A tough match ends with a draw

Firstly who misses the sun? On another freezing, windy Sunday morning the tangerine army were out to answer two very important questions, 1 could they get the win to guarantee top spot in the group and 2 would we actually see Leon pass the ball?
Pre-match we held a minutes silence in memory of Kieran’s angels Casey and Dot.

We started the match with the wind against us and Sixfields looking to take advantage of that with some early pressure, however the spine of
Sands United is very very strong, if you make it past Gavin and Littlemore, you have to be very lucky to beat our back 4 these days, with Luke the Third putting in a man of the match display with some intelligent and tough challenges. After a number of goal kicks during that 15 minute spell from Sixfields, the boys went on the attack a throw-in from Hatcher found Gavin and what followed was a clear result of the Sands United Sevens practice, as Gavin kept control of the ball with a couple of kick ups before volleying a pass to Allen who controlled with a kick up over the defender and then again with a beautiful lob over the onrushing keeper. 1-0

From there the boys pressured with more intensity as they looked to make strides down the right-hand side with Handy always an available outlet. We created a couple of opportunities but just couldn’t connect with the cross. It was from this pressure that Sixfields mounted a counter attack down the right as the wind took the ball away from the so far impressive Christie, the striker ran through one on one vs Barker who stayed big and saved the shot with his legs.

The wind was making it quite hard throughout but as has been the trademark over the last few weeks it didn’t stop us playing some great football, a move down the left-hand side saw the ball fall to Harrison who was unlucky to see his shot rebound off the post and before the half was over the Sixfields keeper made a good diving save to his left to deny Allen a second.

Half time 1-0

The second half with the wind behind their backs, the tangerine army set about dominating the second half, within the first few minutes a free kick from just inside the Sixfields half saw Gavin try to replicate his Kettering cross shot, it looked to be nestling in the top corner but for a good save by the Sixfields keeper.

Now as the team were already guaranteed qualification to the quarter finals, Manager Dempsey used this as an opportunity to give some of the men who haven’t played much recently some minutes. In a testament to the five changes made in the second half the team continued to dominate such is the depth in this squad.
A move down the right hand side saw Britten perform the world’s greatest pass with his heel which he 100% meant to do, it went to Littlemore who couldn’t quite make the most of it.

Another opportunity fell to Harrison, but it was one of those games where we was the vicar orchestrating the marriage between ball and the woodwork.

More pressure saw Allen have a shot cleared off the line, it was almost worth drowning in the puddle for, the fans were glad he wears a baselayer as he tried to clean his muddy wet shirt on a spare bit of grass.
There was time for a couple more chances for the Sands Men as Long making his return to the side, made received the ball in the area, he could have shot but the Modric look alike is also a play a like and he went to assist Luke the third whose shot through the crowded box was again saved by the Sixfields keeper.

He was making a nuisance in the box a few moments late as he leapt like a salmon for a header which just evaded him.
Time was running down and the Sixfields players let their frustration get the better of them as they were reduced to 10 men. As often happens this can make a team harder to beat and the boys didn’t create as much towards the end bar a great chance for Britten when he headed over at the back post.

In the 89th minute, Sixfields went on their first meaningful attack of the second half which resulted in a free kick 22 yards to the left. The players shot curled into Barker’s near post, he got down well enough but he couldn’t hold the ball and parried it right into the 3 Sixfields players who made no mistake with the rebound, Heartache and despair for Barker as he lay on the floor contemplating life and its meaning when it can be oh so cruel.

And with that the game was drew. 1-1