CMFL South Division - played at Debdale Lane, Mansfield, kick off 3:00pm
This looked on paper as if it should have been a cracker, the top two teams in the division going head to head, but for the first hour it was a bit of a damp squib. The weather was changable to say the least - one minute warm sunshine, the next minute wind and rain - don't you just love the vagaries of the English climate!!
Line-ups:
Sherwood : Smith, Harris, Starbuck, Shaw, Green, York, Kitchen, Theakstone, King, Pickering, Williams. Subs: Robson, Day, Spencer, Rogers.
Selston : Ball, Riley, Renshaw, Farnsworth, Marriott, Gregory, Hempshall, B.Moore, Cooke, Radzinski, Davis. Subs: C Moore, Henshaw, Widdowson, Breach, Airey.
There was a very slow start to the game - although the strong wind didn't help a lot. Both teams were guilty of poor passing and sloppy ball control early doors - and they couldn't blame the playing surface which looked superb.
Not a lot happened in the first half - Jamie York did miss a glorious chance to put the home team ahead on 15, but fired wide after running into the area so conveniently vacated by Selston's left-back Jamie Renshaw, who had decided to rampage up the pitch and try his luck with a pop at goal. Looks good until the ball gets pumped back up the pitch and there is a pacy winger ready and willing to take advantage of the empty space.
Jamie Renshaw
Joe Riley hacked the ball off the visitors' goal line on 27, after a corner from the right wasn't dealt with correctly and a Sherwood head powered the ball goalwards.Wayne Cooke had Selston's best chance with 34 played - clipping the ball past Alex Smith, but also just wide of the far upright. With two minutes of the half remaining, Theakstone could and should have sent the home team in a goal to the good, but his header from a couple of yards went just over the bar. H-T 0-0
Joe Riley
Keeper Jake Ball had made a welcome return to the Selston team, despite only having one good leg! He was called into action on 59, after a lovely through ball picked out the run of Liam Theakstone, and although the striker connected well enough, Ball dived superbly to push the ball to safety. Seconds later, Jamie Renshaw was booked for a deliberate block on a Sherwood player. From Starbuck's free-kick, Ball missed his catch allowing Jobe Shaw a free header on goal - unfortunately for the Sherwood skipper, the effort flew just wide.
Ball was called into action again on 65 after Joe Riley's back pass was under-hit and Theakstone applied pressure - luckily the ball ran kindly for the Selston keeper and he was able to clear his box. Selston began to apply a little more pressure as the second half wore on, and Sean Gregory had a decent chance in the 69th minute, but shot wide after latching onto a terrific ball from Carl Moore.
The reigning league champions did manage to break through the stubborn Colliery defence on 70, KANE HEMPSHALL hitting a rasping half volley into the back of the net from just outside the area - terrific strike, and worthy enough to win any game. Smith had absolutely no chance of saving the effort, it was struck so well.
Carl Moore saw his shot clip the bar five minutes later, but the last 15 minutes were all Sherwood. Gregory was booked on 78 for a reckless challenge - he had been on the other end of a few earlier in the game that went unpunished, but with his team defending in depth, giving needless free-kicks away was the last thing his team-mates needed. Liam Green saw his effort brilliantly saved by Ball soon after, and when the rebound fell to Theakstone, it looked for all the world that he would level the scores - unfortunately for him, he sent his close range header over the bar.
In stoppage time, York dragged a shot wide, then Danny Williams tried his luck direct from a free-kick, but fired low and wide. The final whistle eventually came in the fifth minute of time added on - and the boys from the Parish celebrated recording their third win of the season. F-T 0-1
Admission £3
Attendance 40 +
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