Bedford Rangers 7-0 Freshfield
1st December 2002
Just before announcing the Good Friday agreement, Tony Blair said that it wasn't a moment for soundbites, then in the next breath said "I feel as if the hand of history is upon our shoulder". This report, in similar vein, can only start by saying that "A week is a long time in football". It was always likely that Bedford Rangers were likely to do their utmost to avenge last week's defeat at Altcar Road, but even they must have been surprised at the ease with which their goal was achieved. Notwithstanding the fact that Freshfield fielded a slightly different and frankly weaker XI than the previous week, the manner of the defeat rather than the scoreline gives most cause for concern.
To say that Freshfield have lacked consistency this season would be to state the blindingly obvious. The real problem that manager Andy Smith faces is not that the quality of performance has varied so much, but rather that the application and commitment of his players has been so variable. Few players emerged from this game with their reputations enhanced. Colin Knight came in at right back for Mike Kemp, who preferred to watch Liverpool lose to Manchester United. Last week's midfield hub of Armstrong and Brooks, removed by work commitment and injury, was replaced by Chris Jones and Geoff Booker, and John Eccles made his first start for the first XI this season up front. The first ten minutes of play was disjointed, with neither side impressing. From then on it was all one way. Power made a couple of reasonable saves to keep the game scoreless before the floodgates open. It was a remarkable feature of this game that every goal scored by Bedford was scored by a player who was completely unmarked. First their striker Brett, impressive last week and this, latched onto a lose ball from 8 yards out and scored easily. Then 2 headers found the net, the first from a corner, the second from open play. John Eccles had Freshfield's only shot of the half, which went comfortably wide. This was the first game in Freshfield's history in which they did not manage a single shot on target.
Slack marking with a minute gone in the second half allowed another headed goal, though if anything the second half performance from Freshfield showed a marginal improvement, in terms of application if nothing else. Still, though, basic disciplines like marking at corners and forming a defensive wall before rather than after free kicks were taken seemed strangely difficult concepts to manage. Brian McGlynn hit a well-struck half-volley half-way through the half which didn't miss by much, but in reality a consolation goal would have been ill-deserved. Damian Nolan continued in his efforts to accumulate more yellow cards in his first season than the club as a whole in its previous 4, and at the end Booker, by now pushed back to centre-half, was lucky to avoid a caution when he conceded a penalty in unceremonious circumstances.
The changing rooms at Carr Lane have undergone a "Changing Rooms" renovation since Freshfield last visited, but more than a lick of paint will be required to erase the memory of this abject performance.
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Team
Nigel Power |
Manager's Man of the Match
Player's Man of the Match
Supporter's Man of the Match
Attendance |