KINGS AFC 8 - 1 MARSH LEYS

Wednesday 30th August 2006

Line-up: Sansom, Fordham, B Whelan (Richardson), Wilson, Crane, Milner, Paul Hatton (c), Evans (Minty), Tomlin, Clements, Morgan (Farmer)

Half time score: 3-0

Goalscorers: Clements (Four!), Morgan, Tomlin, Milner, Minty

Booked: None

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The second league game of the season saw Kings face last season’s strugglers Marsh leys who, from first glances, appeared to have completely revamped their squad, leading to a feeling of apprehension in the Kings locker room.

Manager Wilson named a fourteen man squad on Tuesday which included experienced midfield man Mike Milner of whom big things are expected this season. Wilson and Assistant Manager Lee Morgan named the team shortly before kick off which included few surprises following the Kings’ successful first outing the previous Saturday which saw them dispatch Sandy A by four goals to one.

Dave Sansom began between the sticks with the back four made up of Fordham on the right, Ben Whelan on the left and Wilson and Crane in the centre. With Wilson retaining a successful 4-4-2 formation the midfield quartet were made up of late summer signing Richie Evans on the right, the ever impressive Paul Hatton accompanied by Mike Milner in the centre and livewire Marcus Tomlin on the left. The forward line, also unchanged, consisted of Morgan and the Kings’ very own assassin Nathan Clements.

With Hatton captaining the side in the absence of Haywood the side started as they were to continue for much of the night. Hatton’s bite in the centre of midfield was perfectly accompanied by the intelligence of Milner and Morgan who was dropping into midfield areas and the pace and skill of wingers Tomlin and Evans.

The early exchanges were a fairly even affair with both sides having opportunities to score. The new Marsh Leys set-up was impressive in midfield and it is quite clear they will have a far more successful season than tonight’s fixture would suggest. It wasn’t long however before Kings were threatening their opponents onion bag with a marauding run forward by Hatton which saw him fire into the goalkeepers hands from 10 yards and a 30 yard dipping volley from Tomlin setting the scene for a goal feast.

The first goal came after another run forward from Hatton who struck low to the keeper’s right which was saved well only for Clements to tap home the rebound following indecisiveness in the Marsh Leys defence. The goal was a simple finish for Clements and already his third of the campaign. His thoughts must now be fixed on the top marksman award which, it would appear, offers a generous financial reward.

It was at this point where Kings began to play some great flowing football with the defence rarely called into action and the midfield linking well with the forward line. Clements’ goal was quickly followed by a second from Morgan who half volleyed into the right-hand corner of the net following more indecisiveness in the Marsh Leys defensive unit. The finish was typical Morgan. Surprisingly quick reactions for such a big man, his tally for the season now reads as two from two.

Evans was now menacing more and more down the right hand flank and his aggressive play was visibly worrying his opponent who was struggling with the physical demands of Evans’ play. A cross wide from that side of the field from Morgan was met by Clements who leapt like a salmon to head home number three. This was a brilliantly worked goal, made even more special by the fact Clements out jumped two defenders twice his size.
Towards the end of the half Marsh Leys could have got themselves back into the tie with two clear runs on goal following a close off side call by the Kings back line but their finishing was poor and Sansom was proving very difficult to beat in the Kings goal. The half ended with Kings deservedly up by three goals to nothing.

Manager Wilson made no changes at half time and requested much of the same from his players.

Clements quickly completed his second hat-trick in two games with a well taken finish underneath the on-rushing goalkeeper who was beginning to loathe the sight of the strike sensation. The goal was supplied by the impressive Milner in the centre of the park who split the Marsh Leys defence in two.

Marsh Leys remained neat and tidy in midfield and showed glimpses of great skill in the final third but lacked a cutting edge. Their heads had visibly dropped and were throwing men forward in the hope of getting on the score-sheet which played into the hands of a rampant Kings side.

The second half saw Tomlin become more and more involved in proceedings and he was a clear stand out player. He was terrorising the poor right back who was no slouch but was continually left on the seat of his pants by the skill, energy and pace of the lad who was dually rewarded for his second half display by a brilliantly taken header at the far post following a cross field pass for Paul Hatton. The impressive Tomlin endeared himself to the Kings players and fans alike by his work rate which continually saw him track back and make vital tackles.

What followed was a contender for goal of the season. Not surprisingly it came from Clements who notched his fourth of the game and seventh of the season. The ball was floated over the top by substitute Farmer and his pace had put him in a dangerous position on the edge of the area where he proceeded to deftly flick the ball over the defenders head and wrong foot the goalkeeper with a strike into the left hand corner of the net from the edge of the area. The strike seemed like a cross between two wonderful goals, reminiscent of the magnificent Bergkamp goal for Holland vs. Argentina in the World Cup Quarter finals of 98 and the Euro 96 Paul Gascoigne strike when he scored one of the greatest goals this journalist has ever witnessed.

Milner continued, what was starting to look like a rout and struck low to the keepers right from 25 yards following a poor clearance from a traumatised defence. It was a goal richly deserved from Milner who had barely put a foot wrong all night and was possibly the most influential player on the pitch.

With the score at 7-0 the game was clearly over but another good goal was yet to be scored. This time however, it was not from a player in a white shirt. The goal was scored by the Marsh Leys forward who chased a ball over the top and struck the ball on the volley from the edge of the area into the top left hand corner of the net. It was a great strike and there was little Sansom could do but it was nevertheless a bitter blow for manager Wilson as well as the other Kings players who had desperately wanted to keep a clean sheet.

Gary Richardson had been bought on at left-back to replace the injured Whelan. It was a blow for Whelan who had impressed on the left hand side in the absence of Loosemore but his injury does not seem serious and he will soon be back in contention for a starting berth.

Marsh Leys continued to threaten and could have had a second when their right-winger was slotted in and when one on one with custodian Sansom fired low to the big mans right who stretched out and produced a magnificent one handed save to tip the ball past the post. It capped off a solid display from the keeper who obviously does not suffer from concentration problems.

Farmer who had been brought on for Morgan who had looked tired after a good second half display and Stuart Minty came on for Evans on the right hand side. It was Minty who grabbed the Kings’ eighth goal when he instinctively followed up a shot from Milner which the keeper fumbled into the path of the Mint who slotted home from eight yards. It was well finished and capped off a fine performance by the Kings’ boys.

This was a performance that will only enhance the reputation of Kings AFC. There was little wrong with the performance and with so many players still to come back in the future looks bright.

Kings AFC Press Team

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