FLASHBACK TO 2011 & DUNKIRK RALLY FROM 3-0 DOWN TO DRAW 4-4 AT COALVILLE TOWN...

Boatmen Amuse Then Confound Ruffled Ravens

Coalville Town 4 Dunkirk 4

(2011...)

Dunkirk went behind to a looping header, conceded a penalty and contrived to gift their hosts the most farcical of third goals, before fighting back to parity with some guts and a considerable amount of ability. 

They then allowed the Ravens to score late in the contest and seemingly break their hearts, yet they stormed back again to equalise in the final moments of this spectator-revel at Owen St. 

Leigh Everitt, the injured Coalville defender chatted to me before the game and his startled expression at the end of the contest said it all but I reckon he was glad he hadn’t featured in his team’s defensive performance. And Dunkirk’s early on, for that matter… 

It was a great match to watch, however, with many twists and turns, plus some fine individual displays and it appeared that Dunkirk had come of age in the Midland Alliance. A veteran moaner and Barwell fan, who left the match with ten minutes remaining, summed it all up in one word, “Rubbish…” Well, perhaps he was used to being bored at Barwell’s games…

The hosts took the lead in fortunate circumstances, when Goodby’s deep delivery, left of centre was headed by Boatman McCaughey, 10 yards out, with Murdock near him and ‘keeper Want stranded, resulting in what looked like an agonising looping own-goal into the left corner of the Dunkirk net. Murdock seemed to have been awarded the goal however, the ball apparently deflecting off his shoulder... 

In the 20^th minute, Beck challenged Carney on the byeline and conceded a penalty, which Cameron Stuart despatched low into the right corner of goal with Want diving like a dolphin but in the opposite direction. Another three minutes lapsed and the Boatmen were sinking without trace, as Elliott and Want combined to concede a third and totally ludicrous goal. 

Oddly, it shouldn’t have counted, for the referee’s assessor told me that the preceding left-wing corner had been taken from outside the quadrant and with a moving ball but Murdock picked up the short corner anyway, played a poor ball towards the near post, where only Elliott and Want were positioned and then the comedy began. The two colleagues appeared like they were in a three-legged soccer game, limbs tied together, both hesitating then hacking, then holding back and then looking horrified as the ball trickled between them for an embarrassing goal. 

Incredibly, before the spectators had taken in the unfolding situation, Boatman Theo Smith swung a right-wing cross straight to Bowles, who inexplicably allowed the ball to slip through his grasp on the goal-line and Westcarr slithered the loose ball into the net from a yard or two. 

26 minutes gone, four goals scored and then Westcarr dispossessed a slumbering Ravens’ Dodd in the 28^th minute and raced away from the covering Kay to the byeline. Goodby was attempting to mark Atkin but Westcarr’s delivery reached the far post, where the gleeful Grant rose and planted a firm downward header from 2 yards past the scrambling Bowles.

Breathless, the players left the field for the break. Coalville’s midfield had rarely created enough to threaten Dunkirk after the opening three ridiculous goals but they certainly looked suspect to their guests’ ability not only to race clear on the left but also to pass from midfield, where Elliott and Darren Garmston were relishing the match. Smith hadn’t really been involved too much on the right for Dunkirk but again, Moore and Murdock didn’t really appear to have formed any kind of striking partnership for the hosts either.

In the 72^nd minute, McGeown’s right-wing centre, close to the ‘keeper, was closed down by Grant and he bundled his 3 yard shot at Bowles’ falling body but the striker’s rebound effort was poked under the goalie to net a deserved equaliser.

Raven Callum Woodward was looking useful from the attacking right but it was a low centre by Stuart in the 82^nd minute which looked to have won the game for the hosts. Beck stretched, the ball rolled across the 6 yard box and Gardner slid forward to prod the ball over the goal-line from 4 yards or so.

Incredibly though, in the last minute of the match, the Boatmen snatched their point. Grant chased the ball towards the left corner-flag attended by two Ravens. He kept the ball in play, laid it back to McCaughey, who crossed from deep and Alls managed to knock it back for Smith, at inside-left, 12 yards out. The winger, under pressure, cracked a fine low shot into the net past the diving Bowles at the near post. 

This had been an entertaining game, although the respective coaches would be fuming at the generally lax defending, especially by Coalville. It was refreshing to see a visiting team attack one of the strongest teams in the division with no fear, however and despite some heavy defeats, Dunkirk were by that time mixing it in the division with more confidence and consistency. Beck and Gregory certainly steadied the central defence. Coalville’s two strikers needed more involvement but the midfielders were obviously shaken when Dunkirk netted twice in a minute, leaving Garmston and Elliott to run the creative areas of the pitch. Smith was quiet at times, Westcarr quieter after the break but Grant was grafting until the end. Woodward worked hard for the Ravens and Stuart looked composed for the most part, yet the two replacements were more dangerous in their cameo appearances than Moore and Murdock had been during the course of the game. Dodd really struggled for Coalville, for Westcarr’s earlier pace had hurt him. 

It’s what Westcarr did…