South Rushden Jaguars vs Wellingborough Town
Saturday 17th October 2009

Match day five saw the Jaguars taking on Wellingborough Town, a team with a reputation for a successful but robust style of play. The morning was dull and freezing at least for those standing on the sidelines. Oliver Watson made a welcome return to the squad having recovered from the illness which saw him miss the win against Volta Storm last week. Tom led the team after his “storming” all round performance in goal and attack last week.
 
The coaches with the luxury of a full squad sent out the following team:
 
            Goal-keeper:     Tom
            Defence:           Josh L & Nathan
            Midfield:            Carter & Josh Y.
            Attack:              Oliver
 
The game opened with Wellingborough applying some early pressure which saw them put in a long range shot which was narrowly wide and a second chance that drew a good save from Tom. The Jaguars were not put off and gradually gained a greater share of possession, this lead to glimpses of their trademark flowing football. Carter and Nathan combined well down the right to set up Oliver with a good chance which was well defended by the Wellingborough.
 
Carter continued to cause problems for Wellingborough down the right, but good defence work meant that the final ball could not quite find Oliver or Josh Y to apply the finish. In an even segment of the game, both sides created chances but the defences were solid.  However, Wellingborough took the lead when they caught the Jaguars in possession in midfield and a strong run forward followed by a long range shot saw the ball squeeze past Tom and into the net.
 
The Jaguars came back immediately creating an opportunity for Oliver after another run down the right by Carter.  Wellingborough buoyed by the goal pushed forward again, but a series of clearances by Josh L, who showed excellent defensive positioning and with a great stop from Tom, ensured that they were not able to extend their lead. A tactical change saw Josh Y. replaced by Dan. This injection of fresh legs saw the Jaguars creating more opportunities, the direct running of Nathan and Dan in this phase of play kept Wellingborough on the back foot and the excellent positions taken up by other players ensured that the good play continued. A great run by Dan set up Oliver with another opportunity which the defence managed to scramble away. Nathan, Carter and Oliver also put together a sweeping move but the first half closed.
 
An excellent first half display against probably the best footballing team that the Jaguars have yet played. The coaches shuffled the team making a couple of changes such that the Jaguars started the second half with Tom in goal, Finlay and Josh L. in defence, a midfield of Nathan and Oliver, with Dan leading the line up front.
 
The team was quickly in their stride with Nathan making a surging run down the right. His cross picked out Dan who had taken up an excellent position on the near post. Dan with great control got his shot away but went wide of the post. Seconds later Nathan was again raiding down the right and putting in another cross to cause havoc in the Wellingborough’s defence, but again they managed to scramble it away for a corner on the left. Oliver knocked in a good cross that the defence kicked behind for another corner. The subsequent corner highlighted the excellent movement of Dan and Nathan with the Wellingborough defenders having difficulty keeping them in check.
 
Wellingborough then broke up the field with a strong run down their right wing. Unfortunately, the Jaguar’s defence was found slightly out of position as the ball was crossed to the back post where a free Wellingborough player was able to double their advantage, but very much against the run of play in my opinion.
 
The Jaguars, despite losing the second goal, continued to push forward and the strong running and good passing was unsettling the Wellingborough players as a number of robust challenges and cases of pushing off the ball indicated. Oliver capitalised when he intercepted a Wellingborough goal kick and knocked a speculative long range shot which nestled in the corner.
 
The coaches made a double change bringing on Josh Y. and Carter for Josh L. and Oliver. In the next period of play, the Jaguars had the ascendency and the sense was that another goal was coming.  However, Wellingborough’s defence, despite some increasing robust challenges with the coaches being called into action with the notional magic sponge on a number of occasions, held out. Following one particularly strong challenge Nathan required substitution with Oliver returning to the fray.  Indeed Finlay and Josh Y. showed good concentration to make a number of solid tackles and clearances in the final third of the match. As a result the final few minutes became quite scrappy and the goal which would have given the Jaguars the draw that their display warranted did not come.
 
The coaches decided that the whole team would be nominated team of the match and that Oliver would captain the team against Finedon Volta Hurricanes next week.
 
Wellingborough Town are a good team who on balance were fortunate to win this exciting encounter. The Jaguars played flowing football whilst attacking and showed great defensive ability as well. They can move forward knowing that they more than hold their own against one of the best and most robust teams in the league.
 
Excellent effort!!!
 
K & JL
17/10/09