When I retired at the end of December last year, I thought would be able to put a little more time and effort into writing blog entries. As the months have passed, I find that although the time is available, the desire isn’t. A failing memory and other health issues mean that I really struggle to put together match reports/blog entries anything similar to those that my contemporaries are producing at the moment. My days of writing thousands of words on a single game have now gone – I will simply bundle a few words together on games attended, but nothing too detailed.
The latest “bunch” of games – Eastwood CFC, Selston FC, Eastwood Ladies, Basford Utd and Teversal Res.
Friday 15th September saw me visiting Eastwood CFC, who entertained Blidworth Welfare in a CML South fixture. After a goal-less, fairly uneventful first half, it was the visitors who opened the scoring on 55, Josh Bretnall reacting quickly to nip in and steer the ball home after a pass back to the Eastwood keeper never looked like reaching him. Greg Conn levelled for Eastwood in the 67th minute, a relatively simple tap in from in front of goal after the Welfare defenders had failed to clear their lines. Eastwood grabbed all three points on 68, Chay Betteridge lifting the ball back over the Blidworth keeper after his clearance fell to the Eastwood players feet some 40 yards from goal! Greg Conn had the chance to add Eastwood’s third on 86, but fired over from 2 yards after the Welfare keeper had spilled Jack Smith’s powerful shot. F-T 2-1
Saturday 16th was a visit to the Parish to see Selston take on Borrowash Victoria. Selson had defeated the Vics 6-1 last Saturday in the reverse fixture, but looked unlikely to repeat that feat as this game unfolded. Selston did take the lead on 11 when Lee Sutton fired home from 25 yards, but Idris Kabongo squared things up in the 23rd minute, after he intercepted a pass back to keeper Jake Ball and was given the simple task of rolling the ball into an empty net. Sutton restored Selston’s lead 6 minutes before the break, but Mark Green restored parity on 55, firing home at the far post.
On the hour mark, Vics went ahead for the first time, Tom Lewis firing a superb free-kick past the Selston wall and into the back of the net, with Ball a mere spectator. Carl Moore salvaged a point for the home team with 10 to play, and when Kabongo was dismissed shortly after, the visitors dug in to ensure they went back to Derbyshire with at least a share of the spoils. F-T 3-3
Sunday 17th – it was Eastwood CFC Ladies on show, Rise Park Ladies the visitors in the Women’s F.A. Cup. Not a classic, but the four goals saw another £1.20 added to the THINK CHILDREN fund. We had to wait 35 minutes for the first goal, but it was well worth the wait, Chantelle Robinson’s delicate chip from the edge of the box giving the visiting keeper no chance. Four minutes into the second period, Leanne Briscoe ran into the box and fired home at the near post to double the home teams lead. Briscoe added the Eastwood third on 80, driving the ball home from 25 yards with the Rise Park keeper rooted to the spot. Coureteny Csomor added the Eastwood fourth with 6 to play. F-T 4-0. The Lady Badgers reward is a home tie v Coventry Sphinx Ladies on 8th October.
Monday 18th - Basford Utd 2-2 Cleethorpes Town – second placed Basford playing host to NP Div 1 South leaders. Cracking game - click HERE for Basford’s full match report. I can’t add anything, except to say that this was a cracker of a game despite the awful weather!
Tuesday 19th was CML South action again, this time Teversal Ressies entertaining Eastwood CFC at Carnarvon Street. A decent turnout of 98 saw the Red Badgers take just 8 minutes to open up the home defence, Rory Smith driving the ball home as it ran loose 10 yards from goal. Paddy Webb grabbed a second on 33, a simple tap in at the near post. We had to wait until the 83rd minute for the Eastwood third, Adam Hassell on hand to slot home after the home keeper had failed to hold on to a well hit 25 yard free-kick. F-T 0-3
20 goals adds a further £6.00 to the THINK CHARITY fund - over £208 already - and it's not yet October!!! Coming up – Arnold Tn Ladies Devp v Market Warsop Ladies, Basford Yth v Dunkirk Yth, Calverton MW v Basford CFC and Hucknall Town v Eastwood.
