Swanwick Pentrich Road 6-1 Eastwood Community

The first ever outing for the new ECFC saw them up against an unbeaten Swanwick side who had already played four league games prior to the Eastwood fixture. With as many as five potential first eleven players missing. Eastwood manager Tony Clarke needed to shuffle around his fledging squad first time out with him handing Nathan Brough, aged only 16 years old.

The opening 15 minutes were dominated by Swanwick, as expected, but as the match progressed ECFC equipped themselves better and although against the run of play, ECFC took the lead on the half hour mark when industrious work in the middle from Matt Riley and Josh Henrys created a chance for 16 year old Nathan Brough. Brough's first touch under pressure from his full back marker was sublime and the second was just as good as he fired hard and low across a helpless keeper into the bottom left corner.

The celebrations were short lived when ten minutes later, the Swanwick centre forward broke free from his marker to turn and bury Swanwick's first and their equaliser. An early second goal before Eastwood settled following the break and then a rash tackle from skipper Daniel Williams when there was arguably no danger resulted in a yellow card swiftly followed by a 3rd goal direct from the resulting free kick.

Match fitness and the fact that Swanwick were well into their season then became evident and a further three goals were conceded in the last half an hour despite some wonderful saves from Rhys Watkinson in the Eastwood net.

By Nick Henrys