Report

Nomads recorded one of their best results of the season after a brilliant team performance to overcome a good Malpas team who finished third last season.

Notoriously slow starters, the Nomads coaches’ team talk revolved around trying to “come out of the blocks fast”.  Ten minutes into the game the Malpas possession looked worrying, only for the Nomads to wake up and really take the game to Malpas with some good early efforts from Lee, Jamie and Harry who rounded the keeper only for a Malpas player to clear the ball off the line as it was set to roll in.

Joe, Harry , Lee and Jake were bombing forwarded whilst the defence of Zac, Fraser, Lewis, Rob and Tom were almost impregnable every time Malpas came forward; and on the one occasion where Adam was called into action, Adam came racing out and the Malpas No 9 hit the ball wide under pressure. Both teams were playing well as the half closed with Matty, Jamie and Ben starting to control the midfield.

The second half was even better for the Nomads with Malpas having to make two good saves; the first from a Harry free kick and the second from a great Stubbsy run and blocked shot into the box. Joe must have won about 10 free kicks on his own as the Malpas team struggled to stop him fairly. So it was against the run of play when Malpas took the lead through a crossed shot that Adam saved but spilled right in front of the goal for a Malpas tap in with only 12 minutes to go.

Malpas were celebrating as it was clear the game could be settled by the odd goal and it would have been easy for our lads to let their heads go down. With 5 minutes to go Jamie hit a long range screamer that sailed past the excellent Malpas keeper and crashed onto the bar and down but not quite over the line. Harry raced into the box and was first to react under pressure to crash the ball into the net 1-1 and the parents and coaches leapt into the air with both relief and elation.

But that wasn’t all! With only 2 minutes left, Harry latched onto a through ball, took on a Malpas defender, rounded the keeper (who got a foot to the ball but not enough to stop Harry) and he struck the ball into the net from a tight angle – brilliant goal! All of the team raced to congratulate him for a goal that sealed an awesome 2-1 win and sent both parents and players home buzzing.

Harry came close for Man of the match but it was awarded to Zac who was almost faultless in defence alongside his teammates. Well done team.