STEWARTBY VILLAGE 2 - 4 KINGS AFC

STEWARTBY HAVE SINCE DROPPED OUT THE LEAGUE AND SO THIS GAME IS NOW OFFICIALLY CLASSED AS A FRIENDLY FOR KINGS AFC STATS

Saturday 21st October 2006

Line-up: Sansom, Brodier, Loosemore, Fordham, Crane, Tomlin (B Whelan), Wilson, Sacbuker (Minty), Morgan (c), M Whelan, Clements (Barber)

Half time score: 1-3

Goalscorers: Clements (3), Tomlin

Booked: None

Kings went into this fixture against Stewartby off the back of a heartbreaking 4-2 defeat against Henlow reserves and were determined to get their season back on track. Matters were not helped by the absence of influential midfielders Adam Haywood and Mike Milner as well as the withdrawal of Richie Evans who wasn’t included in the 14 - a drama reminiscent of Ronaldo’s 1998 World Cup Final debacle.

The lack of midfield led to a rare change in the defensive unit with Fordham forging a partnership in the centre with Crane leaving Brodier and Loosemore at full-back. Wilson named himself in central midfield with Sacbuker and Tomlin and Whelan were named on the wings. Stand in Captain Lee Morgan was named up front with the devastating Nathan Clements.

The line-up had a balanced feel to it with Wilson offering much needed stability to the midfield and mass attacking promise down the flanks. Stewartby are considered a strong team by most observers but have been known to lack defensive discipline and attacking know-how, indicators that justify their inconsistent form thus far this season as well as in seasons gone by. Nevertheless, the talent in their line-up deserves respect and that is certainly what they got from Kings. On a hot afternoon the Kings would finally prevail over a self assured and competent Stewartby performance, though not without some difficulty.

The game couldn’t have got off to a better start with Kings playing some neat and tidy football. The early stages were a clear indication that the match was tipped hugely in Kings favour. The returning Mike Whelan was already terrorising former Kings apprentice Ben Norrish who was having a torrid time in marking the whippet. On the opposite flank the ever impressive Tomlin was attacking with gusto and drifting into the centre in an attempt to take advantage of Whelan’s wing play, a move that was to later prove very successful indeed.

It was the most sensational of beginnings as Clements, following a period of possession football, darted incisively towards the Stewartby goal latching onto a long Dave Sansom kick and helped the ball into the left hand corner of the onion bag for a dream start.

Stewartby laboured hard to contain and stifle their more imaginative opponents driven by Wilson and Sacbuker in midfield and had few attacks of their own in the game’s infancy. The attacks that did come were expertly dealt with by the imposing figure of Crane and the impressive Fordham who was having an inspired game in the centre of defence. The defensive unit was, as ever, complemented by the non-stop running of Daniel Brodier and the rock like presence of Mark Loosemore. Indeed, Loosemore was linking up with Tomlin on a regular basis down the left flank causing massive haemorrhages in the Stewartby defence.

Kings, with the extravagant skills of Clements, Whelan and Tomlin created a number of good chances in the fist half. Whelan, especially effective down the right hand side created a chance for Clements who burst into the penalty area on the left hand side only to see his effort ripple the side netting. Another run by Clements led to a big penalty shout which was tuned down flat by the whistle shy ref.

With Tomlin and Brodier linking on the left and the ball there for the taking, Brodier once again found himself on the end of another knock-out blow with blood this time pouring from his mouth. One would think that the close resemblance of Stewartby midfielder Acha and his Nigerian counterpart Samuel Peter was more than just a resemblance and the big man himself had actually landed the knock-out blow. With the whistle again failing to come and the ball loose, Sacbuker unleashed a drive that was tipped over expertly by the keeper for a corner.

With Brodier becoming more and more influential down the right hand side and forming a formidable link-up with the returning Whelan opportunities were there to be taken. It was a sensational cross from Brodier towards the direction of Clements and Tomlin who had again drifted into the centre and it was Tomlin that leapt highest to head the ball down brilliantly to the keepers left for the second goal and deny Clements a potential blockbuster left foot volley.

Now Stewartby attacked, forced to chase a game they instead had hoped to steal but in the 31st minute their new found ambition was punished and their plight, already desperate, became worse.

Clements raced onto a defence splitting through ball by Morgan as Stewartby’s concentration wavered fatally. The keeper again advanced and again was beaten comprehensively with a low shot first time into the bottom right hand corner for 3-0. The goal well and truly asserted Clements’ superiority over his marker, who had, up until this point done a reasonable job in containing his man.

Another run from Whelan, this time drifting into the centre, was sabotaged by Sacbuker who took another opportunity to shoot first time with his right foot from the edge of the area. With the ball destined for the net it struck the flailing arm of a Stewartby defender although in fairness there was little the defender could do to remove himself from the path of the ball.

Kings purple patch could not last and Stewartby slowly found themselves. Late in the first half a couple of attacks down the right hand side led to good chances that were thwarted by last ditch defending and safe hands by Sansom. Another attack down the left looked certain to lead to a goal but there is no such thing as a certain goal with Mark Loosemore in town. He tracked back magnificently to knock the ball out for a corner.

‘Salad’ was impressive in the Stewartby midfield and his presence only reminded Mistral and Sacbuker of the KFC they were cruelly denied by manager Wilson before the game on the way to the stadium.

A long kick forward by the Stewartby goalkeeper, led to the left winger, who posed a genuine threat with his pace running hard at Brodier who inexplicably and unusually let the ball bounce beyond him which left the winger with a clear run on goal. He made no mistake and buried the ball deep into Sansom’s net.

Once last incident of note occurred when Crane viciously scythed down the forward when bearing down on goal but the referee deemed it a fair challenge, a decision that was later verified by Minstral. Half-time came with Kings deservedly leading by three goals to one.

Until half time it had remained generally one-way traffic but there were signs of a mini comeback towards the end of the half by Stewartby. The second half began with Stewartby putting their foot down leading to another half of tortuous tension and fraying nerves for the Kings army of supporters on the sidelines. In reality however, the game was never out of control and the result never really in doubt.

Ben Norrish fired in from the edge of the area for a rare goal, made even more rare because of its right foot origins. He then proceeded to do a ‘Cantona’ style celebration to the delight of his team-mates but this only led to spur Kings onto one final push their supremacy demanded.

With Morgan looking hungry as he had only had the two kebabs the previous evening, a goal was looking difficult to come by. However, a tremendous piece of control by the captain set him up for a 25 yard volley which dipped and struck the cross bar. A great effort that richly deserved a goal. Morgan was later denied by last ditch defending and was eventually unlucky to not get on the score sheet.

Minstral replaced Sacbuker in the 63rd minute and was impressive for the remainder, breaking up the Stewartby midfield and passing in his usual assured nature. A further change saw Ben Whelan replace Marcus Tomlin. Whelan continued where he left off the previous week, performing to a high standard which gives manager Wilson the unenviable task of picking from an increasingly impressive squad.

Kings dictated the flow of the remainder of the fixture and the treat from Stewartby slowly evaporated. With Wilson now directing operations, the game was effectively over but there was more to come. A free kick from the edge of the area was crashed against the top of the bar by Clements. A suspicion, almost a dread lurked, could Stewartby, the artful dodger of Bedfordshire football pick the Kings’ pocket, steal a goal and restore parity. No.

A further Kings goal followed and it was none other than goal-shy Clements who headed in at the far post straight from a Whelan corner for his hat-trick to add to his impressive haul for the season. Shortly after completing his hat-trick Clements was replaced by Scott Barber who proved to be lively and indeed nearly netted for his first of the campaign. Barber’s commitment to the cause has not gone unnoticed and his involvement in the fist team is likely to continue given his impressive substitute performances in difficult conditions.

Kings, led by Morgan seized a triumph their collective talents deserved. The team so cruelly denied the previous week are back to winning ways and the team playing the right way were the winners. Kings now face a top of the table clash with league leaders Ickwell & Old Warden Reserves next Saturday.

Kings AFC Press Team

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