Bilborough Town 6-0 Ruddington Village

Date: 30th August 2017 k.o. 8:00pm
Admission: £2.00
Referee: Lewis Quayle
Assistants: Phil Wrightham, Mike Evans

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This game was played at the Harvey Hadden Sports Village on Wigman Road – and although the facilities for football in this £16M development are at best a bit basic, I quite like visiting this venue. The kick off time was 8:00pm due to some athletic people on the track, running around and around and around and around………………….

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Never going to be a big crowd for this NSL Premier game, but there were 20-30 in attendance. I was with Pete Chappell, Wayne and Luke Morrison, Barry McKeag and Edddie Pidduck for the majority of the game, and had a chance to catch up with Tom Beard who was “observing” match Referee Lewis Quayle. 

Bilborough began the game on the front foot and were ahead with just three minutes played. The Ruddington keeper did well to block a goal-bound effort, then did well to block again as the ball ran loose – unfortunately for him though, Bilborough did get the ball over the line at the third attempt, LIAM STEWART on hand to stab home from close range. 

The remainder of the second half was a bit of a non-event, but could have been so much more productive for the home team if their players had known at least the basics of the offside rule. Time and time again they fell foul of the Assistant Ref’s flag – and on most occasions the Assistant got it right. No abuse to the officials from the players though – seems the “sin-bin” idea in operation in the NSL keeps a zip on the players mouths – and long may it continue. Hopefully the F.A. will continue it's introduction with step 6 next season and step 5 the season after, etc.etc.. H-T 1-0.

Eleven minutes into the second period, Bilborough added to their solitary first half strike, RICKY LAW stabbing home from 12 yards after he was picked out in front of goal. Law had been guilty of a couple of glaring misses in the first half, and although he now had his name on the score-sheet, he was also guilty of missing several golden chances as the second half progressed. 

RYAN CLEMENTS added the home teams third on the hour mark after a training ground corner routine paid handsome dividends. Instead of the ball being lumped into the packed 6 yard box as is the norm, this corner was fired out to the edge of the D where Clemence, already running in, met it with a fierce drive that flew through the crowded area before nestling in the back of the net, Terrific goal that was well appreciated by most of those in attendance! 

LIAM TAYLOR came on as a sub at half time, and netted the Town fourth when he was played in over the top and has the simple task of rolling the ball home. With 8 to play, a traditional corner also paid dividends – the ball was hit into the box and the unmarked MATT HAYES rose like a salmon to power a header past the visiting custodian. 

TAYLOR added his second and Town’s sixth on 86, giving the score a more realistic look. I’m sure Ruddington will agree that they were outplayed by the home team, but in reality, Town had so much possession and squandered so many chances that the score could easily have been in double figures. F-T 6-0.  Another £1.80 added to the THINK CHLDREN charity pot!