Having sampled a few other games, Staveley v Worksop Parramore was a decent outing and last Saturday the lure of the FA Cup took me to Shirebrook Town v Kirby Muxloe`s Extra Preliminary Round.
At last the Evo-Stik season finally kicks off and today`s visitors for the opener of the season are Sutton Coldfield. Looking at Sutton`s line up there`s only Luke Chapman and Dean Rathbone left from the squad that lined up against 'The Wrens' back in October.
Not to say that there hasn`t been wholesale changes at Kirklington Road during the close season, twelve out and ten in for Kev Gee`s side, most of which I would consider as good acquisitions, none more-so than young Blair Anderson who is on a long-term loan from Alfreton Town. This wiry framed lad is everything you could want in a striker.. direct, skillful, tricky feet and is full of running with plenty of game-craft.
Rainworth win the toss and get the 2012/13 season underway. From the off Sutton look a good strong side who pass the ball around neatly and their No 2 has already caught the eye, Daryl Taylor is a wing-back and a half...a thoroughbred and his athleticism is causing all sorts of problems for the home-side down the right flank.
'The Royals' skipper Scott Rickards has got them well organised across the mid-field with Danny Bartram, Matt Gardiner and Luke Chapman looking to do the business at the sharp end., yet uncharacteristically Rainworth`s usually dependable defence are looking a little edgy at times and if not for another faultless performance by skipper Mark Camm it could have been a different story today.
Adam Burton is called upon to defend for 'The Wrens'
Against the initial run of play and despite some decent link-play from the visitors, Adam Burton managed to nod the ball beyond Paul Hathaway but the liner had got his flag up well before the ball crossed the line half way through the first half.
Jared Holmes and Danny Bacon are looking to have forged a decent bond in midfield but their joy is short lived as Sutton`s back four look pretty resolute and seem to be getting the upper hand in thwarting Rainworth`s advances.
'The Royals' seek to get an early advantage
The right hand side remains to be the main in-road for Sutton which is stifling Ryan Goward`s trade mark flank work down the left hand side, "he`s far too busy keeping Taylor at bay to be causing a nuisance of himself".
Kieron Walker was trying to make in-roads down the right but the ball just keeps coming back towards Rainworth`s goal. The remainder of the first half remains cautiously edgy, with McCormack by far the busier of the two keepers on a very warm afternoon. 0-0 at half-time.
A busy first half for Mc Cormack
It`s easy to be critical in games like this...but lets be realistic, it`s the first game of the season, red hot and both teams have under-gone significant changes in recent months and no-one wants to get off to a bad start.
Sutton still continue to press early on in the second half
Whether it`s down to the hot conditions or just in response to Rainworth`s changes the game immediately looks completely different, the afore mentioned Anderson is making a significant impact on the game. If there is something defenders don`t like it a pacey striker who will run directly at you and this is Blair`s forte, before they have a chance to breath he is behind them and more importantly...on-side.
A couple of early breaks give 'The Royals' a taste of what this lad is capable of and because he is able to beat the off-side trap he automatically gives the players behind him a chance to come into the game more and position themselves accordingly.
'The Wrens' enjoy their short spell of dominance
Dudsey`s spent he bulk of the second half with his 'Twitter Buddy' Jamie Morgan and it really looked as though today wasn`t going to bear any fruit for the home-team but Rainworth are actually looking the better of the two teams at this point.
Within minutes another break see`s Anderson tee up a perfectly weighted ball which gave Ian Holmes the ideal one-on-one with Hathaway which the ex-Matlock striker has no trouble in converting. 1-0 with twenty minutes to go.
Sutton are looking a little shaky after the goal and Anderson find himself free again with time and space to burn but having done all the hard work he only manages to scuff it well wide of Hathaway`s goal
Rainworth push one wide of Hathaway`s goal
Despite a few more flurries by both sides the hot conditions were gradually bringing the game to a close and although Sutton had had the lions share of possession it simply wasn`t their day and the single goal separated the sides.
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| Kev has his point to put across after the game. |
A welcome three points but Kev Gee decides to keep the lads out to discuss the game after the final whistle, sometimes it can`t be all whistles and bells but a win is a win. For sure Sutton will be disappointed not to have at least got a point from a game in which they enjoyed a lot of the possession, but in all fairness they shouldn`t be to despondent as they did give a good account of themselves.
My Men of the Match - Rainworth - Camm and McCormack Sutton - Daryl Taylor
Attendance - A disappointing 88
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