No Home Comforts

First home game of the season didn't get off to the best of starts when the squad became depleted, ending up with just 11 players. It changed the mental approach before a ball had been kicked but at least we all knew what we had to do - last 90 minutes!

Bloxham started the brighter of the 2 teams with Buddy putting us ahead early on with a dipping drive over the keeper. Kineton slowly grew into the game and took advantage of a defensive line up trying to play offside, without the legs to cope! A ball over the top made it 1-1 and it wasn't the last ball they played that beat the offside trap. It took a second Kineton goal for Bloxham defence to forget about playing offside but a scrambled third, that was initially cleared off the line, made it an uphill challenge at half time. Stand in keeper, Andy, had been commanding at the back and couldn't do anything about the goals.

Injuries and aches had to be put to the back of the mind and a change of formation tried to give Bloxham more bodies in midfield. Andy Brooks dropped deeper and Gary did plenty of running up front to give the Kineton defence something to think about but it was a Kineton break that caught Bloxham short on numbers at the back that seemed to put the game beyond Bloxham as it went 1-4 with about 20 to play.

Scott, who replaced Andy in goal, also had a dominant performance and couldn't do anything about their 4th. At 1-4 down another change of formation seemed to give Bloxham more impetus going forward and the deficit was reduced to 2-4 as Andy got himself on the score sheet. Disgruntled at not having been acknowledged as a goal scorer the week before he made it 2/2 to give Bloxham hope.

Gary then got himself on the score sheet with a shot over the keeper and suddenly it looked like the come back was on. A corner whipped across the box just needed a touch and Buddy had a chance to equalise late on but the sight of glory went flying over the bar. the game ended 3-4 but it was a performance to be proud of, considering the fact we all played 90 minutes. The chance to try changes in formation and personnel in new positions was something we can take forward for the rest of the season.