Proper football is back! Season
2016-2017 kicked off for me and Kev at Blidworth Welfare, where we witnessed a
decent game, in very hot and sticky conditions, albeit with a Referee who didn’t seem
to understand that every foul is not a bookable offence. Mr. Maran showed nine yellow cards, with only a couple of the
offences really requiring anything other than a quiet word.
Blidworth wore their “change” kit
of green and black, whilst Selston were wearing their “change” kit of all
yellow. We were welcomed by Scott Ward,
who kindly provided a programme and drinks at half-time – much appreciated,
Scott.
With the game only four minutes old, Perry Marriott missed a golden chance to put Selston ahead, but failed to convert after the ball ran loose from a corner. The ball was cleared by the home defence and fell kindly to Max Curzon who ran into the box and was tripped by Gary Breach. KEENAN LEEDS stepped up to bury the penalty in the back of the net. So what should have been one-nil to Selston turned quickly into one-nil to the Welfare.
The lead lasted only three
minutes though as TOM WIDDOWSON was “Jonny-on-the-spot”, and had the simplest
of tap-ins after Blidworth keeper Michael Ball dropped Wayne Cooke’s cross from
the right.
Widdowson nets for Selston
On 17, Olly Ashton tried his luck
from 20 yards and was unlucky to see his effort deflected away for a
corner. Jake Eggington’s kick was met
well at the far post by the head of Jacob Lowe, but the centre-half’s effort
flew just over the bar. Dan Henshaw headed a Ben Moore corner just over with 20
played, but MOORE was on the scoresheet three minutes later when he powered a
shot home from 12 yards, after a neat cross from the left by Widdowson wasn’t
dealt with by the Blidworth back-line.
...as does Ben Moore
Then came the first altercation –
Jacob Lowe and Wayne Cooke squared up to each other and were cautioned - this was one of the occasions where a
quiet word would have sufficed – “handbags”, as they used to say!!
Another Selston messy set-piece
on 34 lead to another booking. Their attempted short corner wasn’t the best, and
when possession was lost, Jamie Renshaw
had little option other than to block Curzon in his tracks – always a yellow
card. Leeds’ free-kick flew wide of the
post.
Joshua Cairns earned the next
caution, and this was deserved – a flying challenge on Widdowson that made
everyone wince. It was a good job the young winger was agile and aware enough
to jump over the challenge – could have been a bad one…
Welfare were level just before
the break, JAKE EGGINGTON firing a 20 yard free-kick over the wall and past Nick Olden into
the top corner. H-T 2-2
Leeds dummies...
...goal!!
Tom Blaney was booked in the 51st
minute for a foul on Widdowson. The home team almost took the lead a few
minutes later when a free-kick conceded by Joe Riley hit the defensive wall
and flicked onto the bar and was palmed away by Olden before being hacked away.
https://www.facebook.com/kev.goodman.3/videos/10206729246020918/
Sean Gregory was booked with 12 minutes of the second half played, but it was the midfield maestro who almost put Selston back in front five minutes later when his fierce drive was brilliantly saved by Ball.
https://www.facebook.com/kev.goodman.3/videos/10206729246020918/
Sean Gregory was booked with 12 minutes of the second half played, but it was the midfield maestro who almost put Selston back in front five minutes later when his fierce drive was brilliantly saved by Ball.
Great save, Michael
Ben Moore
showed tremendous skill on 73, volleying on the turn – but once again Ball was
alert and saved well to keep the scores level.
There was little he could with the Selston winner though. A cracking
corner played to the far stick to where WAYNE COOKE was on hand to nod home.
With just four minutes to go,
another minor altercation saw Steve Radzinsky and Charlie Taylor both receive
cautions, then Henshaw also saw yellow for a foul on Simba Ganyiwa. Blidworth failed to show much in the second
half – especially after Max Curzon dislocated his shoulder and their real major
threat to the Selston goal was removed. F-T 2-3
Nine bookings makes this sound like a nasty game, but it wasn't - Mr. Maran just failed to understand that a simple quiet word with the "offenders" would suffice, rather than booking them. These players do not receive payment for playing - and a tenner fine is a bit of a hard pill to swallow - especially when on another day, with a different official there would have been only two or three that were really deserved.
Admission £3 and £2
Programme – gratis
Coffee / tea – gratis
Attendance – surprisingly very
few in the ground to see the League Champions begin the defence of their title
– around the 40 mark I reckon.