Selston 4-1 ECFC

Selston came into the game in a rich vein of form after beating both of their closest rivals – Belper United and Hucknall Town - in the previous ten days and putting themselves on a clear path to the title in their first season back in the Central Midlands Football League. Eastwood seem to have stalled after their early season promise, winning only two of their last 6 games prior to this encounter. The league leaders survived an early scare to come out on top, with 4 different names on the score sheet.

The home side began brightly, taking the early play to Eastwood but it was Town who drew first blood as they looked to spoil the party. Warren Hatfield made the most as Jamie Renshaw slipped on the tricky surface as a ball over the top held up in the wind. The Eastwood frontman stroked home past a stranded Jake Simpson, in goal for the Parishioners, to put his side one goal to the good inside ten minutes. The badgers could have doubled their lead but Simpson was equal to a near post shot from Hatfield.

Selston rallied and soon replied. Wayne Cooke clipped the top of the bar with a cross cum shot with Eastwood stopper Andrew Fretwell wrong footed. The equaliser came soon after, Sean Gregory won a high ball with a prodigious leap in his own half and drove forward and pinged a ball to Carl Moore’s feet. The Selston striker’s first time flick released Tom Widdowson who drove at the away goal and his cross three yards from the near post was deflected in off the defender’s last ditch effort and nestled in the near corner to even matters.

These two players combined again in similar fashion and Widdowson forced a corner. Selston captain Ben Moore swung the ball in deep and top scorer Carl Moore headed home for his 25th of the season and put the home side into the lead on 24 minutes.

Young Widdowson continued his great form, beating his man once again and he crossed just behind Carl Moore, the striker spun and his shot was blocked at the expense of a corner. Ben Moore put a clever corner to Dominic Airey lurking on the edge of the penalty box, his shot was well blocked by an alert defence, though. Shaun Farnsworth, raiding from right back, had a header cleared off the line in this spell of domination.

The badgers did get free occasionally, a free kick won wide right saw a header clip the top of the bar, however the half came to end with Selston still 2-1 to the good.

Selston came out of the blocks quickly in the second half and hit Eastwood with waves of attacks, Dominic Airey beat two men in the middle of the Eastwood half and sent a shot flying at the Eastwood goal but Fretwell made a wonderful save to keep his side in the game. Airey got free again wide right and squared to Widdowson, following in, but the winger couldn’t find a finish and Eastwood’s goal remained intact in the second half.

The third goal eventually came on 81 minutes when Widdowson in the thick of the action again, won a ball very well and fed Damian James, his cross deep to the far post picked out skipper Moore. The captain’s first touch, as the ball came over his shoulder, was sublime and he finished just as expertly on the volley to make it 3-1. This effort put the tie to bed, the goal one that would have graced any game.

The Parishioners gave the scoreline the gloss their dominance deserved 5 minutes later when Gregory won a corner wide right and when the initial ball in was cleared, ex Eastwood legend, Gary Breach lifted the ball in to the far post and Perry Marriott slid in to finish the tie in style.

This win puts the table toppers 16 points clear at the top of the Black Dragon Badges South division, though Belper Utd in second do have a game in hand. If Swanwick Pentrich Road, way back in 9th position but with 11 games yet to play, drop any points on Tuesday the 19th April, against Hucknall Town Selston could win the title on Wednesday night with a win at Keyworth United.

ECFC Team

1 Andy Fretwell
16 Jordan Leeming
3 Ryan Williams
17 Jason Westwood
5 Jak Kenworthy
6 Adam Jackson
7 Lee Bull
8 Luke Coxon
9 Warren Hatfield
10 Lewis Bentley
15 Dave Worger

12 Paul Brooks
14 Matt McCaul
11 Matt Clowes
2 Nathan Mathers
4 Jez Bailey

Man Of The Match Lewis Bentley