[JonInMiddleGA]

March 17, 2012 (morning)
Our U18s got a 2-1 away win over Dover, courtesy of an own goal in the 28th minute. Graeme Mockler had put us in front 1-0 at 15', they scored at 77'. Mostly trialists played in this one, only a few familiar names showed up as second half subs.

March 17, 2012 (afternoon)
Blyth (3rd, 20-5-9) vs Corby (8th, 15-6-13)

Another game against a team that beat us in the first meeting, a 2-1 loss at Corby in September. We didn't play well, particularly on the wings. They've got a threat up front in Sam Mullarkey (11 goals) but will be missing their other dangerous ST Andrew White (10 goals) due to injury. We need a win here against a good club, both Nuneaton & Histon are playing teams currently in/near the drop zone & are likely to get points. Corby are actually 5:4 favorites today, we're 7:4 on a drizzly 55 degree day. We'll be in a 4-4-2 Standard set.

Oh lookie ... Today's ref is Scott Duncan, who has handed out 202 yellow cards & 13 red cards in 33 games this season.

GK - Knight
D: Kendrick - Mellish - D'Laryea - Sinclair
MF: Phillips - Matondo - Vipond - Emms
F: Armstrong, Mole
(Available: Hooks, Slaughter, Groves, White, Hartley)

1:51 - We get a turnover in their end but Mole shoots high from the spot
6:40 - Kendrick with a throw-in to Armstrong deep & wide on the left ... he quickly crosses into the box for Mole ... header ... GOAL ! (1-0) Great start for sure
09:15 - Stimson with a quick pass to Mullarkey right in front ... he slides on & shoots ... Knight had no chance there (1-1) Just a nice pass by Stimson there
11:53 - Emms in-swinging corner misses everything & sails over the touch line
13:20 - Lob pass to Gorman in the box ... D'Laryea missed a tackle ... Gorman puts it past Knight (1-2)
24:41 - Mole from the arc with a pass to Phillips cutting into the area from the left ... dribbles in ... shoots ... GOAL ! (2-2) He sucked the keeper to him, took advantage of the angle & put it past
43:30 - Corby will have to replaced Delroy Gordon, he went down hard on a scrum in the box on a corner
45:00 - 3 mins of extra time ... 46:58 - Emms with hanging corner ... Mellish is there ... GOAL ! (3-2)

Halftime - Well that was certainly interesting. We've outshot them 11-2, had 62% poss, passing great, we've stayed out of foul trouble & the like ... and we only lead by one. "Things are going well but I know you're capable of even more". We'll continue to stand off & tackle cautiously for at least a while longer, we've avoided the customary cards so far, I'd like to keep it that way

56:00 - We defend two corners, they get a third and Mellish is there again ...
64:00 - Another corner, this time it's Knight who comes out & makes an acrobatic save, the best we've seen all season
68:08 - Mellish rushes out toward midfield, takes down Mullarkey on an aerial challenge & gets a yellow card for his troubles
77:55 - Emms with a pass ahead to Mole in space ... he's offside
Sub Groves for Sinclair (tiring), Sub Slaughter for Phillips (tiring) ... switch to Counter strategy
80:40 - Matondo finds Armstrong in the area ... he shoots wide
82:11 - A rebound leads to a Corby chance, Knight makes the save
87:30 - Slaughter gets a great shot on goal, saved & Corby launches a counterattack ... Towers comes into the midfield & he's dragged down by Vipond, that's a well earned yellow card
89:00 - Sub Hooks for Emms (Vipond to RMF) ... switch to Contain
91:20 - Groves fouls Gorman in the left channel ... that's a free kick ... Vipond heads it over the touchline ... Throw-in goes to the area, Hooks punts it out past the center line

Fulltime - Whew. 15-4 shot advantage, 61% poss., turned into a thriller. I remind the team not to get complacent, appeared to have stressed out most of our forwards, may have helped focus most of the rest of the first team.

Knight 6.9
Kendrick 6.8, Mellish 7.4 & 1 goal - D'Laryea 6.9, Sinclair 6.9
Phillips 7.4 & 1 goal, Matondo 6.9, Vipond 6.9, Emms 7.5 & 1 assist
Armstrong 6.8, Mole (MOM) 7.9 & 1 goal & 1 assist
Subs: Slaughter/Groves/Hooks all N/A

March 17, 2012 (post-match)

As expected Histon wins easily, 3-0, over Guiseley but 19th place Eastwood shocks Nuneaton 2:1. That leaves us tied with Histon in points & trailing in GD, Nuneaton slips to third. Bishop's Stortford & Droylsden are 10 points back of us, tied for 4th. Vauxhall is 6th, a point back of the tied duo, Hinckley is 7th and 3 back of a playoff spot

In the FA Trophy semi-finals, Gateshead goes through with a 7-5 aggregate win over Kettering. They'll face Luton who advanced with a 4-1 aggregate win over Fleetwood