EASTWOOD CFC 0-1 LOUGHBOROUGH STUDENTS

Eastwood CFC.....................0
Loughborough Students....1 (O'Toole 52')

Red Badgers fail to post their first League win.

Eastwood made five changes from the FA Cup exit, absent were McKenna Parton (away) Sam Moore (transferred to Coleshill Town) Patterson (not included) Ben Wallis and Luis Parkes dropped to the bench. Newcomers Romello Nangle, signed from Newark, player/coach Liam Hearn from neighbours Hucknall Town, Jake Wright ex-Ilkeston and Ryan Ebanks signed from Heanor Town all debuted.
David Leak started in defence on his return and Kieran Knight was among the substitutes.

The visitors took the game by the scruff of the neck from the off with Ethan O'Toole going close in the first ten minutes after being put in by Cameron Moore and then George Ward had a decent header saved by Mark Rathbone on the quarter hour mark. For their part Eastwood had a great effort on 20. Liam Hearn thundered in a shot which Ben Whiting reacted brilliantly to ipping the ball over his bar.

The home side were beginning to make some decent inroads down the left flank with Blair Anderson, combining well with Hearn, starting to test the resolve of full back Ben Le Rougetel. For their part the Scholars seemed happy with planting long balls from the back down both flanks tempting their wide team mates into action. Midway through the half the Red Badgers were forced into an injury change, Luis Parkes replacing his young team mate Finn Hunter.

In truth there wasn't a lot of goal mouth action but any there was appeared to be dealt with by both 'keepers. O'Toole continued to keep the home defence busy but the defensive duo of David Leak and Jack Andrews remained resolute and strong.

Home striker Kieran Knight was introduced for the second half presumably to try and get at the central defensive partnership of Ward and Ollie Parsons, both of whom spent most of the first half comfortably heading clear anything that came their way. 52 minutes on the clock and the Scholars took the lead. The ball was carelessly given away in midfield and O'Toole pounced. Striding forward and exchanging passes with Moore he swept the ball past Rathbone into the far corner. No real shock as the super fit youngsters from Leicestershire were producing some fine football.

Debutant Hearn had a great chance to level on the hour but was denied a debut goal by Mr Hopkins flag in a marginal offside decision. The students continued to power forward but Leak, Andrews and their fellow defenders stood firm as they did all afternoon. When the visitors did get close Rathbone kept his goal intact epitomised by a brilliant tip over from Scholars dangerman O'Toole.

The home attacks were becoming sporadic and the Scholars returned to their classrooms with a fine on the road win.

The new Management team would have learnt a lot about their new charges and, to me, there were a lot of positives to take from the contest as the Red Badgers start to look onwards and upwards and begin the climb up the table. Next up is a juicy home derby against Selston which informed pundits are already labelling a "six-pointer"

Attendance ~ 92
Referee ~ Ms Amy Barber
Assistants ~ Michael Hopkins and Jonathan Hines.

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Ryan Ebanks, Callum Jones, Jack Andrews (C)
David Leak, Jermain Hollis, Finnlay Hunter (Luis Parkes 23') Blair Anderson.
Jake Wright (Kieran Knight 45') Romello Nangle, Liam Hearn (Ben Wallis 71')
Unused substitute ~ Lewis Scott (GK)
Caution ~ Ebanks (25' foul)

Students ~ Ben Whiting, Ben Le Rougetel, Matty Bowman, Billy Mycroft-Edwards, George ward, Ollie Parsons, Kieran Smith, Max Smallcombe (C) Tope Fadahunsi, Etah O'Toole (Tom Iaiciafano (80') Cameron Moore (Tongsoung Lee (58')
Unused substitutes ~ Finlay Brennan, Ryan Hayes and Sam Smith.