HONOURS EVEN IN LOCAL DERBY

Eastwood CFC.......2 (Hearn 9' pen, Anderson 42')
Selston...................2 (Cooper 17', Newby 65' pen)

Neighbours share 4 goals..

The home side started brightly with Liam Hearn and Blair Anderson beginning to make inroads down the left flank and it was the former who proved prominent in the opening goal nine minutes in. Anderson fed the striker and, as he twisted and turned in the six yard box, was stupidly tripped up by Selston's centre half Tom Laister. Despite protestations from the whole visiting defence Mr Booth had no doubt that Laister's challenge was illegal. Hearn made no mistake from the spot sending Joe Fryatt the wrong way. First goal of the season for Eastwood and mightily welcome.

The lead lasted barely eight minutes as Selston mounted a counter attack and Jay Cooper swept the ball home for the equaliser. End to end the game flowed and Romello Nangle was a tad unlucky to open his Eastwood account as a brilliant block tackle from Taylor Conway denied the home striker. The game became a little niggly at times as shown midway through the half when Nangle went in strongly, but fairly, on Fryatt chasing a loose ball. 50-50 most would say but Nangle received a yellow as did Laister who stupidly reacted with a push in the chest on the home number 9.

Veteran Parishioner Sean Gregory was very busy in midfield trying to urge his team onwards but it was fine play down the left flank from Anderson that took the crowd's eye. Time and again he outwitted full back Michee Mbuti providing decent crosses for his fellow forwards.

As the half drew to a close both keepers were called into action but it was no surprise when Eastwood took the lead three minutes before the break. Anderson had two bites of the cherry before planting the ball wide of Fryatt's near post for the go-ahead goal. It could have better seconds before the break. Hearn providing a peach of a cross which debutant Tommy Street just failed to make contact with.

The Red Badgers piled forward in search of a third goal but were frustrated by the Selston midfield, breaking up play with a series of petty fouls. Jack Andrews produced a sublime long pass up to Nangle on the hour but the latter, possibly shocked at his opportunity, planted the ball far and wide which troubled the corner flag rather than Fryatt in the visiting goal.

The game looked as it was going the home side's way with plenty of worthwhile effort going forward and preventing the Parishioners from any kind of worthwhile input into the home penalty area. Callum Jones produced a fine effort which had Fryatt scrambling, the ball sizzling just wide of his far post. All the good work, however, was undone in one mad moment. Laister was tripped inside the box in a rare Selston attack. Penalty all day long and Brad Newby levelled the scores from the spot.

A few chances from both sides as the game petered out and in the end both sides seemed to settle for the draw and both teams registered their first point of the season.

A disappointing and frustrating game for the watching faithful but I'm sure there a good times ahead as the team begin to gel and get to know each other.

I spoke to the Manager post-match and he reflected :-

“Our performance was disappointing but we knew it was a big job when we came in. It was our first point today and there were a few positives but as I say we’ve only been here 10 days and it’s a big project. We’ll get better week by week we have a point on the board now and we have to push on starting Saturday. We know we’ve got to improve, they’ll probably be a couple of bodies coming through the door again. We haven’t had a full training session yet and we are still learning about the players and it’s a case of getting better each week. Today was a leveller at times but, ultimately, no excuses and we have to improve. A point was just about fair in the end but we don’t want to be where we are in the table. Our first serious training session is this coming Wednesday but every game for us now is a Cup Final"

"Onwards and upwards Boss ?"

"Yes we know if we perform we can certainly get something from the game"

Attendance ~ 172
Referee ~ William Booth
Assistants ~ Ms Lauren Hope and Robin Bourne

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Ryan Ebanks, Callum Jones, Jack Andrews (C)
David Leak, Jermain Hollis, (Finnlay Hunter 62') (Luis Parkes 57') Blair Anderson.
Jake Wright (Kieran Knight 45') Romello Nangle, Liam Hearn (David Boafo 84')
Unused substitutes ~ Lewis Scott (GK) and Jay Crumbie.
Cautions ~ Andrews (16' foul) Nangle (22' foul) Parkes (76' foul)

Selston ~ Joe Fryatt, Michee Mbuti, Pat Quinn, Taylor Conway, Tom Laister, Billy Andrews (Ollie Grimshaw 79')
Sean Gregory (C) George Layton, Lewis Fantom, Jay Cooper, Brad Newby.
Unused substitutes ~ Tim Wainwright, Jake Payling and Dain Sismey.
Cautions ~ Tom Laister (22' retaliation) Gregory (22' dissent)