Goals Galore as Nomads win Epic!

At an hour usually reserved for milkmen and insomniacs (OK, 0930, but for someone only 9 months out of university it was a big effort!), 11 hardy Nomads congregated in the mists for a journey so epic Peter Jackson is considering making it his third trilogy. Their destination was the mystical land of Skegness and the proverbial dragon to be slain was Alford 1st XI. Due to their location, the threat they posed was relatively unknown. Their season had been a combination of some huge away losses (14-2 and 8-0) most likely due to a lack of numbers making the trip, and some decent home victories though these may have been against teams weakened by people not making the arduous journey.

We reached Skegness with a pre-match McDonalds lining our stomachs to be greeted by a strange orb of warm light in the sky that rumour has it, used to be seen above Cambridgeshire a long time ago. This “sun” as the locals called it, made a nice change from the freezing winds and hail that have battered us in recent matches.

After the usual warm up and ‘Celtic’ pre-match huddle, the match started and two things immediately became clear. 1) Alford was a decent side with a skilful counter attack. 2) Most of their play went through their very skilful number 15 (who it later turned out had previously played in the national league). The opening minutes gave an idea of the match to come with end-to-end chances from the start. Alford’s keeper was forced to make some sharp saves while one Alford attacker beat our defence to put themselves one on one. I was mightily relieved to see his undercut shot fly a good 6 foot high and wide of the goal.

Sadly though, it was Alford’s early pressure that paid off with two early goals. This keeper’s selective amnesia seems to remember them as unstoppable shots that could never have been stopped and not a couple of relatively easy goals that should have been saved. Despite going 2-0 down, the team was relatively confident that there was the chance to get back into the game with Sam having hit the post just prior to Alford’s second goal. It wasn’t long before this belief was rewarded. Martin picked up the ball at the top of the D and slotted the ball under the on-rushing keeper to make it 2-1.

Half time arrived and despite the deficit it was all to play for. Play was very open and both teams had chances to score more. Tim assured us that the score would not remain 2-1, how right he would be proved!

The Nomads came out fighting after the break and quickly equalised. Having won a short corner, the ball fell again to Martin and his neat flick beat the keeper to make it 2-all. Despite some incredible defending from Seth and Ed as well as some excellent last ditch tackles from Harrison, Alford went 3-2 up after an excellent shot from their number 15 from the top of the D.
Once again though the Nomads pressed for the equaliser, with Ben and Ellis putting in a great shift to produce many chances for our forwards. In the end though it was our Captain, Arthur, who got our third, scrambling home an opportunity from close range. (Skip: Dan started a mazy dribble on the top of the D. I decreed some 30 seconds earlier that I would be standing at the back post awaiting his cross. It duly arrived and it was duly dispatched into the backboards. To quote BA Baracas, “I love it when a plan comes together!”)

At the other end of the pitch, Tim was doing a great job keeping their number 15 quiet while Ed was battling through a pulled hamstring to keep Alford at bay. Meanwhile word had clearly got around that an epic was underway with our match attracting quite a crowd of female admirers. Some say they were the next match, waiting to use the pitch, but we suspected (Skip: “know”) otherwise.

Having drawn level again, we pushed hard for another goal and once again it was Martin who provided, slotting in his third goal for a thoroughly deserved hat-trick. For the first time in the match the Nomads were ahead and victory was in the cards. Alford however had other ideas, making the most of some tired nomads legs to put away their 4th and to level the scores again. Both teams were following the Liverpool school of thought, hoping that no matter how many they conceded they would score one more. Both teams had chances with Nomad’s defence staying solid under enormous pressure. Ed notably cleared a fizzing shot chest high off the line. In the end, though it was Dan Jarvis who stepped up to put away the winner to make the final score 5-4.

Overall the final result was a thoroughly deserved victory in an incredibly entertaining match. Despite the score, the defence played incredibly to keep out a number of opportunities with special mention to Ed for playing most of the second half through injury and still managing to make some excellent on the line stops. The whole team put in a great effort, coming from behind twice to secure the victory.

Man of the Match: No doubts who won this with unanimous agreement that Martin deserved it for his three goal performance and his great efforts up the right flank.... AND taking home the Ronnie MacDonald Happy Meal cup to sit pride of place on the mantelpiece next to last year’s Junior Player of the Season.