Resilient Rovers Earn Preseason Draw with Stunning Jode Strike at Ashwell
A depleted Kimpton squad travelled to Litlington on Sunday to take on fellow Division Three side Ashwell, and put in it’s best overall performance of the preseason, in what could be the clubs’ penultimate pre-season friendly. The bank holiday weekend took it’s toll on the number of players available so manager Darren Riseley was left with a bare bones squad of thirteen which was boosted however, by the unexpected arrival of a further player around half time.
Notable in the performance was that every single player gave everything they had and in truth deserved more than the share of the spoils. The first half was a tight affair, with both sides hitting the crossbar, Thomas Bundy’s strike from distance was an absolute peach that left the home keeper pawing at thin air. Cam Swinburn and Rezza Rob worked well together up top, opening up the Ashwell defence on several occasions but were unable to find an end product, the game sitting goalless at half time.
Within a couple of minutes of the restart the hosts went ahead through a fine flicked header from a long throw in, somewhat against the general run of play. In previous seasons heads may well have dropped at going behind, but this is a new era for Kimpton and the squad, vastly improved by a shift in mentality and bolstered by players that have joined the club. It was that resilient mindset that has been fostered over the preseason that showed up and the team upped their game in search of a leveller. Before they could do so, Ashwell rattled the woodwork again from a direct free-kick but that was as close as they were to come to extending their lead. Kimpton came within inches of getting on the scoresheet as the game entered the last fifteen minutes when a pinpoint cross was somehow headed over the bar when it looked odds in to find the back of the net. That very net was found finally, a few minutes later when captain Alex Jode cut in from the right-hand side and unleashed an unstoppable shot that nestled in the far corner, simply a stunning strike. So, it was honours even at the end of the day which bodes well for when the teams face each other in the league.
Ashwell FC 1-1 Kimpton Rovers CFC
With the September fixtures released, Kimpton will play it’s season opener away at St Ippolyts Reserves on Sunday 7th, opening their home campaign the following week in the Herts County Cup against new side DES United. To celebrate the first home match back as Kimpton Rovers, our sleeve sponsor, The Homestead, will open to welcome spectators before and during the match, and our social sponsor, The Boot, will host us after the conclusion of the match.
