Having rattled through the fixtures mid-week this one caught my eye, principally because the word on the vine was that Kings Lynn are a tidy outfit with a decent following plus the BT Local Stadium is always worth a visit.I never tire of visiting this place, there`s always a good atmosphere and the locals love their footie, "I suppose they should do really, they`ve been at it since 1857!!
Dudsey arrives about twenty minutes pre-match, I part with my six quid at the turnstile and manage to snaffle one of the last remaining team-sheets and decide to join the queue for one of Sheffield Fc`s finest attributes, "it`s burgers". There`s a bit of a wait on as the travelling 'Linnets' are also a tad peckish after the hundred and odd mile hike along the dreaded A17.
I get talking to a couple of them and ask them what their feeling`s were on being dropped in the Evo 1 South? (which is a bit geographically challenging to say the least), although the Ryman League would have been their first choice they don`t seem to be too bothered and are enjoying visiting the new grounds on offer this season.
After a ten minute wait I eventually get my hands on one of 'Sheffield`s Finest', the bread roll is as fresh as can be, the burger is of a high quality and the onions are done to perfection...Mwah!!Sheffield seem to have retained a strong squad despite the departure of previous Manager (Mark Shaw) who was dismissed after failing to guide the club to promotion last season, the 7-0 thrashing at the hands of Ilkeston Fc in the play-off semi must have broke the Camel`s (or Chairman`s) back.
'Club' are now being steered by ex-professional footballer and welterweight boxer Curtis Woodhouse, checking out his his CV, surely he must have the respect of the dressing room!!
The only significant loss on the pitch seems to be their talisman Conor Higginson who has made the move to last seasons champions Grantham Town but it`s nice to see Charlie Weir back after a brief spells at Brigg and Belper. 'The Linnets' line up means precious little to me apart from the name 'Steven Spriggs' who`s name had been mentioned on the terraces at Hucknall.
The pitch looks mint and the sun is shining
Despite the recent water-logging in recent days the playing surface looks absolutely immaculate on what has turned out to be a gloriously sunny afternoon. The place has filled up nicely and peaks at 329 of which a good proportion are from Norfolk.
Dudsey decides to stand just to the left of the score-board in the dappled shade of a lovely big tree and unfortunately for me I`m not the only one enjoying a break from the searing sun..there`s a squadron of little flies, hell bent on sharing that lovely burger via my bloodstream.."pesky little sods".
Sheffield win the toss and start the game at a reasonable old pace, it`s end to end from the off, the home-side have come out with all guns blazing. The visitors are no slouches either, they look very comfortable on the ball, passing it around neat and accurately,especially at distance.
Street makes one of many fine saves
Matt Roney, SteveWoolley, Charlie Weir, Jamie Knowles, Vill Powell and skipper Anton Foster all look well up for it for Sheffield whilst Jamie Forshaw, Russell Dunkley, Jordan Yong, Ryan Fryatt and Spriggs look the stand-out players for Kings Lynn.
Sheffield are probably shading it possession wise but 'Lynn' are quick to break down the right and although Spriggs does look very nifty on the ball, Charlie Weir and James Knowles look to have the measure of him in the early stages.
The first half-hour is cram-packed full of chances for both sides and if not for some decent goal-keeping from 'Lynns' Alex Street "who is now looking very tidy" and Sheffield `s Nicky Draper it would be an absolute scorcher of a game goal-wise.
'The Linnets' apply some pressure of their own
The Linnet`s advances aren`t just restricted to the right, Jamie Forshaw and Russell Dunkley are crafting some fine moves down the left flank whilst the mid-field is being marshalled by Warren Burrell and Sheffield`s skipper Anton Foster, he`s big and strong and has a no-nonsense approach to his game
Vill Powell had a couple of good chances for the home-side but just failed to connect at the last second whilst Jared Stephens misses an absolute gift, only managing to loft the ball over the ball from close range totally unmarked. Ryan Fryatt rattled the cross-bar with a cracking header for 'The Linnets'.
Stephens gets this one all wrong - absolute sitter!!
Dudsey has a quick glance at his watch, the first half hour has absolutely flown, "must be the measure of the quality of the match". Both sides are still pursuing the game with vigilance and the crowd have already had their monies-worth with the exception of seeing the ball nestled in the back of the net.
Sheffield are now attacking with width, Steve Woolley`s providing it down the left whilst the ever impressive Matt Roney is making a nuisance of himself down on the right and this is the avenue which eventually breaks the dead-lock as Charlie Weir manages to find himself space behind the crowd and nods the ball into Street`s goal who failed to collect the cross on this occasion , 1-0 to Sheffield with ten minutes of the first half remaining.
Weir No3 awaits to nod the ball home
Having already donated half a pint of blood to my little winged friends I decide to seek refreshment before the crowd descend upon the tea wagon. I pass behind the goal and hear the banter from the travelling 'Linnets', they`re in fine voice and in very good spirit despite being a goal down, most of them say hello and they seem a friendly bunch of souls.
Their team is seeking to make amends for the deficit down the left-hand side and from this vantage point it becomes ever-more evident how fluent and precise they are at moving the ball about, especially Jordan Yong and Forshaw who`s tic-tac is very easy on the eye, sadly the half-time whistle blows before they get a chance to square things up.
Yong No3 and Forshaw 10 make their presence felt
A highly impressive first half performance by two good footballing sides looking to entertain an appreciative crowd, no doubt Curtis will be the happier of the two managers at this point but Kings Lynn are far from out of this game and to say they came up to Step 4 rather than down from three they seem to have a very useful bunch of players.
The Golden Goal number is announced over the PA as 34mins, Dudsey eagerly scratches the panels on his two tickets hoping to secure the £200 quid on offer but it`s not to be on this occasion.
The 'Travelling Linnets' bask in the Sheffield sun.
I suppose it would be a bit too much to ask for a second half as good as the first but although it was a little lower-key, probably down to the heat...it`s still very entertaining stuff. Sheffield are plugging away towards the McDonalds stand whilst the visitors are now attacking in my direction for this half.
If anything it looks as though Kings Lynn collectively have be better legs in this half especially Forshaw, he`s rampant down the right-flank and has Sheffield`s back for working overtime to thwart his blazing runs down into the bottom corner before distributing some quality crosses to the awaiting Dunkley.
Another close one for Kings Lynn
Legs are getting tired and both managers look to freshen things up, Spriggs who has has little joy is called in and although i was looking forward to seeing what he could do my attentions have been grabbed today by Jamie Forshaw, this lads engine is incredible with seventy minutes on the clock he`s still running around like a Cheetah.
After the changes Sheffield seem to get the wind behinds their sails again for a brief spell and an unfortunate trip in the box gifts the home-side a penalty which Steve Woolley neatly plants into Street`s right-hand corner.
Woolley dashes Lynn`s hope of getting even 2-0 on 77 mins.
Still full of running, Forshaw and the Kings Lynn lads still refuse to lie down and continue to press to the final whistle and for me deserved something from a game in which they showed so much promise, Sheffield enjoyed some good spells and will have been relieved by the penalty as the game still remained evenly poised up until this point, I think on the day Sheffield just made the best of their chances and proved to be the slightly stronger side on the day.
On the whole a very entertaining match, some excellent performances from two very committed sides and full credit to the 'Travelling Linnets' who gave their lads a rapturous round of applause as they left the pitch and deservedly so, despite the result they churned out a stellar performance.
My Men of the Match - Sheffield: Roney, Weir and Knowles. Kings Lynn: Street, Forshaw, Yong.
Teams Sheffield - Draper, Turner, Weir, Knowles, Hadfield, Burrell, Roney, Foster, Powell, Stevens, Woolley. Subs - Cardwell, Wall, Gregory, Martin, Williams.
Kings Lynn Street, Watson, Yong, Fryatt, Gulliver, Bunting, Spriggs, Quigley, Dunkley, Forshaw, Thurlbourne. Subs: Hughes, Beaumont, Turner, Buhlemann.
No comments:
Post a Comment