We kicked off the season with a really good win away to Wolverhampton Casuals 1 v 2. A strongly contested game where they had 3 sent off and Luke Humphries was shown a red card for NULC for a second yellow. We defended very well and showed a great determination to win the game, without really playing well. Good result and a really good start to the campaign.
We then played Old Wulfrunians away, where we lost 2 v
1. A very close game and both sides had
plenty of chances but both teams found it hard to convert into goals. Half way through the 2nd half
Wolfrunians broke the deadlock through good counter attacking play that caught
our defence asleep. The tie looked finished at 1 v 0 when Captain Stu Dickin stepped
up to score from close range from a corner. Again 1 v 1, and at that point we
would have taken the point. However, with
5 mins to go before full time, Wolfrunians broke again and some poor defensive
play by NULC saw NULC concede their
second goal and the game had virtually run its course. What was good to see was that NULC were still
knocking on the door , trying to score with about 4 mins left on the
clock. But after a few goal mouth
scrabbles and a great shout for a penalty right on the whistle, NULC finally came
away with 0 points and Wofrunians taking all 3 points to see them sit top of
the League. Overall we hadn’t really
played well although we didn’t deserve to loose.
Boldmere St Michael’s was our first home fixture, and we
knew this would probably be our stiffest challenge as these has played 3 won
3. It was our home game and I had asked
the lads to play with freedom and try to play more attracting football. We started well, although Boldmere were a
good and well organised side who were capable of playing some good attracting
football. NULC overall had the lion’s
share of the game and created enough chances to win the game, the game ended 0
v 0. A much better result for them than
us, but we hadn’t lost and should have won against a strong side.
So we had won 1 drawn 1 and lost 1 and were now to face
Wolverhampton for the second time, this time in the FA cup at their place. This was going to be a difficult task, we had
beaten them last season to win the Staffs Cup, there had been 4 sending offs in
the opening league fixture but we had managed to win, now the pressure was on
us to win again. This turned out to be
an amazing game of football with both team settling in to play first rate
football. The first half saw NULC play
the best football this season and probably last. Half way through the first
half Jake Lloyd converted a quickly taken free kick with a great left foot
finish. 0 v 1 at half time.
The pace of the game dropped slightly in the second half and
NULC were coming out on top with their passing and for all their endeavour
Wolves were unable to carve out any clear cut chances. NULC had to wait until 15mins from the end to
take a 2 nil lead through Robson Healy.
The game was won and NULC were through to the next round.
Back to the league at home to Heath Hayes, NULC started the
game confidently and appeared in control from start to finish. That said the level of performance was not of
that as it was against Wolves. With credit to Heath Hayes as they worked hard
to prevent NULC from getting into any rhythm. But the game was won convincingly
3 v 0 in the end with good finishes from Campbell, Oultram and Dunn.
Back in the FA Youth Cup away to Coleshill. A game we felt we could win even though we
were without our regular keeper and top performer Joe Mellor who, with
ligaments damage could be out for 1 month.
Isaac Springett would do a good job to deputise. Apart from that we had a full squad. The playing surface was not the best but we
started the game superbly well, we were playing some outstanding football and
Coleshill were finding it difficult to stop us. After 12 mins NULC took the
lead and deservedly so, through Josh Oultram.
NULC created chance after chance and but simply could not convert.
The second half and they tightened everything up, getting
closer to us and preventing us from playing. Coleshill started to show real
endeavour and appetite to get themselves back in the game. Unfortunately NULC simply started to get
frustrated and Coleshill were all of a sudden pressing for a goal. 15 mins into the half and they had found
there goal through a mistake in our defending.
NULC were still creating good chances but again failed to convert when
they were on top. The game was finished
when Coleshill broke with pace to score their second. NULC were out of what is a great
competition. Very disappointing!!
Nuneaton Town at Home.
League
Nuneaton 3rd place in the table and unbeaten.
NULC 4th , but to win this one and they could go 2nd, so
this was a very important game.
Typically the first 25 mins belonged to NULC, as we saw them
play some outstanding football.
Controlling the game, dominating possession and creating a couple of
really good chances. Nuneaton were very
well organised but could not find any answers and were finding hard to contend
with the way NULC were playing. The
biggest problem was that NULC for all their domination had failed to score when
they were on top.
However on 30 mins a great through ball from Luke Koskoiwski
found an equally good run from John Ngindu who fired home to give NULC a well-deserved
lead. 1 v 0.
This forced Nuneaton to change their tact as they realised
that they could not allow us to dominate so easily, they decided to press right
down on us and stop us from playing out from the back. NULC were finding it hard to now deal with
the pressure and were clearly knocked out of their stride. It was now Nuneaton’s turn to dominate and
they were able to create a few half chances for themselves. 5 mins from half time and Nuneaton got what
they deserved by scoring a well worked goal down their left hand side. Half time and 1v 1.
Nuneaton were a very well drilled side and I would say
probably overall the best side we had come across in the league. Strong, organised and efficient in every
department, without being outstanding.
The second half was altogether a different game. They continued to press us high and we were
failing to cope. They were more direct
and managed to create a number of good chances.
15mins into the half and Nuneaton took the lead.
The game became scrappy with both teams failing to create
any chances to mention. With 10 mins to
go, John Ngindu again found a gap in their defence and from inside the box
could of shot or crossed to Wes Nelson, however he failed to do either and the
chance went begging. Again NULC pressed
and pushed but could not muster a chance.
NULC 1 v Nuneaton 2.
In Summary
NULC have played the top 3 teams in the league and have got
1point from 9. Not championship
form. Playing some very good football
but not winning matches.
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