Wardens lose out to league leaders Dunlop

By Eamonn Richards

25th Sep 2024 | Football


Kenilworth Wardens' tough start to the season continued with a 2-1 loss to league leaders Dunlop. 

After a strong first 10 minutes for Wardens Dunlop began to control possession and took the lead on 15 minutes.

Kenilworth gave possession away cheaply in their own half and the ball was played to Dunlop captain Olyaanaa Ahmed. Ahmed had space and time on the edge of the box to play an excellent through ball to Jack Archer on the penalty spot, where Archer excellently passed the ball around Andy Whitehouse in the Wardens goal, for his fifth goal in as many games.

Dunlop continued to dominate and Wardens were grateful to Whitehouse who made a string of saves to keep the game 1-0.

The closest Kenilworth came to equalising was a ball forward by Adam Hnat to Dan Twigger, but his effort from a tight angle went narrowly wide. 

Wardens' afternoon went from bad to worse when an injury forced Mark Lynas off the pitch and five minutes later Dunlop took a deserved second goal. Dunlop won a header 25 yards out which fell kindly to the completely free Dennis Abiodun who calmly finished. 

Changes were made at half time for Kenilworth with Roger Kingston and Diarmuid Winston both coming onto the pitch.

The change worked and they began to dominate possession and create chances.

On 55 an Eamonn Richards corner was headed goal wards by Twigger but was saved off the line from a Dunlop player and put out for another corner.

The next Richards' corner was competed for by James Brewitt and fell to Winston but his shot cannoned off the crossbar. 5

Five minutes later they finally pulled a deserved goal when a Sol Bloomer freekick was headed in at the back post by Twigger for his fifth goal in three games. 

Wardens pushed for an equalizer but a mixture of fatigue and changes in Dunlop's tactics meant chances were few and far between. The best effort came from Bloomer whose shot from the edge of the box went agonisingly wide. 

"Dunlop are a really good side and are one / two years ahead of us currently with the development of their style and side," Richards said after the game.

"As a team with 10+ new players I'm still getting to understand what players can and cannot do and first half I got the tactics and selection wrong.

"First half was one of the most disappointing performances I've experienced as a manager. But showed character to perform as we did in the second half. 

"This first four games have been really difficult, playing against the four best sides in the league.

"But I've seen enough to know that performances and results will continue to improve and that the lads understand this is a process of learning. 

"We've been short attacking players but signed three new players this week who I'm sure will make a big difference moving forward."

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