On a warm Summers Sunday morning, Kempston Rural travelled to Stewartby to take on Hawkins FC! Only to be greeted by OB City and FC Rostar at the same pitch.
With a bit of confusion, many phone calls and many more struts the Minotaurs stood their ground and bagged the pitch, leaving OB City having to cry into their KFC’s as they can’t play football.
The game kicks off on a what is a very warm Sunday morning and the ground harder than Rolf Harris at a kids cricket match, Kempston gaining the possession and playing the ball around. Some nice football saw Kempston get into some promising positions but just couldn’t find the target as they went slightly past the goal or further and out for a throw in.
Kempston finally managed to get the scoring started and take a 1-0 lead after about 25 minutes from Ruffy, the flood gates opened then for Rural as another went in from Rhys and then Jack smashing one at the keepers near post and not getting angry about it!
Penalty to Rural!! Duffy wins it by being tickled in his back but the ref blows. Duffy to step up, everyone’s walking back trusting his left foot, but Duffy had other things in mind as being the outstanding sportsman that he is he struck the penalty nice enough for the keeper to tip it over the bar.
A 4th went in for Rural and they looked a bit more comfortable until Rurals very own Roy Carroll came rushing out to clear and missed the ball completely only to thank Jack (Nathan) for continuing his run to clear the ball.
Rural had so much attacking possession that when it came to defending they looked like it was a brand new skill to them as a few dangerous moments where little Ben who had been playing like a Sunday league McTominay decided to turn into a Sunday league Jonny Evans by gifting Hawkins a few opportunities in our box but thankfully their 7 ft striker decided to miss.
It was looking easy for Rural heading into half time until a ball over seemed to confuse our defence and not knowing that you’re supposed to kick the ball away and not let their striker get it saw big old Ivan Drago steam in behind and sit Ben down (we know how long that takes so that was an achievement in itself) and go past him and slot it into the net. Hawkins went wild! Celebrations galore.
Half time comes and subs were made.
Second half starts with Rural keeping the possession again and playing it around to tire out these Hawkins players. A ball through to Carl sees him one on one with the keeper, get past the keeper and rustles the net!! Only difference being it was the outside of it.
Carl again managed to pick the ball up out on the left and skilfully get past the defender and one on one with the keeper and he… misses again.
Quick drinks break and Rural out to haunt Hawkins and add to their tally sees Carl pick the ball up and drive into the box he’s going to hit it and nope, he beats the defender.. now he’s going to hit it.. nope he beats the other defender and now he’s going to hit it..surely.. he does and it is.. saved. (Becoming a bit of a regular occurrence this).
Rural have attack after attack and a ball into the box from a free kick falls down to Sam who buries it in the back of the net 5-1 and Kempston finally get the second half going. Some more good play sees Alfie strike in his second and Rurals 6th.
New signing Louis fancied himself to get on the score sheet and got it onto his left foot and look to bury it in the top corner.. of poor old Deirdre’s back garden as it flashed way out for a throw in.
A good spell of possession again for Rural saw a ball crossed into the box and land with Alfie with no-one around him he fancied himself to take two attempts to finish this one as his initial strike was saved by the keeper only to bounce back to him for him to put it into the net. 7-1!
Final whistle blows and Kempston finally get another win at the Stewartby ground. Making it 3 wins 2 losses and 1 draw in pre season.
Next up is a trip away from Stewartby to Lincroft school where Kempston will play Lidlington.
Man of the match – Alfred
Dick of the day – Carl
First half starting line up: Ben, Jack (Nathan), Tom, Gareth, Little Ben, Richard, Duffy, Luke, Jack, Rhys, Ruffy
Second half starting line up: Ben, Brendan, Harry, Connor, Sam, Dids, Alfie, Carl, Ross, Rhys, Louis.
Goals: Alfred x3, Duffy, Ruffy, Sam, Jack
Kempston Rural FC 