Do you realise how popular you are when your best mate won't even come to the game with you?
Alternative blog entry title 2:
Ayup, it's Mary Effin Poppins!!!
Thanks a bunch: Steve Reading - I will get you back at play-time
Date: Wednesday 22nd February 2017 - ko 7:35pm
Competition: Notts Senior League Cup 1/4 final
Admission: £0.00
Programme : £1.00 (first ever publication by Ravenshead FC)
Venue: The Cornwater Ground, Ravenshead, Notts.
Attendance: Impossible to do a head count, but I imagine 130-150, somewhere in that region
Conditions: Started dry enough, but a constant drizzle began about 30 minutes into the game.
A decent crowd was expected at this game - the Cornwater looked to be a ground that many of the nations hopper fraternity had yet to sample.
This was NSL Div 2 (Ravenshead FC) v NSL Premier (Flowserve) and although the premier league team were successful in reaching the semi-finals of the NSL Cup, they were made to fight for their victory by a very resilient Ravenshead outfit.
The ground itself is very
basic - partially roped off, no hard standing, no dugouts. It appeared that there were designated "technical areas", even
though they were just goal frames lying on the ground! It did get a bit soft
underfoot as the rain made it's presence felt, but hey ho - that's what you get
with the non league game at times!! There is a nice slope behind the top goal
and I'm sure in summer it's a great vantage point - but I reckon it would have
become a bit of a slippery slope as the rain continued..
Teams:
Ravenshead: Callum Marks, Brad Martin, Luke Williams, Mark Yates, Dave Harkin, Paul Smith, Sean Creer-Thornton, Dan Phillips, Jamie Foster, Tyler Lambert, Adam Martin. Subs: Chris Bovey, Tom Goodson, Tom Hubbard, Ashley Martin, Joe Warner
Newark Flowserve: Nathan Burrows, Ben Hodge, Ryan Ashley. Ricky North, Ryan Broxholme, Daniel Richards, Callum Barnes, Tom Potts, Chris Self, Bob Walker, Billy Storey. Subs: Nicky Walker, Daryl Price, Joe Hurst, Lewis Lambert, Kyle Nicholson.
Ravenshead took the game to
their premier division opponents from the first whistle, but a combination of
poor finishing and smart 'keeping from Nathan Burrows kept the scores level.
Flowserve had a couple of decent chances as the half progressed, but at the
break it was goal-less and we were dreading the spectre of extra-time as by
now, the incessant drizzle was beginning to get annoying. So much so that I
decided to make the long trek back to the car to collect my brolly - hence the
Mary Poppins reference!!
The teams had a mere 5 minute break, but I was back pitchside in time to the start of the second period. Great timing as the visitors took full advantage as the home team forgot to switch back on - a ball over the top picked out TOM BETTS who calmly lifted it over the advancing Callum Marks into the net, thus allaying all fears of a nil-nil.
This seemed to knock the wind out of Ravenshead, and in the following few minutes Flowserve had several decent chances to increase their lead, but the hosts resisted the pressure - until the 53rd minute that is. Another ball was played through the home defence into the penalty area, and when POTTS and his marker slid in to get to the ball, it ended up in the far corner of the net. It was difficult to tell who actually had the final touch, but the goal has been credited to Potts, and I'm sure the defender won't want an OG against his stats...
Callum Barnes had a great chance to add to Flowserve's tally midway though the second period, but after a terrific mazy run, he fired tamely wide. No more goals, lots of banter - most of it at the expense of yours truly - but all in good fun -- I HOPE! F-T 0-2
