Bedford County Junior Challenge Cup

KINGS AFC 1 - 3 CALDECOTE A

Saturday 13th January 2007

Line-up: Kirby, Fordham, Loosemore, Crane, Sansom, Wilson (Barber), Tomlin, Minty (Phil Hatton), Sacbuker, Morgan (C), Cain (McLoughlin)

Half time score: 1-3

Goalscorers: Cain

Booked: None

It was the first game of 2007 for the mighty Kings AFC, following last week’s postponement. Forget the FA Cup, this was the third round of the Beds Junior Cup, and a large crowd of 17 people and 2 dogs turned up for the home tie against Caldecote ‘A’ side. Fortunately, the wet weather had held off for the remainder of the week, and the fixture got the ‘thumbs up’ from the match officials.

A number of players had declared themselves unavailable for the tie, and this presented Manager Wilson with a number of selection posers. Opting for a 4-3-3 formation which could adapt to a 4-5-1 formation when the team had to defend, coach Wilson’s main aim was to control the game in the middle of the park, whilst utilising the pace out wide.

Following some impressive displays in training Paul Kirby took his place in goal for his second start of the season. December’s player of the month Matthew Fordham took his place at right back, whilst Mark Loosemore was in his familiar position at left back. The centre half pairing saw dependable Euan Crane partnered with Dave Samson, the later making his first out-field appearance for Kings following a good performance in the Kings Battle of the Titans friendly before Christmas. In central midfield Wilson opted for a trio of players with the player-coach lining up with old-muckers Sacbuker and Minty. Danny Cain and Tomlino playing out wide, with big Lee Morgan, captain for the day in Haywood’s absence, playing up front on his own. Phil Hatton, Jonny McLoughlin and Scotty ‘Aberlardo’ Barberino were sitting on the broken bench.

Kings lost the toss and Caldecote opted to switch halves. This was an obvious ploy to exploit the strong wind which was hurling around fortress King George VI Playing fields. Kings started well with Sacbuker making a number of great tackles in the midfield, and Wilson and Minty spraying the ball around to bring wingers Tomlin and Cain into the game. Adaptable Cain was giving his fullback a torrid time and when Morgan put him though after around 10 mins, Cain made no mistake when coolly turning his man in the box before slotting home from 18 yards. It was a great start to the game which Kings were controlling and Wilson’s tactics looking spot on.

Kings continued their good work with the back four winning everything in the air, and bringing the ball out well to contribute to the attack. Fordham in particular impressed with his forward play, winning the ball and joining in with midfield and attack. A number of chances fell to Kings who were putting some good moves together. Morgan was having a blinder upfront holding the ball up and bringing others into the game with his creative passing. In fact it was the stand in skipper who laid a ball of to centre back Crane after great work from Wilson on the left, for a chance on the edge of the box which narrowly dipped over the bar from a reported 35 yards out. A great attempt by The Cranester who is getting closer to scoring his first goal for the club.

Caldecote were struggling to cope with the midfield domination which having three good ball players in the centre created, Morgan sometimes dropping in to add his ample weight to completely out number their Caldecote opponents and utilised the fitness and pace of Tomlin and Cain who were causing a real nuisance when pressuring the panicking defenders.

Caldecote were starting to put a few passes together and forced a corner. From the resulting set piece the Caldecote big number 2 powered in a back post header to make the scores 1-1 after 32 mins. Caldecote continued to attack and forced a dubious penalty when Minty was adjudged to have fouled the Caldecote No 10 in the box, a decision to which was very dubious to say the least and shocked even the visitors who were rightly claiming a corner. In any case, the Caldecote No 6 stepped up a put an unstoppable shot into the side netting, Kirby with no chance, making the score 2-1 to Caldecot, it felt like a real injustice after Kings had dominated proceedings thus far.

Kings upped the tempo again, and with Crane and Samson looking an assured centre back pairing left the Caldecote attack chasing shadows. Tomlino was looking like his menacing self and switched wings with Cain. The two combined with a great ball in from the Kings left to the back post, where unfortunately the outstretched Tomlino, perhaps still nursing a hangover from his 18th birthday on Wednesday, shot over from 2 yards out (still no where near as bad as his open goal miss earlier this season).

With half time approaching Caldecote hit Kings for a third goal, this time with a cross from the right diverted goal wards by the Caldecote forward. Kirby got a hand to it, but the ball trickled over the line for a half time score of 3-1 to the visitors.

Wilson and Captain Morgan led the overtures at half time, offering encouragement to the Kings players who were unlucky not to be winning, let alone behind, given their domination on the field.

The team took the field for the second half playing with the wind, and took the game to Caldecote. Loosemore obviously motivated by the half time team-talk was bombing down the left hand side, and made a number of trademark slide tackles. Forget bend-it like Beckham, try Slide it like Loosemore. Tomlino was winning everything in the air, and Minty and Sacbuker were orchestrating the play in the centre. Wilson was doing his fair share of the running, and went on a terrific run down the left hand side, involving Tomlino, and Kings were again unlucky to score. Kings were giving their all, and Morgan was running like never before (its true). A number of injuries followed with Wilson getting a nasty knee in the ribs, and Sacbuker taking one for the team on the byline.

Substitutions followed with Minty making way for Phil ‘The Hit Man’ Hatton, who made an immediate impression linking play with Sacbuker and keeping the ball well for the team. Barberino came on about 5 mins later for a now limping Wilson and worked hard to create an opening. A final substitution saw Jonny ‘Aftershock and Lemonade’ McLoughlin come on for Danny Cain and he impressed with his running and crossing ability down the right hand side. Samson had pushed on upfront as Kings searched for a way back into the game to offer more of an aerial threat and was unlucky with a couple of chances, one which hit the corner flag and other well worked chance that he cleverly weaved on the edge of the box before having a powerful shot on target.

The final whistle blew, and Kings have every right to feel disappointed with the result, given that they dominated the game. Created chances, but sadly need to start testing the keeper rather then wasting opportunities. But lets not forget there were a number of ‘first team regulars’ who were missing today and this Caldecote side have been riding high in the division, inflicting a 6-0 defeat of Kings earlier in the season. Kings may be out of the cup, but this performance showed the manager and the fans that there are many positives that can be taken from this defeat.

Kings AFC Press Team

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