What Goal Drought?

After the heartbreak and disappointed of a cancelled fixture last week, the 1sts played host to a well drilled and tricky IES side who (to date) are the only team in Division 4NE that have taken points away from the 1sts this season.

IES surprisingly appeared just in time for a quick 5 minute warm up, very unlike them to be so under prepared. This lack of appearance and preparation started to seep into the NNHC warm up, with Benny Miles and Thomas Sands keeping warm and dry in the dugout.

The first whistle brought NNHC back into focus and the ball was distributed well throughout the team. It didn't take long for Ash Green to integrate himself back into the fold, and the attempts of the keeper to prevent a goal were hopeless at the sheer power of Ash Green's strike and the ball found its way into the goal mouth.

NNHC kept the pressure on in the first half and generated a string of 3 short corners, which were all thwarted by a resilient IES defence. Eventually NNHC broke through the defence, with the ball finding itself on the end of Mark Farmer-Wright's stick who tucked it home over a diving keeper (what goal drought?!)

NNHC went into half time in a familiar 2-0 position and were eager not to let history repeat itself. Ben Miles, as usual found a way to rejig the formation into another letter of the alphabet to help NNHC get out from sitting so deep.

Short corners continued to flurry with NNHC's tireless hardwork from defence and midfield who persistently won the ball back and got NNHC back on the attack. A well work short corner found a deflection from the skipper at the far post (what goal drought?!)

IES continued to fight throughout the game and were rewarded with a short corner after a wayward reverse stick swing (tackle) in the D by Thomas Sands. The IES top man banged home from a straightforward short corner.

The flow of the game was end-to-end for a period of time, testing the NNHC defensive capabilities. However it was the next NNHC short corner that appeared to be the final blow, with Benny Miles blasting home from the top in response to te IES short corner. He swiftly apologised for not going to the original plan and the apology was gratefully accepted.

IES managed to bag another goal with their top man again powering home a lovely finish, but the game was gone.

A thoroughbly enjoyable game and the unbeaten run continues. Some fantastic performances all-round, Eddie worked tirelessly in the middle, so much so he flopped to the ground in comic fashion whilst trying to block another IES attack. Henry Sayer and Ben Miles continued a fantastic partnership with some dynamic link play, whilst the defence went into conceeding double figures for the season the work rate and solidity was fantastic. Craig Farrow, continued his solid performances of late with some fantastic distribution and ball pace that was too much for some! Callum Gibson (undoubtedly still running now) put in some serious graft on the flanks.

The 1sts go again next week against a very tricky Ipswich side that will see it as a 6-pointer to chase down promotion and to maintain their unbeaten home record.

Someone's unbeaten run has to end, but whose will it be?