KINGS AFC 3 - 4 ICKWELL & OLD WARDEN RESERVES

Saturday 28th October 2006

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

Half time score: 1-3

Goalscorers: Clements (2), Whelan

Booked: None

Coming off the back of another successful weekend having beating Stewartby Village with a great team performance King’s next opponent were top of the table Ickwell & Old Warden, a team without a loss this season.

The Kings squad was one of the strongest available so far this season, and hopes were high. Sansom taking the goalkeeper position with back line made up of Loosemore, Wilson, one of last weeks most impressive performers Matt Fordham and Dan Brodier. A strong midfield made up of Tomlin, Sacbuker, Haywood and Michael Whelan. And the devastating strike pair of Morgan and Clements, a partnership that had already scored 15 goals between them this season.

The game began with Kings playing against the wind and the slope as the visitors started well and played the ball around smoothly and making as much of a nuisance of themselves as they could. Despite every effort from Ickwell they couldn’t stop the quick and nimble Whelan who surged through the defence after being set loose by a great through ball from Morgan. Whelan took the ball right to the keeper before slotting it passed him into the net to give Kings the opening goal. This came slightly against the run of play, but a welcome goal on the break none the less.

Top of the table can still concede it seems! And Kings continued their record of having scored in all of their 11 matches so far this season. The next few minutes were a struggle for Kings as they tried to protect their advantage from a fitter and perhaps more imaginative opposition, it wasn’t long till the two teams were on level terms again, a controversial goal brought the teams back on terms. An Ickwell player in an offside position was noted by the ref who to the shock of the Kings side decided to let play continue for Kings to take their advantage, the advantage didn’t really come and Ickwell retained possession and scored. A furious Sansom made his point clear to the young referee who let the goal stand, to the disappointment of the Kings supporters.

An upsetting way to concede for Kings who felt cheated on their own turf, still there was a good half hour still left to play in the half and Kings continued to push forward to get a goal back to make up for the injustice. Ickwell realised that their attackers were quicker than the King’s defence and took full advantage by continuing to kick the ball over the top hoping their attack would produce something. Despite a few offside decisions and Sansom coming quickly out to take charge of the over hit balls Ickwell did achieve success with this primitive style of football. A long ball forward was met by an Ickwell forward who looked offside but the honest Minty kept his fag down and the attacker slotted the ball past Sansom.

From being in the lead Kings now found themselves on the back foot and were slowly being muscled out of the game. Poor Clements who had such little support did try and make something out of nothing and both Tomlin and Whelan made a few of their trademark runs but to no avail. Despite all their efforts, Ickwell scored again in almost the same way to put themselves in a comfortable lead going into the break. Kings were struggling to retain possession, particularly in the midfield and the defence was looking slow and under prepared against a side who were used to playing long cross field balls for their quick and skilful forwards to make the most of.

Kings came off at half time disappointed and 3-1 down, and only some outstanding saves from Sansom had kept the game in sight. A few well chosen words from manager Wilson and assistant Morgan tried to give the Kings some spirit and belief that they could salvage something from the game.

From the off Kings started to play more of the football that’s fans have come to expect, something they perhaps forgot to do in the first half. Some good passing and movement starting from the competent Haywood and Sacbuker set the wingers loose to bombard the Ickwell defence with attack after attack but they were unable to pierce a stubborn back line.

A spell of attack for Ickwell resulted in their forth goal. An attacking run that was dealt with by Brodier and Fordham in a joint effort saw the loose ball fall to an Ickwell midfielder who took his shot and blasted the ball from 25 yards past Sansom at full stretch. Things were going from bad to worse for Kings who were now 4-1 down and heads starting to drop after a brief spell of belief early in the half.

At this point Manager Wilson thought it a good time to change things around and bring on his subs Ben Whelan came on for his brother but went to left wing pushing Tomlin forward, Evans came on for Morgan and took up his position on the right of the midfield and Stuart Minty came on for the exhausted Sacbuker.

Evans did a good job hassling anyone that came near to him and made things less comfortable for Ickwell, Minty continued to prove his worth in midfield by being influential and putting some good through balls forward for the Kings forwards and Ben Whelan made some good runs and his touch on the ball was the best we’ve seen.

This change personnel paid instant dividends for Kings who with 20 minutes remaining scored a wonderful goal. Loosemore won the ball at the half way line and played a through ball to Clements who met the ball with pace and slid the ball past the keeper with ease.

A sudden buzz of anticipation came upon the Kings players who now started to believe that a point wasn’t entirely out of their reach. Kings began to play again and moved the ball around well, competing with more aggression in their play making sure their opponents knew they weren’t giving in.

With 10 minutes left on the clock Clements got another goal, a long ball over the top towards the young forward bounced over the keeper as he tried to head the ball away from danger and Clements put the ball into an open net. Does this boy always get a brace?! We all hope so!

Things got really tense from here, Ickwell started to panic and really lowered the standard of their game which had been quite strong till then and a few rash challenges lead to tempers becoming short on both sides, Haywood being targeted with a terrible challenge which should have resulted in a yellow for the Ickwell player, but he escaped without a caution. 

Kings had a few chances to try and settle the game from close free kicks and headers being cleared at the last minute. Then in the dying seconds Kings had a corner and all 11 of Kings Players came up to attack it and salvage something but Ickwell managed to clear the ball and the game ended 4-3. A dramatic end to a top of the table clash. Kings were out classed by their opponents in a difficult first half but came back at them with spirit and belief in the second.

Credit must go to the strikers who scored 3 past a team who until then had only conceded 6 in 10 games.

Kings AFC Press Team

Close this window