Notts snatch 2nd place from Kingfishers
By bigal • Dec 17th, 2009 • Category: Lead Story, National LeagueKingfisher made a change back to their full line up as they took on Nottingham in Kent, in a battle for second place. Amy Turner was back in the squad after resting at Knights the week before and made an immediate impact as she slotted from 6 metres to open the scoring against England Senior Natasha Dawson. An instant reply from Charlie Vogwill levelled the score at 1 - 1. Vogwill was playing without his rebounding specialist Al Knight who had not travelled, leaving a starting place for Alex Wright.
The female match-ups looked to be the most interesting to watch. As well as the Turner vs Dawson battle, Sammi Bedford was pitched against the rapid Hannah Lorrimer, with Nottingham’s female international duo side by side for the first time this season. It was the boys though that provided the early goals as Chris Lanting hit from the sidelines, after Liam Kirby, captain for this fixture, had put the home side ahead.
Seven minutes in and the teams were showing why they were in the top 3 with the score at 3 – 4. A missed penalty from Lanting would have made it more and a missed sitter from under the basket from Dawson let Kingfisher off the hook twice in quick succession.
Nottingham were recycling ball convincingly with long multi-shot attacks as Kingfisher’s lack of height was being exposed. Lorrimer ended the spell of pressure with a drop off shot as Bedford covered the front of the basket to stop her assisting. In contrast, Kingfisher’s attacks were direct and short as they could not retain the ball from the first shot. Nottingham extended to 3-6 with a goal from Helen Buttinger.
The scoring rate had slowed noticeably though: it was the 20th minute when Vogwill hit his third to give the often-decisive 4 goal lead. Kingfisher were starting to look under pressure; for the first time this season they looked unsure of themselves as they were not shooting well or controlling their attack. Morgan Neale reduced the deficit to 3 and the Kingfisher attack of Saskia and Hidde de Jaeger, Kirby and Morgan started to organised enough to create multiple chances. Three reasonable chances came their way but none were converted.
The improved organisation allowed Kirby to work more out front which paid dividends in a running in shot that ended in the fifth goal from the penalty spot. Vogwill would feel unlucky to have conceded with minimal contact trying to recover the situation, but good movement by Kirby created the opportunity.
The most interesting battle now was Kirby vs Vogwill as Nottingham attacked. The speed of Vogwill was being pitched against the height and agility of the Kingfisher captain. Vogwill was shooting with precision and scoring regularly from open play.
Kingfisher’s section of Turner and Bedford was easily the more productive with Turner working hard to earn a penalty for 6 – 7. In the other end defence was doubled on Vogwill which was sending more shooting chances in Wright’s direction which was suiting Kingfisher better. At half time Kingfisher trailed by only 1 goal.
Usual starter Rob Mann replaced Wright during the break after arriving straight from a long haul flight. A bold decision, but it resulted in better recycling as Kingfisher had adjusted to Wright’s early work.
Bedford featured for the first time 10 minutes into the half as she capitalised on the too-frequent aerial defence from Lorrimer but Nottingham were shooting superbly from mid range and kept the two goal lead. 20 minutes to go and Nottingham were definitely ahead in score and confidence.
Wilkins good work with Lanting was rewarded as he was amongst the late goals as Nottingham lengthened their lead. This was an uncharacteristically lack-lustre performance from Kingfisher and a very good shooting display by Nottingham who had used that simple ability to help them secure second place going into the Christmas break.
