Nomads Twos - the gas runs out in the second half

The Derby game against City is one of the highlights of the season - they are usually tight games with only a goal separating the teams - and this game proved to be no exception, but not, at the final whistle, in Nomads' favour.

The game started well, very well. Great leads, some crisp passing, good possession. Short corner: Moots' straight strike was repelled to Gianluca who slipped to Mel coming in from the left who slotted home with deadly accuracy - his fourth in four games. 1-0 with 5 minutes played.

Nomads' second from Spence's crack deep out of defence to find Mel who quickly pirouetted and dispatched to George on top of the D who turned and dispatched home. Oh yes, 2-0.

In the final minute of the first half, Nomads defended a short corner: the initial strike was saved, but the incoming City striker struck the ball mid-air and into the net.

The second half proved to be a tough grind. City scored one from a fast break and then another one to take the lead. The cavalry arrived in form of recent-father Thom W, but city’s superior numbers on the bench won them the match – much like our game at Kettering. By the end, Nomads put up a valiant show: Spence kept running on the ankle that he rolled in the first 3 mins, Timmy’s calf held out just (thankfully!), Arthur was limping and Moots swollen finger ultimately proved to a chipped bone rather than a break, as initially feared.

Man of the Match goes to Mel for bedevilling the City defence at all times. And credit to the team's Dunkirk spirit - and dammit, a fourth loss by a single goal... grrr....