Experience conquers youth in derby thriller (From Gazette Series)

Experience conquers youth in derby thriller

Cam Bulldogs 3 Kingswood 1

BOTH teams made wholesale changes for this big local derby, as the battle for the top places in the Northern Senior League Division Two continued on Saturday.

Kingswood played veteran Steve Blakeney for the first time this season, and he put in a solid performance, starting in midfield and then moving into central defence when skipper Daren Ford left the game early with a hip injury.

Cam, meanwhile, knew that they were short of four first team players, but when they lost another two on the morning of the game things turned difficult and, to cap it all, they then lost their inspirational captain, Danny McIntosh, within ten minutes of the start through injury.

With so many changes it was not surprising that it took the whole of the first half before Cam got their act together, while the visitors were dominant.

Cam only had one chance in the half, as a cross-shot from distance hit the bar with Paul Szuluk unlucky not to score as the rebound came back far too fast for him to be able to do react.

The visitors started to look dangerous and they went in front on 30 minutes, as a Simon Clarke corner was powered into the net by Adam Harber, who had nipped in front of Andy Hopkinson, with third choice keeper Rob Birch standing no chance.

Kingswood were now running the game and Rich Collett, Ian Cheshire, Pete Holder and Chris Jones in the Bulldogs' midfield were chasing shadows as the young Kingswood athletes played some excellent one touch football.

The home team were then put under more pressure and just before the break Gavin Dibden's header thumped against the crossbar, and a 2-0 lead at that point may have made it difficult for Cam in the second half.

After some constructive criticism at half-time from manager Stuart Grimwood, a totally different home team seemed to take to the pitch as Cam dominated the second 45 minutes. The Bulldogs simply took control, with their vast experience in the end proving to be too much for the young Kingswood side. They then had a good claim for a penalty turned down when Rodman collided with Tony Goodwin.

Cam got back on level terms when good work out on the left between Maz Meta and Hopkinson saw the latter put in a lovely cross for Szuluk to control and then turn to smash home his first goal for Cam, beating Andy Rodman from a tight angle.

Minutes later, Cam were in front when a long ball forward found the excellent Goodwin, who headed home over a stranded Rodman.

The goal left Kingwood with a mountain to climb as the clock ticked by. They nevertheless went for broke, leaving just two men back. They were often caught out when Cam broke out but they rode their luck and came close on several occasions themselves. But it was not to be.

With Cam camped in the Kingswood half, the game had a frantic five minute spell when Cam could and should have killed the game off. Collett won yet another corner, which was drilled in by Holder and met with power by Goodwin's head only to for Rodman to pull off an outstanding save.

Moments later, Meta was put through, tipped it past the advancing keeper and was then flattened, only for the referee to wave play on.

The prolific Meta then had another chance and this time made no mistake, coolly chipping the advancing keeper when put clean through.

After the game, boss Grimwood said: "The lads that helped out this week did brilliantly - Rich Collett from the seconds, Rob Birch the third team keeper and Chris Jones, who hasn't played for months, and so a big thanks to them.

"With no game this week it will hopefully let some injuries heal. We do have a night game on Wednesday (March 10), the semi-final of the Stroud Charity Cup at Shortwood, then three days later the big one at home to top of the table Bourton, so we will probably rest some players from the Wednesday game."

Kingswood chairman Dave Birt praised Cam's performance afterwards, and commented: "Kingswood are a young side and they have done really well this season and with the experienced gained, they could well be a force next term.

"Cam look a team well capable of gaining promotion this time and may well go all the way to the championship."