Yorkshire Amateur League Division 1 – Saturday 17th November 2018
Full-time: Golcar United 4 – 4 Idle FC
Goals: C. Dawson (x2), J. Strudwick (x2)
MOTM: C. Dawson
Idle travelled to the depths of Huddersfield this week to face Golcar United for the the third time this season. Golcar have turned out to be something of a bogey side for Idle this year with a loss and a draw from the previous two meetings.
And the day didn’t get off to the best if starts with Idle manager, Rob Brook seemingly having to magic a new goalkeeper out of thin air thanks to Josh Dickinson’s terrible organisation skills. However, Dicko managed to pull his finger out and declare himself available despite a calf strain/playing in Durham/attending a birthday meal/finished work at 5:30am.
The game itself also started in a similar disjointed fashion with several of the starting XI carrying injuries and a few notable absentees to add insult to injury. Luke Chandler also made his long-awaited return from injury now his pelvis was now the right way round.
Despite (Dick) Van Dyke’s return, Idle managed to concede within the first five minutes of the game with a lapse in concentration at the back allowing the Golcar forward to loop the ball over the head of Dickinson to open the scoring.
Idle were soon two goals down when Chandler and Dickinson didn’t deal with a relatively simple ball in behind the Idle defence. Both defender and goalkeeper had all the time in the world to deal with the ball but hesitation followed by a panicked clearance saw the ball land at the feet of the Golcar midfielder who took full advantage of an empty net to double the home side’s lead.
Here’s actual footage of the Idle defence trying to clear the ball in the first half…
It’s safe to say the lads had started slowly and were completely off the pace. Adam Medley had provided a bit of an outlet down the left-wing but didn’t use his pace and dribbling ability enough to really scare his defender. Organisation at the back was all at sea and the ball wasn’t sticking upfront. The less said about the first half the better really…
Words were had at half-time with Jack Strudwick leading the team talk, along with Brook and club captain, Aaron Irving.
The message was clear: show more positivity, play to each others strengths and work hard.
I can’t emphasize enough the effect of a positive attitude from the lads and it certainly showed in the second half.
Idle came out fighting in the second 45 minutes with every player showing a desire to get about the pitch and a yard closer to the opposition. The football was much more positive as well with Medley doing what he’s good at and running at the defenders with the ball.
Carl Dawson was marauding forward to support the attack. Jordan Broadbent was holding the ball up and bringing the likes of C. Dawson and J. Strudwick into play in the attacking third and to be honest, Golcar couldn’t deal with it.
Idle were back in the game thanks to C. Dawson smashing a left footed swinger into the top corner and J. Strudwick adding to his tally for the season to equal the score. Overall, it was much better from the Bradford side.
However, Golcar managed to edge out in front against the run of play thanks to what was pretty much their only outlet. Two freekick’s weren’t dealt with by the Idle defence and both times the Golcar players found themselves in acres of space to slot home giving Idle another mountain to climb. 4-2.
Idle had been the much better side in the second half, having more of the ball and creating the better chances. George Collins was given a chance in the second half as he replaced Medley who had taken a knock.
Truth be told, Idle’s very own Kevin Ellison had a storming 35 minutes upfront supporting Broadbent. He did the simple side of the game very well, getting the ball under control and moving it on to keep the attack flowing and had a hand in several Idle goals.
It was Medley, J. Strudwick and Collins along with Broadbent who put together some lovely passing moves down the Idle right-wing, causing Golcar all sorts of problems defensively.
J. Strudwick reduced the defecit to one goal getting the score back to 4-3 in one of the flashpoints of the second half. The Idle man had gone to retrieve the ball from the net to restart play only to be stopped by the keeper who decided he’d throw himself to the ground following a “scuffle” to get the ball out of his hands.
I don’t think young J. Strudwick has been involved in a “scuffle” before so it’s nice to see he’s finally becoming a man… Oh and there was a yellow card for his troubles despite the Golcar managed protesting that it should be a red for his “disgusting behaviour”, whatever that was?
Once again, the interplay down the right-wing was magnificent and it was C. Dawson who got on the end of a Medley cross to level the scores at 4-4 and secure Idle’s second comeback of the day!
The game was certainly more open in the last 10 minutes with both sides seeking a winner. Dickinson made a fantastic save late on, charging out of his goal and smothering the strikers shot.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Conor Halligan and Broadbent had efforts cleared off the line by some serious last ditch Golcar defending.
In the end, neither side managed to grab a winner and the points were shared.
Idle’s second half performance certainly deserved a point at the very least but overall, there’s a definite need for improvement from the lads.
Hopefully, Brook has a full squad available to him sooner rather than later if the Blues are to mount a serious title challenge!
By Jamie Allen
The Playmaker 
Posted on November 20, 2018
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