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Tuesday 7th September 2010
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Matches played Saturday 16th January 2010
Kingburn stage magnificent fight back to deservedly share points with Swiss.
Warmer weather removed the snow covering the local area, but frost within the ground prevented waterlogged surfaces drying out, and though winds sprung up to assist the drying process, along also came a deluge of rain, so it was back to square one with regard to the Amateur League football programme as all games were again postponed – with the exception of one which was staged on the remarkably playable surface at the Royal British Legion ground in Bilton, where the surface was slightly soft but eminently playable.
The footballers of Swiss Cottage RBL and Kingburn Athletic Reserves were desperate to resume action and produced an encounter which was supremely entertaining especially to the neutral spectator.
Swiss Cottage have the ability to score goals, but occasionally allow what should be winning leads, to slip, and this game mirrored that scenario perfectly, though Kingburn must have wondered how they ever came to be behind after dominating play for most of the afternoon.
This was a game that Swiss Cottage really wanted to win to climb up the league table and ensure survival in their first season in the top flight, and were hoping to build on their impressive win over Quaddy Rangers last time out.
Swiss made the perfect start to the game when, within the first two minutes, they found themselves in front when a blistering effort from Shaun Scotthorne clipped the head of a Kingburn defender and the ball deflected straight into the top of the net.
Kingburn looked the livelier side creating some good chances that were dealt with well by Swiss keeper John Scott. The Swiss back four kept the Kingburn attack at bay with some fine defending and last ditch tackles and in a rare Swiss counter attack down the right Rich Sullivan put in a neat cross which was only half cleared by the Kingburn defence and Ricky Russell was on hand to slot the ball home to give Swiss a two goal lead against the run of play!
It only seemed a matter of time before the Kingburn attack would breach the Swiss defence but Swiss held out well and went in at half time two goals to the good.
Kingburn, to their credit, though frustrated, remained disciplined and kept their self-belief.
Into the second half and Kingburn once again took the game to Swiss looking to pull a goal back but instead conceded a third goal following a great break down the wing by Swiss’s Rich Sullivan and his cross found Shaun Scotthorne unmarked in the six yard box and he side footed the ball into the open goal.
Kingburn kept their heads and kept up the pressure as skipper Keith Simmonds changed their attacking formation and started introducing fresh legs and on 55 minutes the all-important breakthrough goal came from a well-taken header just inside the right hand post by Darren Burdett.
Kingburn now really had their tails up and were more determined than ever to get something from the game and on 75 minutes a cheeky back heel inside the 6 yard box by Chris Mackman-Dalby somehow found its way over the line, reducing the deficit to a single goal.
With just 5 minutes remaining, and with Kingburn still swarming forward, Lee Mason won the ball about 25yards from goal, and he struck the sweetest of left foot shots and the ball rocketed past the despairing dive of keeper Scott, to level the scores.
Not content with being level, Kingburn launched a final attack and a Phil Rokahr shot toward the top corner of the net had ‘winner’ written all over it, until keeper Scott made a magnificent save – very Boaz Myhill-esque – to keep the scores tied, and probably both teams were happy to share the spoils.
The role of the team captain is seldom appreciated, but if anyone ever saved a game, and inspired his team, then that accolade must go to Kingburn keeper/captain Keith Simmonds who refused to let his players lose concentration, demanded they stuck to his changed attacking formation and made substitutions at just the right time, and was more than instrumental in achieving the final result. Additionally veteran midfielder Mark Clark turned back the clock with a delightful display of deft flicks and passes which kept the Kingburn attacks coming, and coming.
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Match Reports
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24th April 2010
17th April 2010
10th April 2010
3rd April 2010
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