MATCH REPORT - ONE STEP FORWARD OR TWO STEPS BACK?

Wilf Kroucher 3 v 1 Norton

Saturday 20th September 2008

(H-T 1-0)

Goals: Curtis Roberts 1,

Man of the Match: Tobrise Chinosa

First defeat of the season at the hands of Norton’s Boggy team. Starts were handed to Tiernan, who made an impressive debut and Chef (Joseph Foon) finalising an unfamilier first 11. With conditions perfect for a late pre-season encounter Norton begun the match looking disorganised and fatigued in parts. As the game went on few players bouyed by the pattern of play and touchline antics of other squad members took it upon themselves to change positions, thus making it impossible for Howard (coach) to make any tactical decisions. 15-20mins into the game Wilf Kroucher (W.K) worked Norton’s right full back (Sam Dady) to a point where the positional sense of Norton Defence was nonexistent. W.K first goal came from cross created by their left winger. A slight deflection on the cross wrong footed the centre back (Tobrise Chinosa) and the ball kindly fell to their forward who dispatch the ball too the bottom right corner of the keeper (Nuno). Norton tried to stamp some sort of authority in the game but struggled with the movement of W.K midfield and forwards. Up until this point Norton's spine looked weak and lacked character. Half-time could not have come sooner.

At the interval, some constructive words form Andrew Castle one of the guilty latecomers and Howard provoked Norton to start the second half more purposely. Unfortunately W.K scored against the run of play. A throw in was flicked on and again their forward had the room to blast the ball past Nuno. Norton looked desperate and looked on the verge of combusting. 2-0 became 3-0 with a lob 25-30 yards out. Changes were made midway through the half to either side of 60mins goals from the inform striker Curtis. All of a sudden, Norton looked like a team full of menace and direct running. The defence sorted out the problem from the first half, the midfield looked energetic when Darren moved into the centre and the frontline were causing physical problems to W.K defence when Howard came on . Big goal opportunities came especially for Andy and Curtis but these chances was not put away. However, one could not fault the industry of all Norton players to carry the fight to W.K. To cap a poor result poor refereeing decisions stopped Norton carrying the fight fairly to W.K. but hey its only a game.

At the end of the game, I have never seen the team looked so dejected. This was a defeat that I can almost safely say will define Norton’s season. If Norton start a game like that again, they will get beat by lower quality opposition. However, one hopes Norton can learn form this defeat and grow as a team and build steel like foundation for future tough away games. More importantly turn up on time for match or merely turn up for the away fixtures. Four points from 3 games (1 draw, 1 defeat, 1 win) is a balanced start. Norton must now unbalanced this statistic and started winning games.