapped, stamped and literally butchered in the box for
Nailsea to be awarded a penalty, which captain supremo
Roberts dispatched professionally.
More than ever the Nailsea midfield
of Taylor, Buxton and Horton started to play the football
that Reserve supporters are accustomed to, and from some
35 yards Buxton scored his first senior
goal direct from a free-kick to put Nailsea 4-0 ahead.
With midweek games now imminent Nailsea shuffled the pack,
and lost the stranglehold they had on the game by conceding
a needless goal. But there was still enough time on the
clock for the goal of the afternoon, and what could be
a contender for goal of the season, as James Taylor
picked the ball up on the edge of his area and pushed
forward. An instinctive dummy run from Cooke saw the defence
part, and Taylor ran the distance with defenders champing
at his ankles to spank the ball home with the old left
swinger to make the final score 5-1 to Nailsea. There
was just enough time in the game for Horton to plant a
few more of his spectacular tackles, and for Wring &
Davies to shine once more at the back.
Clevedon United Reserves 1 -
Nailsea United Reserves 1 (03/04/04)
United Reserves found themselves facing
their second derby in 8 days when they travelled to old
foes Clevedon Utd to play at Coleridge Vale.
Clevedon found themselves without a win
in six but took advantage of their home status by making
the early running, although it was not long until Nailsea
started to press-on themselves. The first half did not
amount to much due to the cross wind that kept the ball
out of play for long periods of the game, and was mostly
fought out with bone-crunching tackling from both sides
of the river Kenn.
Both sides had penalty claims turned
down by the official, and when it looked as though Nailsea
were starting to impose their passing football on the
game, Clevedon worked a neat short corner against a sleeping
Nailsea, and the resulting delivery was met with a glancing
header from Kinnock to give Clevedon the advantage at
half-time.
Substitutions were imminent after another
half-time rollocking from the Nailsea management, and
injury forced Parsons and Wring from the field, the latter
with concussion after a flying arm had caught him square
in the face, and Parsons with one leg less having been
blatantly floored by a horrific foul.
The resulting substitutions gave Nailsea a much needed
lift, with Barnard adding the bite in midfield that Nailsea
were looking for. The game had been scarred by the amount
of time the ball spent off the pitch, and the numerous
bookings that had been awarded in a needle game. With
10 minutes on the clock Nailsea totally realigned their
team, to great rewards. Taylor moved his passing ability
into midfield leaving Roberts & Andy Barnard to man
the defence in rock-like style. Taylor and Ridge set about
dominating the game from the centre of the park, whilst
utilising the pace of Buxton andGeorge on the flanks,
and Nailsea could afford to push another player up front.
The game moved into a lengthy period
of injury time, and turned on a couple of decisions. Firstly
the Clevedon captain was shown his second yellow card
for raising his arms in a 20 man handbag slinging show,
and moments later tempers boiled again when Nailsea young-gun
Oatway was stamped on, leaving the referee with no choice
but to send another Clevedon player for an early electrical
shower.
So, in the 14th minute of injury time a deep Buxton cross
was kept in and hooked back by débutante Driver,
and it was Oatway who bravely nestled the ball into the
back of the net for the deserved equaliser and his goal-bonus.
Surprisingly this was a rather sluggish
show from Nailsea going forward, not their usual cultural
grace at all, but this was Nailsea defending at their
best in the second half and a never-say-die attitude that
has served them well in recent encounters.
Next up, Banwell at Home.
Nailsea United
Reserves 1 - Churchill Club 70 0 (27/3/04)
Nailsea faced local opposition Churchill
on home turf wanting to put their two consecutive defeats
behind them, with Oatway in up front being the only change
from the line-up that faced Frome Town.
United attacked down the slope in the
first half and came out of the blocks with a hunger and
desire to grasp this game by the neck from the off. Nailsea
won a couple of early corners and were unlucky not to
go one up when Taylor Junior headed directly at the keeper.
Nailsea kept Churnchill pressed in their own half with
Wring and Roberts defensively dominant in the air, whilst
Taylor and Ridge set about orchestrating the moves down
the middle.
Nailsea really needed the early goal,
and when it didn't come Churchill started to play their
own football and pushed into Nailsea's half to win their
own share of corners and free-kicks, but they could do
no better, and it was these set-pieces that allowed Nailsea
to counter through the acceleration of Parsons and Buxton.
Nailsea again looked the better team when the pacey duo
tore through the Churchill defence, but the closest efforts
of the half came from Ridge, as he dragged one shot wide
from some 20 yards and clipped the stantion with another.
However, both teams had to go in level and goal-less
The second half was much like the first,
Nailsea looking to play the better football, but both
teams winning their share of corners and free-kicks whilst
neither attack able to penetrate the defence., Nailsea
had to resort to a couple of long-range efforts, again
from Ridge, with one from some 30 yards shaving the post
having beaten the keeper.
On the hour a quick one-two from Churchill
saw Hague sprint clear of the Nailsea defence, but his
astute effort found Williams at full stretch to push the
shot wide, and United were indebted to their in form keeper
for the clean sheet.
This appeared to wake Nailsea who set
about Churchill with attack after attack, and from a powerful
Buxton cross from the right a diving Oatway just fail
by inches to make contact with his head at the back post.
Nailsea were playing some b-e-a-u-tiful football across
the park, inspired by Ridge and frontman Vickers, but
Nailsea failed to turn this dominance into shots on goal.
The Nailsea management then pushed on
Barnard, Iles and débutante Cooke to add steel
and further attacking options as they pushed to collect
all three points. With only five minutes on the clock
play passed down the left flank to Ridge, who cut into
the box to the goal-line, from where his fine cross to
the back post was met by super-sub Iles,
who headed home with real 'beef' to give the home side
the win.
Moments later Nailsea should have made
it two when substitute Cooke used his pace to race clear
of the away defence, but was shielded away from goal by
the keeper to deny him a debut goal. This left Nailsea
to see out the final minutes with some astute tackling,
with 'chopper Barnard' coming out with the finest......
"how's about them apples?"
Next match, Clevedon Utd at Coleridge
Vale, bring your moulders.
Frome Town Reserves 3 - Nailsea
United 0 (23/3/04)
Nailsea went a long way to Frome to come away with no
points and a 3-0 defeat, but still managed to play some
of their best football of the season.
The pitch had 10 minutes of pre-match rain to add a nice
slickness to the games passing, and Nailsea came out of
the blocks at a rate of knots, trying to resurrect the
defeat by Welsh neighbours Portishead on the weekend.
Nailsea made all the early running with the young Cogan
& Vickers combining well up front, and kept the tempo
upbeat to unsettle the home side. However, after 20 minutes
of pressure Nailsea had not been able to trouble the Frome
Town keeper, and the home side found time in the middle
of the park to dissect the Nailsea defence on the right
hand side, from where Webber hit an early shot from the
corner of the box for what must be a goal of the season
contender.
With Nailsea having been on top until this point, the
setback did not disrupt them and they found themselves
with the perfect chance to pull level when Cogan raced
free through on goal, but his tame effort rolled wide,
to the disappointment of the faithful travelling Nailsea
fans.
Frome Town again found time to get the ball behind the
Nailsea defence, and a Taylor slip let Frome in, as a
dragback from Badger found Dino who finished with a deft
touch into the bottom corner.
This hit Nailsea hard, and they conceded a third just
minutes later, with Frome again getting in behind them,
and a low hard cross saw Glover beat Roberts to the ball,
and steer the ball home first time. 3-0 at the break.
Nailsea came out in the second half much as they did
in the first. The majority of Nailsea's play was coming
through the inspirational Ridge, who partnered by Sayers
managed to build attack after attack.
Roberts & Wring shored up the Nailsea defence, having
pushed Taylor into midfield, and Nailsea were dominant.
Buxton and Parsons worked tirelessly on the wings, and
Buxton's crosses married with Ridge's freekicks seem to
pin Frome back against their will for long periods of
play, plus hard work from living legend Cogan meant Nailsea
were firing on all cylinders.
Despite the pressure Nailsea couldn't find a goal, so
with a final throw of the dice manager Brace made his
substitutions, Pete Barnard was nothing short of excellent
at the back and Oatway went at them like a fog for a hare,
but still Nailsea did not score. Efforts from Vickers,
Cogan, two from Oatway, Buxton, freekicks from Ridge and
a header from Wring could not steal a goal, and Nailsea
had to drive home having lost 3-0 at Badgers Hill.
This was a lesson in finishing, and proved how defensive
frailties can give the team an uphill battle.
Nailsea'a chance to put the two recent losses behind them
is this Saturday at home to Churchill, where the mud is
sure to hit the ceiling.
Nailsea United Reserves 0 -
Portishead Reserves 2 (20/03/04)
Having beaten Portishead on their own turf over Christmas,
it was the turn of the Welsh to put one over their English
neighbours Nailsea at the Stade de Grove.
Nailsea started the game going up the slope with the gale
force wind at their backs, but it was their Portishead
counterparts who started the brighter playing into the
wind and keeping hold of the ball effectively. They broke
down the Nailsea midfield and backline by getting down
the line behind the defence on a couple of occasions,
and some slack tackling allowed their winger to get to
the goal line before his drag-back to Matt Brynwyth resulted
in the winger planting the ball home, with Nailsea guilty
of some woeful marking, not for the first time.
Unbelievably the early goal did not kick-start Nailsea
and the Portishead midfield of Senior and Delyth were
certainly getting the better of Nailsea. Some atrocious
tackling from Nailsea led to a Portishead counter-attack,
and a tame shot from Huelwyn somehow beat the keeper with
very little pace.
Nailsea did wake at this point and managed to construct
a few attacks, but the Posset keeper Bobby Gould Jnr found
himself on top of his game to save bravely from a Vickers
strike.
Nailsea went in for half-time, unfortunately their manager
only had 3 subs seeing as half a dozen warranted the drag.
In the end Brace opted for just one change, as the lively
Buxton came off the bench.
The home team finally started to play the football we
are accustomed to, and the strike partnership of Mark
and Vickers served to disjoint the Welsh defence. By this
point the Nailsea engine room was working overtime with
Sayers, Buxton and the powerful Ridge now getting the
better of the opposition, and the defence of Roberts,
Taylor and Wring as effective as ever, but Nailsea failed
to find the creativity to break down the Portishead defence.
The final 10 minutes saw some fine wing play from Parsons
providing crosses on occasions, but the same couldn't
be said about the right flank, and Nailsea failed to break
the net when both Mark and Vickers had fine efforts saved
by the in-form Posset custodian.
On the day, the better team won.
Langford Rovers 2 - Nailsea
United Reserves 4 (13/3/04)
Nailsea were on the road yet again, desperate
to find a win having drawn too much in recent weeks, and
found themselves at Langford Rovers, who were bottom of
the table, but it is lowly opposition like this that the
Reserves tend to falter at.
There were two changes from the previous
week's trip to Somerton, A.Barnard was in at right back,
and Iles was in at right midfield. Previous right-winger
Mark James had surprisingly been sold in the week for
the price of two cones and a green training bib to Winscombe.
Nailsea were overwhelmed with the good price Mark fetched,
and congratulations have to go to Manager Brace who negotiated
the deal.
Nailsea started the game against the
windy conditions and took 10 minutes to settle, during
which time the Nailsea backline had to call upon custodian
Williams to pull out an early save to keep the score at
nil nil.
After a shaky opening the away team started to get hold
of the game, and used the ball well to spread the play
quicker than the Langford 11 could move and they were
regularly penetrating the home defence with some fine
imaginative play. On 15 minutes Captain Roberts won a
hard fought challenge on the halfway line, and followed
this by knocking a quick slide-rule pass for the youngster
Vickers to run on to, and within two
touches he had drilled the ball into the corner of the
net with his left peg to open the scoring.
Minutes later Roberts featured again
when he converted a penalty to double Nailsea's lead,
after Iles' feet were too quick for the defence to contend
with and he had been dragged down in the box.
Nailsea were dominant at this point, and both Oatway and
Iles had chances to increase the scoreline, before Iles
was set free and finished neatly when one on one with
the Langford keeper to make it 3-0.
The Nailsea backline was holding firm on the rare occasions
the home team broke free, but minutes before half-time
a lack of communication between Taylor and Williams saw
Thatcher squeeze between them to finish
into an empty net. The half-time whistle blew with the
score 3-1 to Nailsea.
After stiff words from the management
at half-time Nailsea were out to put this game beyond
doubt, and within minutes Oatway had
raced onto a longball clearance from midfield-maestro
Sayers, and the young eagle scored for the second time
in two games to post Nailsea's fourth.
The scoreline might suggest Nailsea were then content
with four, but that could not be further from the truth.
Nailsea were rampant in attack and could have had more
with the keeper saving well from two Johnny Mark efforts,
substitutes Rooney and Pete Barnard went close, and Vickers'
effort squirmed under the home keeper, only to somehow
crawl wide.
Nailsea continued to show why they are the division's
most feared defence, Wring and Roberts powerful in the
air, and Taylor so quick to read the game unfold behind
them, and they stood strong with young hopeful Adam Barnard
shining throughout. The pace of Parsons on the counter
proved even more valuable than usual with the sale of
Mark James having been finalised, and Parsons himself
was unlucky not to score direct from a corner having judged
the wind to perfection.
However, with the clock running down Langford managed
to score a second, when a hit and hope cross found Langford
midfielder Regan to head home unchallenged.
Langford Rovers 2, Nailsea United
4
Hats have to go off to the young United
side who came away with 3 pts from what was a very cagey
ground. Next stop, a HOME fixture to local rivals Portishead.
Somerton 1 - Nailsea United Reserves
1(6/3/04)
Having
not played for a month, Nailsea Utd Reserves made the
lengthy trip to the depths of Somerton, for what was going
to be a mid-table clash, with both teams still having
realistic chances of a late promotion bid.
Having won the toss, Nailsea kicked up
the slope into the wind, and the game wasn't much more
than end-to-end long ball, with Nailsea's defence content
to clear their lines and Somerton trying to take advantage
of the wind. It took a full 15minutes until the first
chance of the game was created, when Sayers released James
down the right, and his drag-back allowed Mark to cross
first-time only for Vickers to blaze over with a left
footed volley.
This seemed to wake Somerton who then
went about attacking Nailsea down their left flank, only
to be thwarted by Parsons and the powerful Neil Wring.
Somerton won half a dozen corners in the space of 10 minutes,
but Nailsea held their ground well, and keeper Williams
was on top form to push one effort over the bar when called
on.
With Sayers dominant in the centre of the park, Johnny
Mark was able to push on and start pulling some strings,
and finally Nailsea played the football that we know they
are capable of. The ball started to spray from side to
side and Somerton looked edgy, getting men behind the
ball, and some entrepreneurial work from James on the
right led to the Somerton keeper flapping in the air,
and as the ball dropped the predatory Oatway was there
to see the ball home, 1-0 to Nailsea.
Only 5 minutes remained on the clock until half-time,
and the solid centre-back pairing of Roberts & Taylor
held firm, although with seconds remaining a 20 yard effort
saw keeper Williams fling his body across goal to turn
a fine effort wide.
The second half kicked off with the elements
in Nailsea's favour, and from the off the young charges
applied the pressure with Parsons and James curling ball
after ball into the box. Within minutes it was James's
entrepreneurial long throw that allowed Vickers to break
free, but his delicate lob over the keeper was carried
fractionally over by the wind, spuring the chance to double
Nailsea's lead.
This led to further chances for the dominant Nailsea,
as John Mark drilled a 30-yarder inches over, and the
same player was later denied during a goalmouth scramble
by the never-say-die attitude of the home defence.
Having not sewn the game up, it was Nailsea's
turn to face a tirade from the Somerton players, and the
Nailsea backline of Barnard, Roberts, Taylor and Wring
had to be on top form to prevent them from penetrating
the box. When they were allowed in the area some very
timely tackles from Barnard and Captain Roberts emphasised
Nailsea's robustness, and when it looked almost certain
that the home team would score, keeper Williams pulled
a save out of the top drawer to keep Nailsea's advantage
intact.
As Somerton tired the game appeared
over, but with 2 minutes on the clock Taylor failed to
deal with a drop-kick from the keeper, and this saw the
Somerton forward race free, and under the challenge of
the centreback pairing his effort creeped into the net
to pull the scores level.1-1.
Nailsea pushed one last time, and after
the sparkling Vickers was up-ended on the edge of the
box, John Mark tamely fired the free-kick into the wall,
and two points had been dropped.
The performance of Williams in goal deserved
a cleansheet, but Nailsea had to settle for a point.
Next Stop, Langford Rovers away.
Churchill Club 70 2 - Nailsea
United Reserves 2
Nailsea travelled to local rivals Churchill
in buoyant mood, having gone 5 unbeaten and facing lowly
opposition. The official word before hitting the road
was that the pitch was "a bit sticky".
On arrival the pitch looked as bad as ever, and felt worse
with the 70mm of rain that had fallen the night before.
The referee had unbelievably given the game the go-ahead,
so Nailsea kicked off going up the slight slope and the
wind blowing from left to right at a recorded speed of
67mph, 7mph above the national speed limit, and how Churchill
need those 3pts that would accompany such a fine, being
sat 2nd to bottom in the 2nd division table.
Nailsea started the brighter and the
first half was mostly played on the right hand side of
the pitch, and in the carpark & bushes that adjoined
it, with Iles and Mark James making most of the early
running and supplying neat passes to the ever tireless
Vickers upfront.
Vickers had one effort cleared off the line, but then
Nailsea's early dominance paid dividend when Vickers,
again, ran onto Simon Taylor's telepathic-like throughball,
and when one on one with the keeper he found the composure
to chip the ball over the keeper to put United one up
to the chorus of the carpark horns & flashing lights.
Nailsea decided to sit on this lead and
Churchill then applied the pressure. Nailsea's re-jigged
defence struggled with the skid of the pitch and the ferocious
wind that followed, and it wasn't long until they were
forced to concede a freekick on the edge of the penalty
area, of which was duly converted with the assistance
of the wicked wind.
Not long later Nailsea found themselves
a goal behind when more disarray and bad communication
in the defence led to a player not being closed down quick
enough, and the Churchill forward scored from a tight
angle. It was clear that Nailsea desperately missed defender
James Taylor, who had injured his shoulder in a wrestling
incident days before the match.
Having given the pitch a good half-time
inspection the referee decided to continue the game, of
which was now being played in not much more than a bog.
Nailsea dominated the running for the
whole of the second half, with Faro Island keeper Paul
Williams not touching the ball once!
Fresh legs were injected with Buxton coming off the bench,
and this served to revive the young & pacey midfield
of Parsons & James wide, and anchors Sayers &
Rooney tidied up the pieces.
Wring was now excelling in defence and pushing on to support
the midfield, and fellow centrebacks Roberts & Barnard
simply swept up the pieces at the back.
This was more like the Nailsea that has
struck fear into fellow teams in recent weeks and they
really started to get hold of the ball and spread it about
the pitch and give the forwards the support they're truly
due, and the second substitution of Oatway really gave
the attacks new movement and innovation, and with only
5minutes on the clock goalmouth predator Simon Taylor
wiggled his way through a clustered defence to run onto
a defensive error and managed to pull the tie level with
a calm finish.
The game now started to turn ugly, and
a 14man handbag slanging match soon followed, with the
Nailsea firm's voice in true circus chorus from the touchline!
The resulting Nailsea freekick led to Oatway looking to
fire in the winner, but unfortunately his effort lacked
power and was cleared from the line in the dieing seconds.
This was 2pts dropped for Nailsea, but
it must be understood that the conditions were appalling,
and as they walked into the dressing rooms another spat
erupted, with half the Nailsea team finding themselves
in the Churchill dressing room for more handbags at 5
paces.
The return leg this season at The Grove
will be looked forward to by many a reserve team player.
Entertainment: 3
Atmosphere: 6
MoM: Matthew Vickers
Next fixture: Combe St Nicolas at Home
News: James Taylor expected to be fit, Stuart Roberts
starts 7day ban, Rich Lucas is cup tied for the First's
cup match, and expected to play for the reserves, Johnny
Mark a possible return.
Dundry Athletic 1 - Nailsea
United Reserves 1
In-form Nailsea travelled to the dizzy
heights of Dundry for this sticky away fixture.
The game kicked off with a strong cross
wind and a slight slope in what was very sticky conditions.
Within minutes the Nailsea backline let the Dundry forward
slip through, only for him to put his effort wide after
Williams had made himself big in goal.
The conditions were making the game very
frantic, so with both teams clearing their lines ASAP,
the game was racing from end to end, with Nailsea's best
chances coming from the fine creativity of Buxton, James,
and inform goalscorer Vickers.
By half time both defences were winning
this game, but the kick and rush football was serving
nothing for the forwards to play off, and much of the
game was spent in both goalkeepers hands, with undoubtedly
the Division's best defensive partnership of Roberts &
Taylor as good ever in the Nailsea stronghold.
The second half saw Nailsea push as hard
as possible, with a double strike from custodian Simon
Taylor being saved within seconds of each other, and then
a crossed freekick from Mark James rolled across the goal-line
crying-out to be poached.
In one of only a few occasions that the
game was in the Nailsea half, Dundry capitalised on an
individual error by Nailsea, and duly scored to put themselves
one up with 15minutes to go.
Manager Brace threw caution to the wind
and pushed on attacking substitutes Smithson, Parsons
and Watts in search of the equaliser, and it looked like
it had paid dividends when the substitutes combined to
set Vickers free only to see him brought down but the
referee kept his whistle down and called 'play-on'.
Nailsea had not come away from Dundry
with any kind of result for a number of years, and the
new breed of young charges were adamant they were not
going to continue this record, and with 90minutes up on
the clock, Nailsea threw everyone but the keeper forward
for one final freekick. Al Parsons whipped the ball in
Beckham-like-style and it was met by the young Matt Rooney
as he leapt through the air to bury a Gullit-like-header.
Dundry 1, Nailsea Utd 1.
The final whistle shortly followed to
the away supporters singing "Rooney, Rooney, Rooooooney".
A weekend off now for Nailsea, with a
local derby away to Churchill on the 31st to follow. Hopefully
the high standard of service to the forwards will return
for this fixture.
Nailsea went 2nd in the form table thanks
to a couragous result against 3rd placed Glastonbury at
the Grove de Stade.
With regulars Wring, Parsons & Cogan
all out, this was going to prove to be a tough game, and
it kicked off with Nailsea heading down the slope against
a brutal Glastonbury line-up, although regulars David
Gray, Moby and Electric 6 were no-where to be seen?
With a 4-4-2 formation in place it wasnt
long until Nailsea started to use their width to damage
the Glastonbury full-backs with both Jamesie & Maggot
in magistical style, and 3 corners were forced in rapid
succession.
The 3rd corner found Roberts with the ball at feet some
30yards out, and a fine diagonal ball found corner-taker
James at the by-line, and a fine dragback saw Vickers
score early against a stunned Glastonbury defence.
Nailsea kept up this pressure for the full 45minutes,
and it was very rare to see the Nailsea defence pushed
back. On the one occasion it was, it found debutant Adam
Barnard clearing well, and the price he paid was a swift
head-butt from the Glastonbury forward, and it was to
no surprise the referee had missed it.
Nailsea were unlucky to go in at halftime only one up,
with vickers & taylor forming a mind-reading partnership
upfront.
The second half saw Nailsea come out
of the blocks quicker than Ben Johnson, with the midfield
quartet of James, Maggot, Sayers & Rooney playing
keep-ball for fun, and the rewards were reaked when a
fine cross from James was flicked on by Taylor and the
young Vickers smashed the ball home into th top of the
net from close range to get the day's brace.
Glastonbury now went all-out-attack, but the finely tuned
Nailsea defence of James Taylor, Captain Supremo Roberts,
and the Barnard brothers kept them at bay, and when called
upon the forever oustanding Williams was there to sweep
up in goal.
Nailsea were now pulling all the strings
and it was to no surprise when Simon Taylor notched his
9th of the season to put them 3 up. Nailsea created more
chances but failed to capitalise, and then, to the surpise
of the crowd, Glastonbury scored on the counter-attack.
Nailsea then seemed to be content with the 3-1 result,
and did their upmost to wind the clock down, and the Galstonbury
players up! Substitutions were made with Smithson, Watts
& Buxton all coming on to fit-in extremely well, and
again, winding up the catches of the day, and Glastonbury
were certainly biting.....
The final whistle blew to a chorus of
"Enjoy your drive, down the M5" and the Nailsea
charges headed to the changing rooms.
That result pushed Nailsea to 8th, and only 4pts off 3rd
spot in what appears to be an interesting league table.
Next week sees them visit Dundry where they have had snow
for the past 3mths so rumours have it, so this could be
a cold won, willy-warmers-a-must.
