Thrapston Town
3 v Rushden Rangers
3
It has been a while since the rub of the green seemed to
be in our favour, but maybe this was one of those games that
even themselves out over the season. With some key players
missing it was going to be a tall order to put a reverse
on a team that beat us 2-1 earlier in the season.
The 3 reasons that Town got the point from this game
1, Effort
2, Good finishing
3, That little bit of luck
Rushden started out the brighter team and although Thrapston
had a couple of ½ chances, the lead was taken by Rangers
with a looping shot into the top corner. A niggling injury
has forced Morson off and soon after, another scramble and
the ball gets poked home for Rushden’s
second. Not looking too hot eh, but then maybe one of the
turning points in the game.
Picture this if you will.
A shot from around the edge of the box is saved by Alex
Vitue the Thrapston keeper. The ball is saved onto the bar,
comes back down, hits the keeper on the back of the head,
onto the post where finally it was dived on to complete the
save. Smiles of disbelief all around, and surely if Rushden
had got that 3rd it would all have been over.
Back came Thrapston with 2 Superbly taken goals by MOM Devante
Hodgson. One a lob over the stranded keeper, the other an
early taken shot from the edge of the box which nestled in
the corner of the net.
So half time and its Desmond Tutu.
The squad was used early in the second half to rotate the
tiring players, and this was going to play a big part in
the team going the full 60. No AW on the phone to me questioning
stamina.
An even early period of the second half with Rushden being
restricted to long shots from the edge of the box which were
well held by the Thrapston keeper.
With about 15 to play Thrapston conceded a penalty after
a foul in the box. This was smashed home into the corner
by the Rushden player and left Thrapston with it all to do
again.
A double substitution with Morson having run off his injury
rejoining the fray in midfield. Thrapston were competing
a bit more in midfirld and showing some determination to
get back into the game . It nearly all went awry – A
Rushden attack and shot over the keeper was cleared off the
line by the influential Josh Scarbrow. Another attack and
shot, the Thapston keeper beaten, only for the ball to come
back off the post into the keepers arms. With 5 to go and
Town needing something from the game, a tactical change was
made, going 3 at the back and pushing an extra man up. Within
2 minutes, this appeared to have worked as Hodgson broke
free after a through ball from todays captain Luke Rivett,
and his right foot shot whistled past the Rushden keeper
into the back of the net.
So full time and 3-3, and a spirited performance from Thrapston
who were missing Alsop and Gallagher.
We didn’t win, but neither did we lose, and the squad
that played today should generally be pleased with the point
against the odds.
Next week Vicarage Farm, and if we can produce some more
of the same we should be adding more points to the league
come next Sunday afternoon.
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