SATURDAY 1st NOVEMBER 2008

CORBY 1 NUNEATON 3

Nuneaton travelled to Corby with a number of inexperienced players making their first BodyKraft East Midlands Division One league start of the season.

With this in mind, skipper Eccles made some tactical changes to the team, employing a more defensive back four. Nuneaton started the stronger side with some good possession and Ben Lancaster controlling the whole team from his position of sweeper.

Corby struggled to match Nuneaton during the early stages and it was not long before skipper Dave ECCLES ghosted on to a James Atkins pass and slotted the ball past the helpless keeper. Nuneaton's confidence rose and with man-of-the-match Matt Pegg ploughing down the left, it only looked a matter of time before the second goal came.

Corby eventually won a short corner and with some clever play, had a free shot at keeper Sidwell and although the ball was travelling a good two feet wide, he managed to push the ball back into his own net.

The second half started in much the same fashion with Steve Fallows and Dave Holmes combining well in attack. Nuneaton pushed hard to kill the game and Andy Forryan, with a bit more composure, could have bagged himself a hat trick.

Thankfully Nuneaton gained a short corner and up stepped Ally JONES to strike Nuneaton back into the lead. The visitors carried on playing entertaining hockey despite Corby's aggressive approach and it was no surprise when Corby found themselves down to ten men following constant abuse of the umpires.

This allowed James Atkins more space and with a fantastic pass, he found skipper Dave ECCLES at the far post to slot in the third goal and finish off the game. Atkins soon turned from hero to villain with a series of tackles that rightly earned him a yellow card.

Despite a slight lack of discipline skipper Eccles was glad to be back to winning ways and with more players becoming available, has some tough decisions to make on Saturday.

NUNEATON II 4 NEWARK II 0

An emphatic four goal victory against a lugubrious Newark side saw Nuneaton go second in BodyKraft East Midlands Division One.

Ash BARNETT opened the scoring early in the game with a clinical strike after good work by Stu Jesson and the hosts coasted through to halftime with few scares as Newark posed little threat.

After the break, the game became something of a one-man show as Tom COSTELLO scored a magnificent hat-trick and completely overran the visitors’ defence. With Kev Edwards pulling the strings in midfield and Ryan Stokes a constant livewire around the “D”, the score might have been greater and undoubtedly would have been, but for a fine performance from the Newark goalkeeper.

There will be stiffer tests ahead, but this was a solid performance that augurs well for a resurgent second team.

COALVILLE III 2 NUNEATON III 3

The thirds travelled to meet lowly Coalville in this BodyKraft East Midlands Division One match, aiming to continue their good work from previous weeks.

However, it was the home side that showed the greater urgency in the opening exchanges, and deservedly went ahead with a well-constructed goal. As the first half wore on, Nuneaton picked up the tempo and James BUTLER connected with a far post cross which he calmly slotted into the goal.

With confidence clearly restored, Nuneaton were in command and pressed hard on the Coalville goal. The inevitable goal finally arrived from a short corner when Nigel LAWTON received a return pass from Chris Burnard and gratefully rattled it against the backboard.

Nuneaton went in search of a third goal that would provide necessary breathing space but despite some excellent work from Nick Perry, there was no further breakthrough before halftime.

Coalville increased their commitment and effort in the second period and laid siege to the visitors’ goal for much of the half. However, Nuneaton stole upfield to snatch a second corner goal when Nigel LAWTON was again on hand to deflect a rasping shot from Chris Burnard into the net.

The home team intensified their attacking intentions and Chris Ellis was tested to the limit as he withstood a fusillade of shots that came in his direction. Eventually, the home side breached the defence making the final few minutes quite uncomfortable for a resilient Nuneaton team.

RUGBY VI 5 NUNEATON IV 3

A spirited performance from a much-changed Nuneaton team was insufficient to bring the side its first points in the BodyKraft South East Division One.

As in previous games, the team passed the advantage to the opposition early in the game when poor tracking of players allowed a clear chance in front of goal that was gobbled up by Rugby.

Despite having an equal share of the possession, Nuneaton were unable to convert a series of half chances that mostly came from Sidwell crosses, and fell further behind when Rugby broke away on the stroke of half-time.

With Gilchrist and Hazlett working tirelessly in midfield, the visitors pressed forward and were rewarded with a cracker from Josh WAGG whose turn and strike at the top of the “D” left the keeper floundering.

Within a minute, Rugby restored the two goal advantage after a kick into the Nuneaton “D” went unnoticed and the full back fired in a tremendous cross-shot. Another goal shortly after, seemed to condemn the visitors to the likelihood of a heavy defeat but more excellent wing play from Paul Sidwell brought unexpected rewards.

Tim GILLAM in his first game for the fourths scooped home before an almost identical move saw Chris HAZLETT close the gap even further. A gilt-edged chance then went begging when a simple pass to Sidwell would have left him unopposed in front of goal but as so often with the team, poor decision-making allowed the chance to go begging.

One more goal squeezed past Harry Taylor after a couple of fine saves sealed the game for the hosts but Nuneaton can again be pleased with the progress shown by youngsters Wagg, Marston and Gilchrist who are becoming key members of the team.

NUNEATON V 2 MELTON IV 2

Missing a number of key players, and fielding a youthful, inexperienced team, this was always going to be a difficult game in BodyKraft South East Division Two, as Nuneaton played hosts to Melton fourths.

As expected, Melton took control of the game and continually pressed forward, winning a large amount of ball in the middle of the pitch.  A couple of breaks came Nuneaton’s way but very little on which the side could capitalise.

Nuneaton defended resolutely and triumphed in keeping the visitors’ lead to 1-0 at the break
with Mark Randle playing one of his best games of the season at right back.

The second half saw Nuneaton improve and pass the ball more fluently, but the team still struggled to break out of their own half. Melton took advantage of the lack of strength in the middle of the pitch and went two goals ahead.

This spurred Nuneaton and saw the defence play exceptionally well with a number of clearances off the line from Harry Mayou, James Pennington, Mark Randle and keeper Eric Thomas.

However, with ten minutes to go Nuneaton took advantage of a break and Shaun HIRONS continued his scoring spell with a reverse shot into the bottom corner of the goal.  Nuneaton rallied and continued to apply pressure and the determination of the team resulted in Shaun 
HIRONS getting an equaliser from a penalty corner with three minutes to play.  

The tense final moments were played out with some composure by a relieved and surprised Nuneaton team that sees the return of key players for Saturday’s match against Coalville.