Keyworth United 0-3 ECFC

Eastwood had selection problems prior to the game and were forced into signing four players earlier in the day to make up numbers for this game.

Keyworth’s claims for an early penalty fell on deaf ears when Christopher Camm dived at the feet of Ian Marley to grab the ball, the striker going down under the challenge. Then Eastwood attacked strongly and won a series of corners, but they failed to trouble a stubborn home defence. Shay Wiggins was prominent for the visitors in this first half and he tested Darren Standage with a shot which the goalkeeper saved comfortably, and then put a curling free kick inches wide of the far post.

Eastwood had earlier missed a good chance when David Worger was through only for Standage to save with his legs. The next occasion proved more crucial though when TIM ADCOCK left Adam Parkin for dead and shot home as Standage came off his line. This in 18 minutes. Nine minutes later Standage came to his side’s rescue once again when he went full stretch to superbly tip a chipped shot from Worger aimed at the top corner round the post.

Eastwood increased their lead in the 31st minute when Worger’s fine cross saw LEE BULL out jump two defenders to head home. And four minutes later DAVID WORGER had his name of the score sheet when he shot into the bottom corner to end a grand run and pull back from Wiggins. Worger almost had a fourth as Eastwood ran rampant, but his low shot was narrowly wide of an upright after beating Standage. Bull and Worger set up Wiggins in another raid only for a clear chance to be missed from in front of goal.

Keyworth performed much better in the second half and began taking the game to Eastwood. Jimmy Pass shot narrowly wide and then Ian Marley nipped between two defenders and goalkeeper Camm but could not get his header on target. At the other end Worger drew Standage off his line and then saw his shot take a coat of paint off the wrong side of an upright.

When Keyworth returned to the attack Marley curled a lovely shot inches wide of the far upright after Jordan Leeming had been caught in possession. This was followed by a long range shot from substitute Harry Normington which Camm got right behind. At this stage had Keyworth had just a little more sharpness in front of goal they could certainly have made the final score considerably closer that it eventually was.

Eastwood were still looking goal hungry on the break and one excellent move saw Lewis Bentley race clear only for Standage to save his first shot, and his follow up as the ball ran loose, and then as the ball ran loose again block another shot this time from Shay Wiggins.

Keyworth’s best chance of the game came very late on when Ben Healey sent in the cross of the game, and with all the goal to aim at and completely unmarked in front of it Sam Litchfield sadly put his header wide. And it was the same fate when the hosts won a free kick and Alex Carson put over the perfect cross which went completely unchallenged.

Thus the final score looked comfortable for Eastwood but whilst they were full value for the three points, the final result was indeed a little flattering to them.

KEYWORTH UNITED: Standage, Healey, Birks, David Smith (Normington 43), Parkin, Wood, Barratt, Pass (Litchfield 66), Grant, Marley, Carson. Substitutes not used – Ben Smith, Ralph.

EASTWOOD COMMUNITY: Camm, Ball, Leeming, Westwood (Scard 77), Kenworthy, Jackson, Bull, Adcock (Evans 83), Worger, Bentley, Wiggins. Substitutes not used – Staley, Buckley, Hallam.

REFEREE: Mark Curwood

YELLOW CARD: Adam Parkin (Keyworth) 90 minutes

ATTENDANCE: 57

STAR PERFORMER: Tim Adcock (Eastwood)