This was a disgraceful performance with the Editor playing a leading role. On paper this was down for a comfortable home win, with the local bookmakers refusing to give odds. And with the usual local derby, results mean nothing. In actual fact South Notts began with confidence and started to pass the ball around. Beeston appeared oblivious to this and waited for the onrush of goals. Unfortunately players forgot that these have to be earned and do not just happen. The tempo was raised but only slightly making very little difference apart from slowly but surely moving South Notts onto the defensive. For the rest of the half South comfortably allowed Beeston space but nobody was capable of exploiting it.
In the second half a roasting from skipper Steve Brooks was expected to have the desired effect but nothing changed. Until with twenty minutes left at a "16" Phil Hall played to the call without looking. Standing between him and Gary Steeples was their centre forward. His first attempt was saved by Paddy Dawson but the ball slipped under his foot, Paddy saved his second attempt, but the third attempt was trickling towards the goal line but by this time Aylwin and Hall had recovered in time to keep the ball out. WRONG! A delicate reverse stick touch from Phil Hall was enough to defeat Richard Aylwin. This for some reason had the desired effect in that for 10 minutes it actually woke certain players up. Then Beeston equalised through Tom Keysell. Surely a point was all we could hope for, but Clive Biddlecombe had other ideas as he charged along the goal line fighting off the crashing timber to force the ball somehow past the keeper. Even the Umpire was surprised that he had to see where the ball was before he awarded the goal. All that could be said was that Beeston had used their Monopoly card and " Got out of Jail free ".
Paddy Dawson
Phil Hall
Steve Brooks Richard Aylwin Gary Steeples
Robert Taylor Clive Biddlecombe Nick Keysell
Adrian Potter Tristan Gilbody Tom Keysell
Goalscorers : Tom Keysell, Clive Biddlecombe
November 11th 1995 : League v Loughborough Town 6 - 0
For skipper Steve Brooks and ageing Phil Hall this was the important fixture. To lose here is akin to slitting one's own throat. As it turned it was a comfortable win but in the first half Loughborough with their attacking switch play were confusing Aylwin and Blackmore [not too difficult some people would say]. These defensive problems were minor in comparison to the opposition's defensive problems. With Phil Sully and Tom Keysell linking well on the right, Loughborough veteran Stan Coats had his hands full. But it wasn't until late on in the half that Beeston took the lead. A sharp penalty corner strike from Steve Brooks was well saved but John Axworthy was onto the rebound first to score. Shortly before the break Beeston increased their lead through Phil Sully powering home another rebound.
Two nil at half time was probably a fair reflection but the second half was virtually one-way traffic. The third goal was a bit special as the scorer was Steve Brooks. Meeting a cross from the right he fired first time, behind square leg, into the bottom left corner. Almost immediately afterwards Phil Sully went off on a mazy dribble, seemingly unaware of defenders to beat the keeper with a reverse stick shot. There were more to come when Matt Taylor finished off a move, which included a Mike Parkin pass. Not to be overcome with being involved Mike Parkin finished off the scoreline with a push between the keeper's legs. So in the space of 5 minutes Parkin had done 2 things, which he had never done in the previous 10 years. Other memories of the game included a quality piece of skill from Matt Taylor. Rounding the keeper he approached the empty net like a prowling leopard. All that was left to do was to put the ball into the net. To most people this seemed easy, but to Matt this proved far more difficult as duly hit the side netting.
Paddy Dawson
Phil Hall
Steve Brooks Richard Aylwin Brian Blackmore
Robert Taylor Clive Biddlecombe Robin Schmidt
Phil Sully Matt Taylor Mike Parkin
Subs : John Axworthy, Tom Keysell
Goalscorers : John Axworthy, Philip Sully(2), Steve Brooks, Matt Taylor, Mike Parkin
November 18th : League v GEC Rugby 5 -0
They say that the leopard never changes it's spots. Well, Matt Taylor does it again. Another piece of super skill, beating defenders then beating the keeper. Then what !! Another empty net, another bad day for the angler, the one that got away - AGAIN !! Fortunately it didn't matter but it is becoming due cause for concern. No problem from 16 yards, but 1 yard - who knows. Not long after Tom Keysell showed the way when he also rounded the keeper, but he calmly pushed the ball home. This seemed to create a settling effect and Beeston began to stroke the ball around.
Soon after Beeston increased their lead when at a switch penalty corner, Clive Biddlecombe fired low into the opposite corner. Beeston maintained this lead up to half time without too much trouble. In actual fact Ali Hartley was having little to do.
In the second half Beeston tried the same switch move, and even though not as well executed the result was the same with Biddlecombe again netting. The rest of the game was now under control and Beeston further increased their lead when Tom Keysell popped up to score his second and Beeston's fourth.
The final goal came when Clive Biddlecombe showed Matt Taylor the skill of pulling the ball back from the goal line and Matt duly obliged. Towards the end of the game one of the GEC players lost his timing and could have been given the "Yellow" but the Umpires were lenient by doing their bit for " Children in Need ".
Team : Ali Hartley
Phil Hall
Steve Brooks Richard Aylwin Gary Steeples
Alix Rotton Clive Biddlecombe Robin Schmidt
Tom Keysell Matt Taylor Robert Taylor
Goalscorers : Tom Keysell (2), Clive Biddlecombe (2), Matt Taylor
November 25th : League v GPT Coventry 4 - 0
Two minutes to Countdown. I now know how Astronauts feel just before take off. You are in the hands of others and they control your destiny. You have travelled far, have trained meticulously yet you have no way of knowing the outcome.
And so it was today when Paddy Dawson decided to travel direct, and got lost. Fortunately the Umpires gave Beeston some breathing space and how they needed it. They eventually started with Richard Aylwin in goal whilst Paddy got changed. For some reason this seemed to inspire Beeston who played some good hockey, with Robin Schmidt covering every piece of " Grass ". Eventually Beeston were at full strength and slowly took control. Even so when half time arrived the game was still goalless but surely couldn't stay that way as Beeston slowly turned up the heat. With Robin Schmidt playing like a colossus in midfield we surely had to win. But in the end it was skipper Steve Brooks leading the way. As a shot at goal rebounded off a defender's stick Steve Brooks reacted first to lob the ball into the net. Several thought it a fluke - but perhaps the speed of the stick deceived the eye.
Almost straight after Phil Sully scored a similar goal, except that he beat about 4 defenders and the keeper, then managed to stay up after being fouled by the keeper.
Coventry's heads dropped almost instantly as they began to dispute decisions and it was unfortunate when the keeper received his marching orders. It appeared that he may have misread the lines but he did play the ball outside the circle. Soon after Beeston increased their lead when Mike Sutton reacted first in the circle to a rebound and fired the ball home.
Just before the end Sutton scored again after a pass from Phil Sully gave him time to pick his spot. This may have turned into an easy victory but this due more to Robin Schmidt than it was to Richard Aylwin's so called bad back. What do you really do on Saturday mornings ??
Team : Paddy Dawson
Phil Hall
Steve Brooks Gary Steeples Richard Aylwin
Robert Taylor Clive Biddlecombe Robin Schmidt
Phil Sully Mike Sutton David Allott
Goalscorers : Steve Brooks, Phil Sully, Mike Sutton