Champions earn draw
They say football is a game of two halves, and yet anyone watching this game before the interval would have been bemused how an encounter between champions reigning and champions elect could produce anything less that the pulsating football and goal apiece they had seen thus far. Yet the second half was an altogether nervier affair, with the plummeting temperatures paralleled by the declining quality of play.
Worcester came into this game brimming with confidence after their convincing form had propelled them to top of the league standing. They also had Alex Toogood, a fresher with semi-celebrity status in footballing circles thanks to his goal haul so far this season. Queen’s in comparison had yet to record a league victory in their title defence season without the influential Kurosh Nikbin, recalled for this match.
During the first ten minutes Worcester, as usual, looked to create their chances by attractively playing the ball in to feet. Queen’s, however, had a much more direct approach to their play that was almost rewarded with an early thunderbolt that savaged the crossbar. Throughout this early period, Toogood displayed some sublime touches in the final third but was often crowded out by the Queen’s defence, clearly well aware of the danger he posed.
Indeed, it was the tough tackling shown by both sides that resulted in the game’s first goal, scored by Queen’s on 19 minutes. From a free-kick Nikbin whipped in an in-swinging cross that was nonchalantly flicked into the net from point-blank range by the towering Paul Gorrie. Worcester responded with renewed vigour as they sought to break down the resolute Queen’s defence with some one-touch interplay.
However Queen’s were still looking dangerous, inspired by Nikbin’s pace, intelligent running and mesmerising skill. Worcester finally got the breakthrough on 35 minutes when they won a corner after a Toogood effort was cleared off the line following a rare lapse in concentration from the Queen’s defence.
Robust right-winger Sam Rowlands, impressive throughout, floated in a cross that the keeper flapped at as it soared over to waiting centreback Chris Beanland at the back stick, who duly converted. The pace of the game intensified as both teams stuck to their game-plan with Queens’ long ball the more effective as Toogood became rather isolated whilst Nikbin hung ominously off the shoulder of the last defender. Yet on the brink of half time Worcester nearly made it 2-1.
A Worcester corner created a goalmouth scramble that ended up with passionate Worcester pleas to the ref that the ball had crossed the line, though to no avail. The interval saw Queens’ captain Paul Gorrie rouse his men with a call for tougher tackling. Nonetheless the second period disappointed, handing only flurries of half-chances to both teams.
Nikbin became increasingly prominent as he dropped deeper to receive play as those around him began to be afflicted with cramp, a reflection of the game’s relentless tempo. On 61 minutes Queens introduced substitute Matt White as a further attacking option. Within moments he threatened with a textbook example of the scissor- kick for his first touch of the game. However, the Worcester keeper brought his acrobatic antics down to earth.
Another gilt-edged chance came for Queens in the dying embers of the game from whom else but Nickbin, spinning off the last defender, latched onto a through ball in the box, only to see his sizzling shot flash past the far post. After the game Worcester midfield general Lucian Western praised the Queen’s team for their play, but lamented his team’s general failure to convert spells of possession into clear-cut chances.
It’s still too early to label championship favourites but on the evidence of this performance, both teams should be there or thereabouts come end of Hilary Term.
17th Nov 2005