Howe-zat

By: Paul Neal
Date: 28/08/2010

TOWN lined up Arthur/Samuels, Kempson, Watt, Wood/Gobern, Hudson, Cummings, Eagle/Peacock, Connell. Town were second best for the entire 1st half but it took Rushden 40 mins to score with the right back Miller heading in a corner.

Basically Town never got going - maybe the constant change of balls (5th one used just after the 30 min mark) didn't suit them! Samuels looked lightweight at full back although the left winger would've given Peter Bore a good game.

Within 2 mins of the restart Town were level - Peacock's inside right run being neatly converted by Hudson in front of the 541 away support. However, just before the hour mark came the turning point. Arthur picked up an injury and threw the ball out for a throw in to receive treatment. Sadly he was not fit to continue. Within minutes, Watt unluckily slipped on the now very wet surface - this left Charles 1 v 1 against an injured keeper with the inevitable result. Rushden sensed a weakness and went for the jugular and on the hour mark it became 3-1 - a very good finish which arguably a fit Arthur would not have saved. On 65 mins it was 4-1 - it has to be said that a fit Arthur would almost certainly have saved this one. Cue another 6 mins and Arthur did actually make a very routine save - too little too late.

The rest of the game became pretty meaningless as Town fans left in their droves, so I won't bore you with the details. Rene Howe played very well for Rushden and kept the Town defence on their toes all game. It would have been a lot more interesting if Town had a proper keeper for the entire 90 mins.

The debate will no doubt rage about whether the Town bench should have a reserve keeper. Woods plays the percentages game and rightly points out that it is rare to have the need to bring on a keeper as sub. In which case there has to be a plan B, ie an outfield player that can take the gloves - sadly that didn't happen. Incidentally Thanoj was on the bench today and his chances of making an appearance would have been little over nil. In which case, Rob Peet (whatever his ability) would have been a more useful sub and a more useful keeper than an injured Kenny Arthur.

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