| Home | 1st XI |
|
Name |
Goals |
MoMs |
Name |
Goals |
MoMs |
Captain |
|
||||||||
|
Mark "MC" Crossan |
9 |
Tom "Sutty" Sutcliffe |
7 |
2 |
Vice |
|
|||||||||
|
Carwyn "Arno" Arnold |
2 |
6.5 |
Chris "Suddsy" Suddaby |
3 |
2.5 |
||||||||||
|
Ian 'Jonah' Jones |
6 |
1 |
Simon 'Barn Door' Alston |
6 |
|
||||||||||
|
Go Gerry McNamara |
3 |
|
Mark 'Powells' Powell |
5 |
|
||||||||||
|
Derek'NewDegsyRogers |
3 |
4 |
Drew McKensie |
1 |
1 |
2005 / 06 Match Stats |
|||||||||
|
Dan "Rilo" Riley |
7 |
1 |
"Batl'of" Hastings |
1 |
|
P |
W |
D |
L |
F |
A |
GD |
|||
|
Dales 'The Denz' Harris |
5 |
4 |
Chris 'Once a pro' Cutler |
2 |
|
28 |
8 |
6 |
14 |
70 |
78 |
-8 |
|||
|
Eden "Project" |
1 |
|
Andrew Mitchel |
3 |
|
|
|
|
stats inc 25 March |
||||||
|
Fitzy |
2 |
3 |
Giggsy |
1 |
Previous Seasons Stats |
||||||||||
|
O.G. |
3 |
||||||||||||||
Date: 25 Mar 06
Competition: League
Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Heswall Res
Result: 8 (eight) - 4
Scorers: Fitzy (2), Alston, Arn, Harris, MC, Suddsy & og
MoM: Fitzy
Match_Reporter: Martin Samuel
The absence of Mitch during the pre-match ‘meet’ fuelled speculation that he had decided to retire after his match-saving performance last week, apparently happy to call it a day whilst effectively at the top of his game. Other absentees from the battle of Poulton Vics were Sutty, who in all fairness had been back for a week and, as such, was surely due a ‘break’ from the game; McGuckin, absent due to work commitments (although it had been rumoured that he was still celebrating St. Patrick’s day??!!!) and Glenn, not able to fully recover from a scratch on his leg. As a result of the latter, the squad welcomed Jocko back into the fold, a popular decision not least because of his match ball and valuables bag. In addition, Arn had fully recovered from the mental state that had rendered him incapable of playing last week, Drew was nearing a return to full fitness, and Giggsy was again fully committed to the cause, having apparently been unable to get a ticket for the Merseyside derby!! The day’s other big game was presumably to blame for the late arrival of the opposition, eventually taking the field for their warm-up 2 minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off time and displaying a blatant lack of respect for Nomads.
In addition, their line-up included a right-back larger in stature than that of the Nomads (hard to believe, but true!!), and the presence of only one substitute suggested a ‘stretched’ squad. In contrast, Nomads had the luxury of a bench that may well have been likened to that of Chelsea – while the Premiership champions can call upon the likes of Crespo, Essien and Shaun Wright Phillips, £62.2 million worth of international talent, Nomads had Cutler (ex-Crewe), Giggsy – a free transfer from Buckley Town Reserves – and Drew, once a promising youngster who had rubbed shoulders with the likes on Emile Heskey but whose subsequent career had been hampered by ‘paper hamstrings’.
To the match then, with Nomads taking the field in a formation the Manager must have found on www.alternativefootballformations.com, lining up in an unorthodox 4-4-2 incorporating 3 central midfielders!! The Manager had also suggested that the team play up hill against the wind in the first half should we win the toss – the coin duly obliged, and both the formation and conditions inspired Nomads to totally dominate the opening exchanges, the ‘total football’ of the home side being in stark contrast to the ‘long ball’ tactics of the opposition. The opening goal of the game came as a result of one such passing move, Fitzy finishing comprehensively from fully 1 yard out, and it was surely a matter of time before more followed. Alston did well to send a free header sailing over the bar in one of several subsequent chances, but with Nomads failing to capitalize on their dominance there was always a danger that Heswall would get back into the game.Indeed, it was Heswall who were next to strike, a long ball again causing confusion in the Nomads defence and resulting in an easy opportunity being presented to the opposition. Nomads were quick to hit back, Alston benefiting from a rebound after Heswall’s keeper had somehow kept out Eden’s volley after good work from MC. What followed, however, can only be described as ‘5 minutes of madness’, Heswall being gifted an additional 3 goals as a result of several basic errors by Nomads personnel.
Bizarrely, then, after dominating the game for the majority of the half, it was Nomads who were the more appreciative of the half-time whistle, grateful for the opportunity to re-group. The term ‘heated exchange’ perhaps best describes the ‘highlight’ of the resultant half-time team talk, with notably two of the more senior members of the squad (who shall remain nameless for legal reasons, and therefore hereby referred to only as ‘ex-Crewe’ and ‘the general’) effectively agreeing to disagree!! In addition, though, the Manager did predict a 5-4 win, with instructions to continue playing as we had done in all but 5 minutes of the first half and pressurizing the aforementioned right-back into letting Alston out of his pocket!! Whatever the interpretation of the half-time ‘show’ though, Nomads were to take the game firmly by the scruff of the neck right from the off in the second half, laying siege to the Heswall goal with wave after wave of attacking football. It was surely a matter of time before all Nomads’ pressure would pay off, and sure enough it was the Heswall centre half that started the ball rolling, leathering the ball into the roof of his own net with just over an hour of the game gone.
Further goals were to follow – a spectacular effort off Arn’s knee into the top left hand corner; a text-book downward header from Harris (after an exquisite cross from the right, it might be said??!); a volley from Fitzy to double his goals tally in front of a jubilant family Fitzgibbon; a sublime right foot volley from MC after good work on the left from Eden; a controlled shot into the bottom left-hand corner from Suddsy, finishing off an excellent passing move and completing the rout. Even after last week’s dramatic turnaround, surely the phrase ‘a game of two halves’ has never been more appropriate!! 4-2 down at half-time, 6 unanswered goals in the second half, a 12-goal thriller that would surely bring the crowds flooding back to Boughton Hall – one can only imagine the queue at the turnstiles for next week’s match??!!!
Date: 18 Mar 06
Competition: League
Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Poulton Vics Res.
Result: 3-3
Scorers: Sutcliffe, Powell (pen), Alston
MoM: Fitzy
Match_Reporter: Danny Fulbrook
An away game against an in-form Poulton Vics side looked to be a tough test, certainly on paper at least. Luckily, though, the trial period for Vics 'paper pitch' had been brought to an abrupt end by the inclement weather, and they had resorted to the more common grass 'surface' prior to this game. That said, the fact that the 1st XI had not played since the 5-2 loss at Manweb in February coupled with a notable lack of numbers at training meant that Nomads were unlikely to hit the ground running!! In addition, the cause was not helped on a further two accounts: Firstly, the shock admission by the General (Arn) that he wasn't 'mentally right' for the game, the recent OFSTED assessment having obviously taken its toll!! Secondly, the Irish contingent within the squad had indulged in the delights of the preceding St Patricks Day / Night celebrations!! In all fairness though, both Fitzy & MC looked to have taken it easy and certainly didn't look to be suffering any ill-effects. McGuckin, on the other hand, had the appearance of a man who had slept on a park bench with a bottle of JD (no doubt in a brown paper bag) to keep him company!!! That might be harsh, and indeed it may just have been an oversight on Neils part to forgo the processes of washing or brushing his hair prior to the squad meet, but either way it would prove be a decisive factor in team selection with Dan Riley preferred to McGuckin in central defence.
To the game then, and after a poor start Nomads looked to be in control of the game for the majority of the first half. It was against the run of play, then, when Vics took the lead albeit with the assistance of a Referee who appeared to be having trouble interpreting the offside rule!! Nomads were to bounce back, though, with a crisp flowing move that culminated in Sutty scoring from close range from Alston's left foot bobble / cross! The Management team asked for more of the same in the second half, knowing that the game was there for the taking IF we could limit the scoring opportunities for the opposition. Not ideal, then, to present them with two clear cut chances in quick succession (although, in all fairness, they were taken well). Add to this a goal line clearance from Suddsy, and it was apparent that all was not going to plan, although certainly not through a lack of effort. Cometh the hour, then, cometh the man...............
Mitchell entered the fray at the expense of Eden (much to the displeasure of the latter, it must be said), a substitution which appeared to galvanize the whole team. In addition, McGuckin came on for Dan Riley, presumably to breathe on the opposition forwards in an attempt to render them less effective??!!! It was the former who had the greater affect, though, and his collection of a pinpoint pass at the end of another slick passing move left the opposition with no option than to bring him down in the box!! The resultant penalty was tucked away by Powells and, with barely minutes remaining in the match, it was well and truly game on!! Virtually straight from the restart, Mitchell was causing more havoc amongst the Vics defenders and again found himself in a goal scoring position. However, an apparent loss of bearings and an awkward spin on the ball meant that Mitch couldn't quite get a shot away, instead the ball rolling towards Alston. It appeared, then, that the chance had gone!!! BUT NO - Alston seized on the opportunity and sent an unstoppable shot / mis-hit (you decide??!) beyond the despairing dive of the Vics keeper!!! 3-3 at the final whistle then, and a comeback akin to that infamous night in Istanbul!!! Happy days!
Date: 25 Feb 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Manweb Result: 2-5 Scorers: Harris & Mitchell (& Harris og) MoM: Rilo Match_Reporter: Patrick Barclay l1: With 5 of the regular 1st XI squad AND Giggsy all unavailable, the competence of the Caretaker l2: Manager was to be severely tested even before the kick off in this crucial mid-table clash! However l3: his ability to 'wheel and deal' in the transfer market meant that, with 4 last-minute loan signings, l4: there were at least 11 players available to take the field - It also meant, though, that both Arn & l5: Drew were 'forced' into action after injury (unfortunately a week too soon for the latter though, l6: who was to suffer a recurrence of his hamstring injury barely 10 minutes into the match, an injury l7: which has effectively ended his season). In addition, Degsy was asked to start the game despite his l8: pre-match admission that he was still not quite '100%' having requested he be excused from training l9: earlier in the week due to feeling 'run down'. In all fairness, though, he had been back at work for l10: at least 7 weeks prior to the half-term break!!! All this pre-match turmoil appeared not to affect l11: the team, though, who again dominated the first half and were well worth their 2-1 lead, the l12: highlight being an inspired tactical substitution which saw Mitchell score with his first notable
l1: touch of the match. One can only assume, though, that the stress of the previous 24 hours was to l2: blame for the boy Powell's inept performance in the second half, contributing towards 2 of Manweb's l3: 4 goals without reply, the result meaning a third successive game in which Nomads had surrendered a l4: half-time lead. l5: One notable positive from the game, though, was the performance of Liam Jeffs on his 1st Team debut. l6: Newly crowned as Young Nomad of the Year, Jeffsy certainly didn't let the team down and put in a l7: steady performance despite his suggestion to the contrary, all the more impressive considering his l8: admission that there is a big difference between the level of football played in the 1st and 2nd l9: teams. l10: Finally, on a lighter note, and surely a contender for the quote of the season, was the suggestion l11: of one of Manweb's die hard supporters that our central midfielder was older than his dad!!??! l12: You can't write that!!!
Date: 11 Feb 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Maghull Res Result: 3-3 Scorers: Sutty, Harris & Rilo MoM: Tbc Match_Reporter: Brian Woolnough l1: With Arn, Fitzy & McKenzie all unavailable after struggling to shrug off their knocks from last l2: weeks bruising encounter against Upton, it looked like the squad would be down to its bare bones to l3: welcome the League leaders to 'the fortress'. However, morale was to be boosted with the news that l4: Sutty, Suddsy & Eden were all available (the former after his return from his 4th holiday of the l5: season, the latter two after minor injuries). Oh, and Giggsy was available too!!! To the game then, l6: and it might have appeared to a casual observer that the League was upside down after Nomads l7: dominated the first 45 minutes and went into the break with a deserved 3-1 lead, Dale's marauding l8: run and cool left foot finish being the pick of the goals. The resultant message at half-time was to l9: keep playing and keep it tight for the first 10. To concede a penalty (albeit a harsh decision) l10: within the first 15 seconds of the 2nd half was not ideal then!! (The culprit, though, shall remain l11: nameless in order to save his blushes). With the penalty duly dispatched past the despairing dive of l12: the offender, it was 3-2 and the game was well and truly on!! l1: The Nomad's cause was seemingly helped by Maghull's decision to substitute arguably their l2: best player with an hour of the game played. However, the replacement's first touch was to 'leather' l3: the ball home from 4 yards out after Glenn struggled to come to terms with a cross that must have l4: dipped and moved at least an inch in its flight!!! 3-3 then, and memories of last week's 4-3 defeat, l5: having again been 3-1 up at half-time, came flooding back. l6: Surely this wasn't to be a case of Deja-vu?? l7: Surely this wasn't to be a case of Deja-vu?? l8: Indeed not, and it could be argued that Nomads had the better of the latter stages of the game, and l9: certainly looked like the team most likely to score. That said, Glenn made a great save after l10: Powells had seemingly failed to spot the diminutive 6'4" centre forward in space?!! As such, a draw l11: and a point against the league leaders was probably a fair and welcome result, and certainly l12: something positive to take into the 'winter break'.
Date: 04 Feb 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Upton AA Result: 3-4 Scorers: Alston, Cuts & Degsy; MoM: TBC; Reporter: Powells Report: After the players forum that preceded the week’s training session, any plans the Manager had to make l2: wholesale changes to the playing personnel were dashed with the late ‘cry offs’ of both Suddsy and l3: Eden, the former with an ankle injury, the latter with an injury sustained ‘egg chasing’ the l4: previous week. It wasn’t all doom and gloom, however, as news came through that Giggsy was taking l5: the day off after a particularly heavy night on the shandy!! The squad, then, was subject to several l6: tactical and positional changes in an attempt to quell the attacking threat of the opposition whilst l7: also causing them a few problems. Glenn was selected as goal tender with Dales and Powells as l8: cornerbacks either side of Drew & McGulkin to form a tight defensive line; Degsy was promoted to l9: shortstop, Fitzy & Arn selected as flankers with MC as point guard, and Rilo and Jonah duly asked to l10: lead the offensive line. Whilst it took 10 minutes for players to adjust, during which time the goal l11: tender pulled off a number of fine saves to keep us in contention and Drew seemed intent on l12: following the Manager’s ‘no nonsense’ approach from the previous week, the tactical changes
were to reap their reward before the break with 3 goals for the good guys and only one against. l2: This was no mean feat bearing in mind the two enforced changes to personnel, Arn and Drew being the l3: victims of ankle and hamstring problems respectively, duly throwing Alston & Cuts into the fray and l4: resulting in yet more tactical and positional amendments. The mood at half time, then, was positive l5: from all angles, with Jonah even looking forward to the resultant headlines in the local press!!! l6: Unfortunately, though, never has the phrase ‘a game of two halves’ been more appropriate, with basic l7: defensive errors once more proving costly as the team conceded 3 goals without reply. It must again l8: be stated that, as in the previous 2 defeats, the effort of the players couldn’t be faulted. However l9: despite laying siege to the Upton goal in an attempt to rescue a point, with both MC & McGulkin l10: going close (the latter seemingly in slow motion??!), it proved to be yet another example of l11: grasping defeat from the jaws of victory!! One positive to be taken from the day, mind you, was the l12: performance of Scouse Dave - certainly not a loss to the Nomads squad based on current form!!!
Date: 28 Jan 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Runcorn Town (Mond) Res Result: 0-1 Scorers: N/A!!! MoM: Fitzy; Match Reporter: MC Report: What a difference a week makes. Giggsy, after his dubious m.o.m award the previous week, swaggered l2: in, 20mins late, tracksuitless (but clothed to some description) and somewhat glazy eyed, might I l3: add, only to find himself named amongst the subs again, this time to allow for the return of the l4: self-proclaimed "general" and "guv'nor" (Arn and Fitzy). Anyways, Nomads started the better of the l5: two teams, but failed to find the net with chances being missed by Crossan, MC, and Mark to name a l6: few. Nomads continued to control the game but somehow managed to find themselves one down after the l7: interval, Runcorn's goal coming from a long ball which caught the Nomads defence flat-footed, l8: leaving their forward clear on goal who lobbed Jock from fully 25 yards (see below for goals similar l9: throughout the season). With the game drawing to a close, Chris Cutler entered the fray to see if he l10: could cause some DAMAGE up front. On previous occasions Cutler has come to the rescue of the team, l11: therefore it would come as no surprise that he was the first Nomad to cause Runcorns' young keeper l12: any trouble!! Unfortunately this time, though, the keeper did not have to pick the ball out.
: from the back of the net, instead having to pick Cutler's studs out of his knee, skin and l2: ankle after a last minute dust up!!! It is not certain whether Culter's teaching methods have ever l3: been called into question before, but you fear for the safety of any of his pupils who attempt to l4: "showboat". In addition, it is also hoped that Arn and the other 13 teachers in the squad have l5: taken note on how it should be done!!! l6: l7: In summary, then, a decent display which deserved all three points despite some of the worst l8: finishing ever seen at any level.
Date: 21 Jan 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Manweb Result: 1-3 Scorers: Dan Riley MoM: Giggsy??!!!??! (Difficult to believe, I know!!)
Report: With the last minute cry-offs of both Suddsy & Arn, each with an apparent case of 'man flu', there l2: was only one man to turn to to fill the void in the team - unfortunately, though, he was unavailable l3: and so it was Giggsy who got the dramatic last-minute call up!! A further re-shuffle saw MC drop l4: into midfield, leaving Rilo & Alston to lead the line - not a strikeforce blessed with pace, it must l5: be said!! To the game, then, and yet another example of presenting the opposition with gift-wrapped l6: opportunities to score!! For the first, Jocko displayed his inability to punch his way out of a wet l7: paper bag, although the sloth-like reactions of several players (myself included) didn't help the l8: cause! A Rilo header offered some hope going in at the break, but our generosity prevailed once more l9: in the 2nd half when Sutty, with options of either Giggsy or Jocko to pass to, naturally chose the l10: latter (the lesser of the 2 evils?!) only for the 'celtic warrior' to strike the ball directly at l11: Manweb's striker who duly stroked the ball into an empty net! Jonah then conceded a stone-wall l12: penalty which was duly dispatched, and we were once more somewhat up against it!!..........
l13: It was time, then, for the 'big guns' to make an appearance in an effort to turn things around! l2: Cuts came on for Alston (an understandable choice), Arn came on for Powells (a somewhat perplexing l3: decision, given the sub-standard performances of the 'untouchables' within the squad?!) and it was l4: all hands to the pump. However with numerous efforts hitting either post or crossbar in addition to l5: a combination of last-ditch tackles and off the line clearances by Manweb personnel, the teams' l6: efforts proved to be futile. A disappointing result, then, but certainly not through a lack of l7: effort. Points of note include Degsy's declaration that we keep giving silly goals away, a problem l8: rarely encountered last season (2004/05 centre-back partnership - Drew & Youngy; 2005/06 centre-back l9: partnership - Drew & Degsy; You be the judge??!). In addition, when Jonah was 'probed' about his l10: intentions for next season, he refused to pass comment!! Furthermore, when asked whether he would l11: consider Nomads management (should Chris Cutler - ex Crewe - decide to step down), he stated that he l12: can't get the players! is that a veiled suggestion, then, that the current squad isn't good enough?!
Date: 14 Jan 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Halton (General Chemicals) Result: 1-1 Scorers: Jonah MoM: Alston; Reporter - Alston Report: With many of the team who had played at higher levels of the game not being able to recall such a l2: terrible ground - sloping changing rooms, no showers, shit pitch - it was left to Giggsy to raise l3: the spirits as he showed his delight at being back with the squad. Even Riley was happy as he was l4: 'rotated' out of the side despite having his best game of the season last week. As for the game, not l5: a lot happened in the first half but to make a decent game of it the defence obliged early in the l6: second half to offer up a set of chances, one of which was taken. In between this and Jonah's l7: trickling equaliser in the last minute, the highlights were Arn & Denz arguing, Dan coming on for l8: Eden and taking half and hour to get dirty, and Degsey (at last) reacting to a dirty tackle. The l9: only real moment of controversy was Giggsy defying the managers instructions and not coming on for l10: the struggling Jonah - a clear breach of club discipline!! So, in summary, shit pitch, battling l11: performance and a welcome point. l12: (Editor's note: surprisingly no mention of missed chances or substitution 'disagreements'??!!)
Date: 14 Jan 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Halton (General Chemicals) Result: 1-1 Scorers: Ian Jones (Jonah) MoM: Suddsy; Reporter - Powelly Report: Spirits were high going into this game on the back of an emphatic (?!) 2-1 victory the previous week l2: and with the team still having a 100% record in 2006. However, the euphoria proved to be short-lived l3: with the news that MC was unavailable and had been replaced in the squad by........Giggsy! Yet more l4: consternation was to follow upon arrival at the ground, with a pitch that would make venues such as l5: Duddon, Frodsham & Tarvin seem carpet-like in comparison! Add to that changing rooms with a somewhat l6: nautical feel to them and a lack of showering facility, and it became clear that this was not going l7: to be an occasion to be savoured!! With even the usually dependable 'wands' of Jonah & Suddsy l8: suffering at the 'hands' of the pitch, a scrambled effort from Jonah with barely a minute left was a l9: welcome reward for our toil, and certainly no more than we deserved. The day's highlight, though, l10: was Alston throwing all the toys out of his pram following his substitution, even telling Giggsy not l11: to speak to him for 10 minutes!! (oooh?!!). I feel I must point out, then, that the substitution had l12: absolutely nothing to do with him missing a golden chance from 4 yards out just 1 minute earlier!!!!
Date: 07 Jan 06 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Ashville Res Result: 2-1 Scorers: Rilo, Eden MoM: Carwyn 'The Silver Fox' Arnold Report: What a difference a week makes! Spirits were lifted early with by Arno (ex-League of Wales) lacing l2: up a gleaming pair of white boots and the clouds from the previous week were lifted by a decent 1st l3: half display, which included some exceptional wing play from Denz- the Blacon game, when he was shit l4: now a distant memory! The sight of Alston vigorously warming up on the hour, clearly boosted moral on l5: the pitch as goals from Rilo and Eden, with his first for the club, gave us a deserved lead, only l6: for Degsy to produce some comical defending to gift them a goal back soon afterwards - we can only l7: assume his mind was distracted by what he was going to wear at his fancy dress party that evening! l8: Chances came and went as Nomads tried to close out the game with Arn “I shot too early" going close, l9: and Denz and MC shooting nearer to the corner flag from a couple of quality crosses from Alston. l10: So, not quite ‘total football’, but a deserved victory – he only confusion at the end was a) l11: where Degsy's party actually was b) whether he should wear the Pilot’s uniform and c) whether he was l12: dressing up for the boys or the girls - the question posed by Sutcliffe (again......!!!)
Date: 31 Dec 05 Competition: Cup Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v St. Werburghs Result: 1-7 Scorers: Jonah MoM: Sudds Report: With certain 'star' players (and Giggsy) unavailable for this crucial cup tie, several squad l2: players, who according to Cuts could have had to wait months for their chance in the 1st l3: team, were drafted in. A bright start to the game culminated in Nomads opening the scoring through l4: Jonah, after superb approach play from the new striking unit of Alston and debutant Eden. the l5: remainder of the first half was best forgotton, except for Jock getting in a fight and some prick l6: running on the pitch because his brother was involved and us gifting them an equaliser from a corner l7: Now, some say a manager earns his keep at half time. Think Benitez in Istanbul, Fergie, when Spurs l8: were 3-0 up etc. Cuts was clearly unhappy and was scathing in his criticism of the team. So how l9: did we react?.....lose 6 goals (it could easily have been 9), and generally lose the plot.In fact l10: the second half was only enlivened by Cuts making the the most complicated substitution in Nomads l11: history, which involved 5 positional changes! In a summary, a woeful end to the year, at least we l12: can now concentrate on the league!
Date: 17 Dec 05 Competition: Social Match_Details: G&D, Bull & Stirrup, Scruffy's, The Packet &.......? Result: Leathered!! Scorers: TBC MoM: Mitchell / Jonno Report: A well earned break (?!) from the current League campaign provided the ideal build up to the annual l2: 1st XI Christmas night out, although might well have been a contributory factor in the late arrival l3: of 7 of the attendees for the 5.30 meet (for which, it must be said, fines have yet to be settled!). l4: Onwards, then, to the merriment and mirth of the meal in the 'Frank Worthington' suite of the Bull & l5: Stirrup for which both the caterers and Dales must again be congratulated for their efforts. With l6: the meal out of the way, though, it was onto the important business of fines / presentations. First l7: up was Mitchell, voted 'worst player' in the absence of Giggsy; Fitz was next, voted 'best player' l8: as a result of a dramatic last-minute phone vote; Degsy and Jonah represented the new members l9: (although I must confess the exact reason for their 'fines' is a little hazy?!), whilst Jonno was l10: becoming very well acquainted with the toilets! The customary pub crawl duly followed for all but l11: one of the squad, Mitchell the first to fall at a ridiculously early stage, culminating in either a l12: 'taxi for Gibbs' or an 'every man for himself' stumble around RB's for those with the inclination!!
Date: 03 Dec 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Christleton Res. Result: 6-2 Scorers: Ian Jones, aka 'Jonah' (2), Powells, New Degsy, Simon 'Barn Door' Alston & Dale 'The Denz' Harris MoM: Carwyn Arnold Report: Rocked by the pre-match news of Scouse Dave's controversial transfer request back to Upton, and l2: seemingly the end of what had been a glittering 80-minute Nomads career, the mood of the team soon l3: changed for the better with news of Giggsy's return - to the 2nd team - and the sight of a familiar l4: face within the Christleton ranks (mentioning no names?!). To the match, then, and despite total l5: Nomads dominance for the first 15 / 20 minutes, it was Christleton who broke the deadlock. They were l6: then gifted a second goal, a familiar trait of the Nomads throughout the season (although in this l7: instance with reference to the season of goodwill!!). 2-0 down, then, after barely 25 minutes!! What l8: followed, though, was vintage Nomads - wave after wave of attacking football, orchestrated in the l9: main by the midfield pairing of Arn & Fitzy, with the 'wand' of Jonah casting its magic and the rest l10: of the team seemingly galvanised by its spell!! It was certainly a case of 'when' as opposed to 'if' l11: Nomads would score and then simply how many, such was their overall dominance! 6-2 the final result, l12: with goals from defenders (2), midfielders (3) and Alston (no category) - Total Football!!
Report: It would be wrong of the editorial staff to let the above match be cast into the Nomads archives l2: without paying homage (??!!!?) to the opposition: - l3: Scouse: stand-in 'keeper for this game (who, in all fairness, had a decent game), although is most l4: remembered for his reaction to Christletons' 1-0 victory over Nomads in the West Cheshire Bowl. l5: Strangely subdued after this match, though, as he was after the 10-2 victory earlier in the season?! l6: Tabs: Centre-forward and not a bad player, although more intent on abusing the opposition than l7: playing football; Referred to Nomads as 'The tweenies' (odd put-down really??!), and suggested that l8: Suddsy and Powells were the worst Nomads players on the pitch?? Did he not see Alston?????? l9: Efin: Centre-forward / midfielder / centre-back; Alan Davies look-alike, but without the comedic l10: talent, and quite possibly the worst player (all in all) to grace the hallowed turf??? You decide?! l11: Garland: Centre-midfielder & Captain, and again a decent player seemingly more intent on aggression l12: than creation, although perhaps due to the fact that he didn't get a sniff against Arn & Fitzy!!
Date: 26 Oct 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Willaston Result: 2-3 Scorers: Ian Jones, Mark Powell MoM: Derek Rogers (The 'new' Degsy) Report: After a fairly even opening minute to the match, Brett took it upon himself to liven the game up by l2: passing an intended clearance straight to their centre forward with an open goal at his mercy!! l3: Apparently not content with his first act of generosity towards Willaston, though, his charitable l4: mood was in evidence again some 15 minutes later with his somewhat questionable positioning for a l5: free kick (reminiscent of the Ronaldinho - Seaman scenario in 2002, but worse!!!). We were, then, up l6: against it with just a quarter of the game gone. A foul on Dale just inside the box presented an l7: opportunity to get back into the game, duly dispatched by Jonah on his home debut, but the failure l8: of the referee to spot a clear offside left us 2 goals adrift again on the hour mark. A 2nd penalty l9: offered some hope until Jonah 'scuffed' the ball wide of the upright, and it was left for Powells to l10: tuck away our 3rd penalty (yes, 3 in 1 game!) to take things to the wire. Then, with just a minute l11: to go, Arn made one of his trademark 'bursts' from midfield.......the whole team held its breath in l12: anticipation and watched as the ball, almost in slow motion, sailed effortlessly towards Sainsburys!
Date: 19 Nov 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Blacon YC Result: 2-5 Scorers: Sutcliffe(2) MoM: Sutcliffe Report: Once again, a decent display by the Nomads was undermined by refereeing of the lowest quality. l2: The spineless ref severely hampered Nomads chances of success as early as the 20th minute l3: (sending off Brett for an arguably deserved second yellow card) only to totally unjustifiably send l4: off Fitzy for swearing with barely an hour gone. Bearing in mind he had been told to F&%$ Off on l5: more than one occasion, had managed to miss regular 2-footed challenges,spitting, and bollock l6: grabbing, to then reduce the Nomads to 9 men for a bit of Celtic frustration was beyond belief.... l7: .......however, every cloud has a silver lining and the game did see a goal from Sutty that will l8: certainly grace the Nomads Goldens Goals archives for some years to come. Having already scored l9: the opening goal of the game, Sutty then hit a curling 30-yard screamer that temporarily stunned the l10: home support, putting Nomads 2-1 up (with 10 men at this stage) and looking good for their lead. l11: Unfortunately, the referee and the numeric mismatch then conspired to dissolve any hopes of a share l12: of the spoils. In summary, not bad performance, diabolical officiating, great goal and Dale was shit
Date: 12 Nov 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Ashvile Reserves Result: 4-3 Scorers: MC, Powelly, Riley, OG MoM: Carwyn Arnold Report: Having been narrowly beaten (despite the scoreline) by Ashville 1st XI last week, the Nomads were l2: in confident mood prior to this must-win encounter and the mood was lifted even further with the l3: news that Giggsy had been put "on loan" (his words) to the 2nds. On a pitch conducive to Nomads l4: fluent passing style, they started well and it was against the run of play that Ashville took the l5: lead mid-way through the 1st half. Nomads reacted almost immediately and levelled the score after l6: Alston put in an unusally accurate cross for MC to rifle home. Half time 1-1. Conditions took a turn l7: for the worst in the 2nd half with sporadic monsoons and Ashville took advantage of the freak l8: weather to sneak into a 3-1 lead. Cuts then replaced Sutty with Jonah (probably to protect Sutty l9: for next weeks clash with Poulton Vics) and Alston with Riley (probably because Alston was shit) l10: and this had an immediate impact. Powelly slotted in from a free-kick, a wicked Jonah cross was then l11: headed home by an Ashville defender before Riley poached the winner. Happy days, a good result only l12: soured by Degsy's offer of celebratory intercourse with a teammate - can Giggsy play centreback?
Date: 05 Nov 05 Competition: CCFA AMATEUR CUP ROUND 2 Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Ashville 1stXI Result: 1-4 Scorers: Gerry "Hip Replacement" McNamara MoM: Arnold and/or Suddsy Report: A real sense of Cup fever surrounded this fixture with Nomads having a reputation for giant-killing l2: and a large partisan crowd expected at Boughton Hall. However both Nomads giant-killing form and the l3: anticipated crowd failed to materialise! The big Cup day had started well with the announcement of l4: the team being met with a round of applause for the selectors as they announced that Sutty had l5: retained his place and, more importantly, Giggsy was on the bench. The first half was evenly l6: contested with Nomads showing little respect for their Division 1 counterparts and, with few chances l7: for either side, Ashville must have considered themselves fortunate to be 1-0 up at half time l8: courtesy of a disputed penalty awarded following Degsy's sliding foul. The second half was rather l9: an anti-climax as, through a comedy of errors on the officials behalf, Ashville were awarded 3 goals l10: before Nomads finally registered their attendance with a penalty kick which was tentatively l11: despatched by McNamara who overcame fears of his leg falling off having suffered a career l12: threatening hip injury last week. In summary, not bad performance - shit officials.
Date: 29 Oct 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Helsby FC Result: 3-1 Scorers: Dan 'the man' Riley, Dale Harris & Andrew 'confidence player' Mitchell!! MoM: Dale Harris Report: Partly down to a lack of available personnel but mainly due to an overall lack of goals from the l2: team, the Manager (Chris Cutler, ex-Crewe) decided to start himself for this must-win game in the l3: hope of kick-starting a season which, in all honesty, was in danger of spluttering towards a dreaded l4: relegation battle. It proved to be an inspired decision, with Cuts having a hand in none of the 3 l5: goals scored?!!! I jest, of course, and don't think any of the squad would disagree that Cuts' l6: presence on the field of play proved to be inspirational. Giggsy, on the other hand.........well, l7: where do I start?!! Having been selected under somewhat controversial circumstances to the disbelief l8: of Sutty amongst others, his presence on the field led more to perspiration than inspiration, and it l9: was perhaps a blessing for all concerned that he picked up a knock midway thru' the first half!! l10: Issues of note: Dan's 45 yard lob over 6 players, Mitchell's contribution to the game (still under l11: scrutiny by the dubious goals panel!!!), and another impressive 88-minute display by McGuckin (the l12: less said about the last 2 minutes the better!!). Oh, and 2 'welcome' red cards for the opposition!!
Date: 22 Oct 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Upton AA Result: 1-2 Scorers: Powelly MoM: Carwyn Arnold Report: Having started the match as underdogs due to a combination of our indifferent form, the good start l2: to the season that Upton had enjoyed and a somewhat under-strength squad, the 2-1 defeat could well l3: be construed as a decent result given the circumstances. It would not be unfair, however, to suggest l4: that we perhaps deserved more from the game. For all the possession Upton enjoyed, they were limited l5: to very few clear cut chances, and eventually needed the assistance of the 'visually challenged' ref l6: to get the winner. By comparison Nomads had at least 3 or 4 clear cut chances which, on another l7: day, would have found the back of the net. The obvious notable exception to this was our goal, an l8: exquisite free kick from fully 25 yards out which sailed effortlessly into the top right-hand corner l9: of the net (although judging by the somewhat ungainly stance of the no. 2 in the 'action photo' in l10: the Chronicle, quite how the ball found its way in is a mystery??!!). Other issues of note: a game l11: of two halves from Danny Delgado (!?!), an impressive Nomads debut by Neil McGuckin and the taking l12: of several 'mental notes' with regards to nos 6, 8 & 11 in preparation for the return match at Upton
Date: 15 Oct 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Heswall res Result: 0-0 Scorers: Not applicable! (for the anoraks out there, the last 1st XI '0-0' was 22.01.05 vs FC Pensby [A] ) MoM: Carwyn Arnold Report: First mention is for 'Big Glenn' who, after spending 2 hours of the morning searching for a keeper, l2: came to the rescue of the squad at the 11th hour and subsequently rescued a point with a 'Banks- l3: like' save 5 minutes from the end. Prior to that we could have been 3 up within 15 minutes but for l4: an uncharacteristic lack of composure from MC and Rilo and, as such, it seemed we were destined not l5: to score. However, and despite our dominance, it could be said that we were lucky to come away with l6: a point after Heswall missed an open goal from fully 6 yards (gifted to them after my inexplicable l7: decision not to defend all of a sudden!?!) and had a stone-wall penalty appeal turned down after Dan l8: 'chopper' Delgado had rugby-tackled their central midfielder in the box! All in all, then, a welcome l9: point to keep us firmly on course for mid-table obscurity! Other issues of note include a Moore-like l10: tackle (that's Bobby, not Demi?!) by Degsy and Drew finally succumbing to his groin injury after 3 l11: years! Finally, I feel I must mention that Scouse Dave was notable by his absence - indeed, rumour l12: has it that he's had to take on a second job at the weekends in order to pay his Nomads subs!!!
Date: 08 Oct 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v FC Pensby Result: 2-2 Scorers: Dan 'The Man' Riley (2) MoM: Drew McKenzie Report: Having received his first 'request for payment' with reference to the annual Nomads membership fee l2: prior to the match, it was hard to believe that Scouse Dave's day could get any worse! 50 minutes & l3: 1 dislocated shoulder later, however, proved otherwise!!! This was only the latest in a string of l4: 'hard luck' stories for the former Upton AA 'player of the season' though, who has managed just 80 l5: minutes of first team football since his somewhat controversial summer transfer from Upton! It would l6: appear, then, that Dave was ill-advised to comply with his former Manager's request for a wax effigy l7: of him as 'something to remember him by'??!!! l8: As for the match itself Pensby, inspired by their mild-mannered 'fat controller' on the side line l9: and eloquent shouts such as 'snap him' from their playing personnel, twice took the lead (although l10: I'm sure the Referee would lay claim to the second) with Nomads relying on two Dan 'whats your name' l11: Riley strikes either side of the break to maintain parity, the 2nd of which was an absolute gem btw! l12: It was, though, a spirited Nomads performance for which some might say we deserved more than a point
Date: 01 Oct 05 Competition: West Cheshire Bowl, Round 1 Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Christleton Res Result: 0-1 Scorers: N/A (although Harris apparently notched on Saturday night if that counts??!!!) MoM: Derek Rogers (aka 'the new Degsy') Report: Picture the scene....Arn calls for the ball directly from Jocko, who duly obliges and rolls the ball l2: out to a central position from the right side of the box. Arn performs an exquisite step-over dummy l3: to the delight of the Christleton midfielder stood directly behind him, who takes one touch out of l4: his feet before stroking the ball into an unguarded net and ending our cup dreams at the 1st hurdle! l5: (Mitch must also get a mention for his miraculous clearance over the bar from fully 4 yards out!!)
Date: 24 Sep 05 Competition: Cheshire Amateur Cup Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Crewe FC Result: 2-0 Scorers: MC (2) MoM: Dale Harris Report: Having been taught a footballing lesson at the 2nd round stage of the same competition last season, l2: It seemed odd to find the Crewe team warming up on OUR side of the pitch with a 'cocky swagger' and l3: an air of arrogance that suggested they only needed to turn up in order to progress to the 2nd round l4: again. After 90 mins and 2 'bullet' headers from MC, though, it was back to Crewe with their tails l5: between their legs for the second year running - Happy days!!! (PS Crewe missed 2 penalties too!!)
Date: 17 Sep 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Willaston Result: 1-1 Scorers: Chris Cutler (Ex. Crewe) MoM: Derek Rogers (aka 'The New Degsy') Report: A 'waist-high' challenge on Scouse Dave after barely 15 minutes played set the tone for this mid- l2: table 'scrap'. However our inability to pass water, let alone a football, meant that we were 1-0 l3: down going into the final 15 minutes (although it must be said that our commitment wasn't lacking). l4: Time, then, for the Manager to enter the fray and rescue a point with a quickly taken free kick. l5: (Note: it would be easy to blame the pitch/farmer's field for our poor performance, so I will!!)
Date: 10 Sep 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Manweb Result: Match Abandoned Scorers: N/A MoM: N/A Report: You can imagine my surprise, and perhaps concern, as a 30-strong 'firm' with an air of menace l2: approached the pitch with barely 10 minutes played??!! The 'farce' which transpired, though, turned l3: out to be a peaceful protest by Manweb 'A'; To take the positives from the game, it was our first l4: clean sheet of the season, and in all honesty the team should have been 1-0 up at the time of l5: abandonment had Drew not 'ducked' under a pin-point free-kick from Arn with the goal at his mercy!!!
Date: 02 Sep 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Christleton Res Result: 10 (ten) - 2 Scorers: Sutty (3), MC (3), Arno (2), New Degsy, Alston MoM: Sutty Report: What a time to find a bit of form, up against the old enemy at Little Heath!!! Two headed goals and l2: two assists from Arn, all in the first half, set the tone for the match, but even he was upstaged by l3: Sutty & MC bagging 3 goals a piece!! The former was only selected at the eleventh hour, and some l4: might say an inspired decision by the Captain??!! Boughton Hall has never seen so many jugs of ale, l5: such was the mood for celebration, but it's back down to earth for Manweb (A) this weekend!!!
Date: 30 Aug 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (H) Nomads 1stXI v Blacon YC Result: 2-4 Scorers: McKenzie, Hastings MoM: New Degsy Report: In all honesty, I thought it was going quite well until I managed to pick out their central l2: midfielder in acres of space, who duly 'battered' one in from 30 yards out!! ( I think the phrase l3: that leapt to mind rhymed with 'clucking bell'!!!). After 2 more, with Drew's 'hand ball' in between, l4: Arn (who had dropped himself for the game!!!) handed out the now-customary ear bashing at half-time, l5: resulting in an 'honourable draw', at least for the second half!!!
Date: 27 Aug 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Helsby Result: 3-3 Scorers: Crossan, Jones, Alston MoM: Ian Jones Report: After three more examples of the team's somewhat over-generous nature in it's gifting of 3 goals to l2: the opposition, and being 3-2 down with only minutes left to play, it must be stated that a draw was l3: a welcome result, although it could be argued that the overall performance and dominance of the team l4: merited all 3 points. The match report couldn't be scripted without reference to Mitchell's 'shots' l5: to 'shots on target' ratio (3:0, including one from 2 yards out and a '1 on 1' with the keeper!!!)
Date: 22 Aug 05 Competition: League Match_Details: (A) Nomads 1stXI v Mond Rangers Res. Result: 3-5 Scorers: Suddaby (2), McNamara (pen) MoM: Suddsy Report: Another must-win game, but what can only be described as an 'unacceptable' performance by all but a l2: handful of the squad (some of whom have duly held their hands up where others, notably, have not!!); l3: Greeted with howls of derision from the travelling army (4!), and leading to an intense post-match l4: analysis into the current failings / under-achievement of the side..............Watch this space!!!! l5: (Note: This has inevitably lead to a MASSIVE game away at Helsby this Saturday - all welcome?!)
