RESERVES HEAD HOME EMPTY HANDED

It was another disappointing performance from the Cardea reserves which has left them still searching for the opening win of the 2018/19 season.

A couple of absentees from last week’s side meant a little bit of a reshuffle of personnel. Luke Marriott returned to the Number 1 (13) jersey after missing the last couple of weeks of pre season and last week’s season opener. The returning Aaron Guntrip coming back into centre back alongside Jon Saunders. Kaylum Clark came into Right Back for his first appearance of the season, with Dave Hardingham, Stuart Lee and Rob Dempsey also making their first starts in midfield.

The first 5 minutes was very positive for the Cardea boys, controlling the game, moving the ball around and looking in control. However, Thurlby took advantage of the wind and favourable gradient, and with a mix up between Marriott and Saunders, the Thurlby striker put them ahead (against the run of play) after 11 minutes. 6 minutes later it got worse for Cardea when a free kick was given away 25 yards from goal, and from a fairly innocuous looking strike, the ball found its way past the despairing Marriott, who was able to get a hand on the free kick, but not enough to keep it out.

20 minutes in and 2-0 down, things once again took a turn for Cardea when Wayne Ward went down injured with an injury that looked very similar to the one that Dan Chamberlain suffered last week, although it doesn’t look as bad thankfully. This once again brought Eddy Underhill into the game, which meant another reshuffle for Cardea.

Last week, Cardea managed to get a foot hold in the game when Jon Saunders converted from a corner. This week it went the other way, when the Thurlby captain found himself unmarked 4 yards out, he rifled past Marriott, leaving the returning keeper no chance.

At 3-0 down, Cardea began to once again get a foothold in the game, and created a couple of chances at the end of the first half. One falling to Eddy Underhill, who fired wide after a magnificent acrobatic pass (might have been a shot) from captain James Roberts found Dave Arnold out wide, who delivered into the crowded penalty area. After a bit of pin ball, Underhill fired his volley a yard or-so wide in what was the best chance of the half for Cardea.

The second half saw Thurlby sit back and protect their 3 goal lead, trying to hit Cardea on the counter. Meaning the Cardea boys had the vast majority of the play in the second half, down the deceptively steep hill and with a tail wind.

After the first 15 minutes of the second half proved Cardea’s dominance, Adam Stacey was introduced and it was 4-4-2 to try and force that goal that had eluded the team so far.

Stacey almost had an instant impact with an acrobatic attempt at the back post, however he completely missed the ball which dropped harmlessly out of play for a goal kick.

Cardea continued to push Thurlby back, however they almost made it 4 with 10 minutes to go after a well executed counter attack left a man unmarked at the back post. However, the Thurlby man fired into the playground around 20 yards off the pitch, when he had ¾ of the goal to aim at. This was met with groans of disapproval from the surprisingly enthusiastic Thurlby crowd. One man turning and walking to his car in disgust after the miss.

At the other end it was continued frustration for Cardea, who discovered a new potential weapon in debutant Full Back Aaron Lewis. He was very enthusiastic to take a throw in shortly after coming on, met by curiosity from the management staff. He wound up and delivered many dangerous throw ins in the closing 10 minutes, all of which somehow managed to avoid any meaningful contact from any Cardea player.

The last 10 minutes of the game was reminiscent of the first 5, Cardea dominating but unable to break through to create any meaningful chance. Until Dave Hardingham got himself on the end of an attempt from Dave Arnold, unfortunately Big Dave could not poke his effort goal bound, and this was the end of the game.

The game was another disappointing one, when again Cardea did not reach the heights that they displayed at times in Pre-Season. More absentees next week, but there needs to be big improvement for next week’s game against Gunthorpe. Maybe the foreign import Peter Green will be available for this game, maybe he won’t be… but if you’re reading this… Nicola Sturgeon… GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER AND LET HIM PLAY!