Match Report - Saturday 23rd Oct 2021
Nomads 6ths v Liverpool Convocation.
The omens did not look good from the start. Dalat one of Nomads brightest stars withdrew shortly before kick off, then after losing the toss, the Ambers were forced to kick up hill against the wind and the rain, and were facing Liverpool Convocation, the form team on the Vets circuit, coming off of the back of three wins from four. On top of all this Nomads did not have a recognised goalkeeper to call upon.
A perfect storm indeed, and so it proved as Nomads were on the back foot soon after kick off. There was little coordination between the lines and their play was strewn with unforced errors. Convocation were driving forward at will, and two goals up after twenty minutes. Manager Clive Davies was looking increasingly nonplussed on the touchline, and was now ready to ring the changes in an attempt to stem the flow. Alas to no avail, as Nomads tale of woe continued and after thirty five minutes were four goals down. By now the facial expressions of the manager would indicate that he was clearly exasperated. The roof was clearly falling in on Nomads, and they were spared further embarrassment following a miraculous penalty save from Marek on the stroke of half time. A ferocious shot down the centre of the goal was spectacularly fisted over the crossbar, bringing gasps of admiration from players and spectators alike.
HT Nomads 0 Convocation 4
Within minutes of the interval Nomads we’re playing like a team transformed. Clearly jolted by a few home truths from the manager, and following a few shrewd half time tactical changes, Nomads were soon in command in all areas of the pitch. It was a complete role reversal from the first half debacle. Joe Davies was back to his belligerent best, combining silk with steel to dominate the central midfield area. Damon Auden and Andy were now rock solid in defence and both made last ditch tackles on the rare occasions when opposition forwards broke through.
Manesh was having the time of his life in his defensive midfield role ( more about him later). Mike Kennedy worked tirelessly on the left flank and provided numerous assists to the Nomads forward players. Mo was showing his class with bedazzling footwork, gliding past players, twisting and turning, often leaving his opponent’s in a state of bewildered admiration. Following his goalkeeping stint in the first half Marek was now back in his more familiar central striking role and soon bagged a brace of goals. The first from a free kick which fortuitously ricocheted off of a defender and into the top corner, the second by coolly rounding the keeper and walking the ball home. Echoes of Instanbul here. Suddenly the dream was on.
By now the atmosphere on the home touchline was at fever pitch, and the home spectators were leaping about and roaring their team home, and more pertinently the manager’s first half frown had been replaced by a beaming smile and a purr of satisfaction.
Sadly though the dream proved an illusion as Nomads continued to press forward and dominate, but alas could not improve their goal tally.
A fairy tale ending had been denied but the Nomads players had shown great character to reverse their dire first half performance. They could walk off with their heads held high following a classic, forgive the cliche, ‘ game of two halves ‘.
Full time Nomads 2 Convocation 4
MOM
Manesh was a force of nature in the second half in his enforcer role. Acting as screen in front of the back four, he was everywhere, breaking up play, terrorising opposition forwards, and damping out fires before they could take hold. Simply awesome and a worthy MOM contender, however the adjudicater finally decided on Marek for valiantly spearheading the charge during the second half comeback, by scoring both goals. Some would argue that his spectacular first half penalty save by itself made him worthy of the award.
Special thanks to Marek and Nathan for both agreeing to do a forty five minute stint between the posts ( surely the loneliest job in the world! ). Thanks to Musti for his cameo role, helping out at the start whilst Manesh was still getting changed🤣
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