KINGS AFC 4 - 1 AFC SHILLINGTON

League Fixture

Saturday 22nd March 2008

Kings: Sansom, Wilson (Barber), B.Whelan (Milner), Cain, Dyer, Tomlin, M Whelan, Sacbuker (N.Clements), Haywood, Morgan, J Clements

Half time score: 1-0

Kings AFC Scorers: J Clements, N Clements, Morgan (2)

Yellow Cards: None

MAN OF THE MATCH JOSH CLEMENTS

Starting formation and lineup:

After a convincing win against Caldecote last week, Kings were again back on track for their title challenge. With Blue Chip not playing, this was another opportunity for Kings to close the gap to 3 points with another game in hand.
 
A strong Kings squad with Milner, Cain, Sacbuker, B Whelan & Brodier added to the ranks from last week’s game.
 
The game conditions started atrociously, with snow, hail and rain trying to stop the game from happening. Kings opted to play against the wind first half and merely two minutes into the game the ref took both teams off to let the weather conditions calm down.
 
The restart saw a slow start with Shillington holding the upper hand without really putting the Kings goal under pressure. With Kings battling hard against the elements, Tomlin received the ball from Whelan and took on his player down the left wing, before releasing Josh. Josh managed to unleash a shot which hit the keeper in the face, only for Morgan to mop up inside the six yard box. 1 - 0
 
With such a strong wind, Kings had to defend deep to compensate for Sansom’s goal kicks. Sansom tried to play to both full backs instead of kicking which allowed Kings to begin the attacks. Wilson in particular finding some good forward balls to Kewell down the right wing. Haywood & Sacbuker were marshalling the midfield with strength and guile, but attacks were limited for the majority of the first half.
 
Shillington didn’t capitalise with the wind and on occasions, looked more interested in arguing with themselves with their 12 year old captain hacking away at Kewell and was lucky not be cautioned. The most dangerous Shillington player, no 14, was good on the ball and if he had better players around him, may have put more pressure on the Kings’ defence. Alas he didn’t!
 
HALF TIME
 
Kings half time team talk was full of confidence. We knew the elements were on our side and Shillington were there for the taking. However Whelan had to go off ill at half time and with no recognised left back available, Senor Minty had to rearrange the team. We swapped to a 3 - 5 - 2 formation with Wilson, Dyer & Cain at the back. Milner came on at Centre Mid and allowed Sacbuker to move further forward.
 
Haywood decided he was going to take kick off and try and find our pacey winger Kewell. Josh passed to Haywood and he promptly hit the ball at full pelt into Josh’s back - OUCH! and an indication of how this half was going to start.
 
Despite this unfortunate start, Kings managed to get the ball into the Shillington box with Kewell, Josh & Sacbuker having attempts on goal. Milner managed to swing a great corner over, just missing Dyer at the back post.
 
Shillington’s keeper, despite the wind, had a strong kick and launched the ball into the heart of game. Milner was somehow out jumped by the smallest player on the pitch (around 4ft 2") and the ball was flicked onto the Shillington striker, who somehow managed to outpace Cain and fired an effort on goal, although Sansom got a hand to, but couldn’t stop it bulging the net. 1 - 1
 
Cain injured for almost 8 weeks and Milner missing from the last 4 Kings game and the new formation all contributed to the goal, however with both players being so reliable and important individuals to the success of kings - We forgive you.
 
Shillington began to grow in confidence but were typical of teams we have played this season, with the long hoof being their main tool of attack. Kings were patient and Morgan started getting into the game, finding Kewell down the left wing with great ball on the outside of his foot. Kewell was skipping past players for fun and was again hacked down just before he was about to send the cross in.
 
Mintos changed the formation to 4 - 4 - 2 with the ever reliable Tomlin moving to left back, Josh moving to right wing and the Assassin coming on up front in place of hard working Sacbuker. Seconds later Haywood broke up a Shillington attack and sent a forward ball to Morgan, who with his back to goal sent a ball down the wing for Josh to run onto. He ran into the penalty area and hit a powerful shot that the keeper could only palm into the on running Clements, who gladly dispatched into the roof of the net. 2 – 1

The ball was played into the box by Milner. Nath latched onto it and tried to make a space to shoot, but was quickly surrounded by 3 defenders. He managed to square the ball for Morgan to run onto, who touched the ball forward and was BLATENTLY up ended by a Shillington player....PENALTY was the shout from the Kings players but in utter disbelief was waved to play on. The Kings players were all in agreement that Morgan was unlucky not to get a penalty....not for the first time this season.
 
Kings confidence had tripled by the goal. Within seconds of the restart, Cain found Tomlin sent the ball to Nathan, who held the ball up well and managed to pass the ball to Josh who again hit a powerful shot that deflected past the keeper via a defender. 3 - 1.
 
The game was as good as over by this stage and it was a matter of how many Kings could get. Tomlin had the best Shillington player in his back pocket with a number of crunching challenges. Cain & Dyer were again power houses at the back and Kewell was beginning to see more and more of the ball.
 
Milner picked the ball up in the centre circle, sent a wonder ball to Kewell down the left wing who outpaced the left back and passed to Morgan. Morgan in turn waited and tried to return the favour before it was intercepted by the last man, who saved what would have been a definite 1 on 1 with the keeper.

With the clock ticking, Kewell received the ball and ran past a Shillington player before passing to Nath. He cut inside onto his right foot and unleashed a pile driver that looked destined for the goal...only for the keeper to pull off a wonder save.
 
Barber then came on for Wilson. Kings had a few more attacks, with Josh working hard down the right. He sent a forward ball through the Shillington defence for Nath to latch onto. He held the ball up on the edge of the six yard box and squared across goal for Morgan to nip in front of the last defender and score off the inside of the post. 4 - 1
 
Despite the harsh weather conditions, Kings had made hard work of this and must improve for next week’s encounter against Riseley if they want to maintain their title ambitions.