On what started out as a muggy Sunday morning, Kempston Rural boys were disappointed to turn up to Kempston Rovers 4G pitch and not find Chris Pratt controlling the Raptors.
The referee blew the whistle and Raptors got the game started. Rural slow to start let Raptors have the majority of the possession for the first 10 minutes. Growing confidence in the game, Rural managed to get the ball down the right to Carl Pearson, who had a little tussle with former Rural midfielder Jhey Tompkins. Tompkins initially bringing Pearson down in the box, penalty right? Wrong! The referee waved it away as he felt it was too theatrical.
Then came an attack by Raptors which saw them launch the ball over the top for 37th time for their winger to beat the offside trap and dink the ball over the rushing goalkeeper. 1-0 Raptors.
Half time closing in and Pearson on the left this time, wriggled his way past the defender to put a cross in which fell to Brendan at the edge of the area, first time strike was so so close..to going for a throw.
Rural sensing they have a chance to get something before half time, so some beautiful build up play in the center release Dids for a run, he fancily reversed a pass through to Carl who went one on o e with the keeper. GOAL kick, but wait! The referee actually gave Rural a good decision and saw that Carl was brought down by the keeper before he could retain his 17 metre pass. Kempston Rurals own BFG striker Zack Weeks steps up to take the penalty. The keeper graciously dives the wrong way, for his benefit more than ours for Zach to smash it into the bottom right corner, 1-1 and game on….after half time.
The boys had their water breaks, nipple vaseline and subs were made. Rural to kick-start the second half.
While Rural were playing some nice passing football, it didn’t seem to be going anywhere which allowed the Raptors players to sit back and counter attack, and counter attack they did! A ball cleared from defence smashed the winger in the chest as he tried to control it, luckily it bouncing over Rurals defenders head into the path of their left footed striker, who marginally managed to dink it over Kenpstons keeper who went for a little lie down it seemed. 2-1 Raptors.
Kempston Rural seemed to have shut off after Raptors second, and found themselves 3-1 down. Changes needed? Water break needed? Who knew but they needed to change something quickly.
After a few changes were made Rural started to grow into the second half finally! Brendan looked to have done too much after beating three Raptors players, to only manage to come away with the ball still and try a little dinked ball over the defence to Carl, the defender had other ideas and nodded it out for a corner. Corner swung in by Michael Badkin, found new signing Dave lurking near the back post, certain to score his first Rural goal on his debut found his header miracously saved off the line.
Another corner came for Rural which was swung in by Gaffer/Player Adam Sturges, which came back out to him to attempt another try, the ball finding its way into the area ricocheting around came off the keeper to hit the defender to bounce into the path for Carl to neatly slot home. 3-2 game o.. oh wait, of course the linesmans flag is up for offside. 18 players picked from a 35 player squad, 7 players on the bench but the gaffer has to pick up linesman duties.. do me a flavour. Referee sides with the linesman and goal disallowed.
Moments later Rural find themselves in a spot of bother and a ball over the top finds Raptors winger/Striker wherever he was playing through on goal to slot it in the net. 4-1, nope Rurals linesman flag is up as well. Huge let off for Rural!
Changes were made again and Rural find themselves in Raptors penalty box, big Daves on the ball dancing around like he’s been in the West End all his life goes down from a challenge. Penalty to Rural! Brendan grabs the ball and places it on the spot. Drowning out the abuse from the Raptor players behind him and on the sideline, he calmly walks up to the ball as slow as you like and slots it in the bottom left corner, 3-2 and definitely game on!
Changes were made yet again and a ball floated in from the left found Big ole Dave at the back post again! Neatly controlled all that was left was to find the finish… never in doubt, nearly struck home past the keeper and Rural fight back from 3-1 down to make it 3-3. Final whistle goes and according to Michael V the points were shared.
That was Kempston Rurals second game of the ore season and with players still out and having to get ringers in and new signings playing, it was a well fought battle against Denham Raptors, who played their 27th friendly today.
Kempston Rural face a tough Clapham Side next Sunday with a pitch still to be confirmed and missing a few key players again.
Man of the Match – Big Dave (New Signing)
Dick of the Day – Carl Pearson
Kempston Rural FC 