Loughborough Town 2nd XI loses its 100 per cent record
NOTTINGHAM UNI 2ND XI 2 LOUGHBOROUGH
TOWN 2ND XI 1 AFTER battling through the storm to come out on top against Khalsa on Saturday, Sunday offered a very different challenge at a very wet Nottingham University pitch.
Town captain Adam Lamb, with his 100 per cent win record this season, sent his players out into the rain hoping for a good result from the game.
With Town up for the fight the whistle blew to start the game. The first few minutes flew by with both teams testing each other out, the tempo for the game was set.
With Town looking to go forward Nottingham won the ball on the half way line and broke with pace and numbers. Town’s players fought to jump back but with 4 on 2 overload Nottingham slipped it past Town’s keeper Vishal Dhutia.
With Nottingham 1-0 up Town dug deep to stay in the game, chances started to be created. It was Town who scored next through Tom Clarkson close range finish after Nottingham keeper saved a Ryan Hatley shot. The half time whistle went with the score level at 1-1 and Town feeling happy with their performance.
The second half was an open affair both teams working hard and not allowing any easy ball. Towns forwards all had chances, Matt Parry missed getting onto a cross at the back post by millimetres, Ryan Hatley on his 40th birthday had a penalty corner saved on the line and Chris Sibson failed to deliver the goal Town were looking for.
Connor Sign and John Harrison in Town’s midfield tried to provide the spark required beating Nottingham players for fun at times before being fouled as the attack looked dangerous.
With players working so hard off the ball it was only a matter of time before slightly lazy tackles flew in and a few cards to be shown.
With Nottingham briefly down to 10 men Town pushed forward, although Dave Henderson didn’t like this plan and took it upon himself to evens things up again to allow both teams to play with 10 men each for a short time.
Town’s new defensive line up of Hitesh Patel, David Ottewell, Sam Stowe, Jim Shepherd, Rory Cook and man of the match Jack Thomas worked tirelessly to thwart all that Nottingham could throw at them.
As the clock ticked down Nottingham found the net through a rebound from a short corner after a good save from Vishal Dhutia in goal. The final 10 minutes were frantic with Town giving it everything to get a result they truly deserved.
Town narrowly failed to convert from a series of short corners. Even captain Adam Lamb managed to test Nottingham’s keeper from a narrow angle but Nottingham held on to take all three points from the game.
If Town can reproduce this form each week they should find themselves at the sharp end of the league at the end of the season. The next fixture of season sees Old Halesonians 1st XI travel to Loughborough on Saturday.