08/09/2026
๐๐จRats Review ๐จ๐
By Cameron Clarke
ZK Dons FC 3-6 The Styrrup Rats FC
๐ฆ๐๐ซ ๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ ๐ข๐ก ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐๐๐๐ฌ ๐ข๐ก๐. ๐ง๐๐ ๐ฅ๐๐ง๐ฆ ๐๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐๐.
06/09/26
New season, new opposition, and a fixture that had a bit of everything. Nine goals, two spells where ZK Dons dragged themselves back into it, and a Rats side that answered every single time. Not a perfect afternoon, but a statement of intent.
The Rats started on the front foot and had the lead early. Mikey slid a through ball into Roman, who took it in his stride and finished. 1-0, and the tone was set. Roman kept causing problems down that right side all half, with Mikey finding him over and over again.
The second was the pick of the first half. Len won his 1v1 with the full back and found Bask, who sent the same defender the wrong way with a nutmeg before whipping a ball in from deep on his weaker left foot. Gelder timed his run across his man perfectly and steered it into the bottom corner. 2-0, and the Rats were in complete control.
Then came the wobble. A clearance from a delivery into our area didnโt get the distance, dropped for a ZK man, and he found the top corner at the near post. 2-1. Not long after, a throw in from the right was worked to the far post and the smallest player on the pitch got up above everyone to loop a header back across goal and in off the post. 2-2. Credit to them, they took their chances.
It could have been very different. Gelder rattled the bar with a superb strike from outside the area, Bask hit the post after getting clear and one on one with the keeper, and a couple of offside calls went against us that were kind at best. Level at the break, and it flattered the hosts.
The second half started the way the first did, with the Rats on the front foot. Nick collected it down the left with three men around him and still found the composure to pick out the far post, where Bask was waiting to prod home. 3-2.
The fourth was a lovely bit of work. Bask, Nick and Kez combined down the right before Bask whipped it into the middle, and big centre half Tommy launched himself at it, burying a diving header into the roof of the net. 4-2. Take your pick which of Baskโs two deliveries was the better one.
ZK got themselves back in it again when a strike from range took a deflection and looped over Andy, who had earlier produced a brilliant double save at his near post. 4-3, and a nervy finish in prospect.
Fifteen seconds, as it turned out. Straight from the kick off, Nick played it into Roman and he finished again before ZK had touched the ball. 5-3. Ruthless.
Bask had the final word. Their centre half had already taken Mikey from behind just outside the area a few minutes earlier and got away with it. He didnโt get away with the next one. Mikeyโs strike was spilled by the keeper, Kez gambled and got in on the rebound, and the same man brought him down. Bask stepped up and buried it to the keeperโs right. 6-3.
Two decisions worth a mention. JB was hauled down by the keeper and booked for simulation, which was wrong, and a high boot to Joshโs face from a corner went unpunished. Neither cost us, but they were there.
Three conceded is work for the training ground, and there were spells where we invited them back in. But six away from home on the opening day, goals from all over the pitch, and a side that responded every time it was pegged back. Fair play to ZK Dons, they never stopped, and weโll see them again in the reverse fixture.
One notable absentee. Tyler, we hope the lie in was worth it.
๐ ๐๐ก ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ ๐ ๐๐ง๐๐: Kieran Baskerville
Two goals, two assists, and a post. Beat his man for the Gelder goal, whipped in the ball for Tommyโs header, prodded home at the far post and then buried the penalty without a flicker. Involved in almost everything good the Rats did. A complete performance.
๐๐ข๐๐๐ฆ โฝ: Roman Kirillovs x2, Kieran Baskerville x2, Josh Gelder, Tommy Spouse
๐๐ฆ๐ฆ๐๐ฆ๐ง๐ฆ ๐โโ๏ธ: Kieran Baskerville x2, Nick Howcroft x2, Mikey Hannan
The Styrrup
