8 Goal Derby Thriller

The Colts were well up for this local derby and were fully aware that we had a chance for some much needed league points.

The gaffer Darren Paul had a selection headache this week as he had a squad of 15 to pick from, which is great news for the Colts and the club as a whole.

This week the gaffer Darren Paul made a complete change in formation and his team talk before the game showed his intentions for the game.

Staring with our 4-3-3 formation we played some great football early on, our link up play between the midfield and forwards was excellent and had Dowlish in lots of trouble from the off. We were creating lot of chances but we failed to take any of them. Dowlish now started creating some chances and Steve Garland was called upon to make an excellent save early on.

With our midfield and forwards looking comfortable with the ball and playing some great football it looked like it was only a matter of time before we scored. Against the run of play Dowlish broke the dead lock by a long ball that was not convincing cleared by the Colts defence allowing Dowlish to put the ball into the back of the net. We immediately started pressing back Dowlish but like the first goal a colt’s defensive error allowed Dowlish to score their second. The colts looked disheartened as they were playing some great football but a couple of mistakes and we were two nil down. Dowlish had now grown in confidence with their two goal lead and a Dowlish midfielder brushed of the colt’s midfield and defence to run straight through and score a third just before half time.

Half time = Ilminster Colts 0 – 3 Dowlish & Donyatt

The half time team talk by the gaffer was straight to the point highlighting that we deserved more from this game and that it was only some poor defensive decisions that had cost us. The colts were told to come out second half with all guns blazing as the game was there to be won.

We started the second half brightly ignoring the score line we were creating chances and trying our hardest to push dowlish onto the back foot. Ten minutes into the second half and we still did not look like scoring so the gaffer rang the changes bringing on Chris Rawle and himself in the place of Andy fish and Tommy wallis. This tactical decision made an instant impact with Darren Paul making a great run to find the end of a Joe draper cross with a diving header, narrowly missing the target.

The colts looked regenerated and within minutes a spilled shot was tapped in by Adam Whaites and the come back was on. We now started dominating play and Dowlish looked really uncomfortable with the ball. Another goal by Adam Whaites spurred on the colts and Andy Moore finished coolly making the score line 4-3 to Dowlish with 15 minutes left to play.

The Colts were digging deep and started pushing Dowlish on to the back foot as they started arguing amongst them selves. We were really playing some great football and an excellent strike from ken Timson put us 4-3 up.

With only 5 or so minutes to we made the fatal error or sitting to deep and Dowlish took full advantage of this and were pushing hard to find the equaliser. Dowlish were awarded a soft free kick just inside our half and it was fro this that another poor defensive header let Dowlish score to bring the teams level and that how it finished.

All in all it was a great team performance from the colts and it again showed our never give up attitude and we fully deserved the point if not the win. Looking to the next game the colts are in a good place with a formation that seems to bring the best out of the team. Morale amongst the team is excellent and with a loyal and committed squad that we have it should be a good season ahead.

Donkey of the Day = Andy Fish