LOUGHBOROUGH SUFC 2-0 EASTWOOD CFC

LUSFC........................2 (Edwards 66', Moore 82')
Eastwood CFC........0

Two late goals deny the Red Badgers despite a battling performance

Eastwood made 4 changes from last week’s defeat at Long Eaton. Kamani Wilson made his first start in the Halbrooke red and Sam Meakin and Kyle Wrenn returned to action following holiday and suspension respectively. Kaylum Mitchell made his first start since September 2018. Chambers, Parton, Slater and Connor Wrenn drop to the bench alongside Joe Harrison. Lavell White was missing through injury and Kiza, Hunter and TSL didn’t make the trip.

Young Goalkeeper Lewis Scott has left for a loan spell at Rainworth MW.

Loughborough came into the game in fine form at the start of play winning their last five in all competitions and are due to participate soon in the Quarter Finals of the FA Vase. The previous two games against the Students this season have been tight affairs and this game proved no exception. The first half was a cat and mouse affair with neither team gaining the upper hand.

Early half chances for both teams. Kyle Stovell with a decent effort and Matty Bowman, for the hosts, proving a tricky opponent down the right flank. The best chance fell to the visitors after 10 as a Kyle Dixon freekick found Ben Henderson in space our far left. Hendo’s cross was tempting but there were no takers as Finn Brennan cleared with ease.

Minutes later Tope Fadahunsi, the students leading scorer with 21 in 31, broke behind the Badgers defence and saw his shot rebound off the post. Matty Bowman reacted quickest but his return shot was blazed over. Henderson again caused problems down his left channel giving full back Kieran Smith a tough time.

End to end stuff but with no forward players making any sort of threat on goal. That changed however on the half hour. Stovell rose highest to a Callum Jones free kick out wide right. His header was destined for the net until Ben Whiting produced a super tip over and the ball flew to safety via the crossbar. A real let off !

Minutes later Warren Squires, the opposing ‘keeper, kept his side in the game with a super double stop. George Wilson cleverly fed Fadahunsi whose shot was saved by the Badgers ‘keeper. His follow up save from Bowman drew applause from the packed stands.
The students powered forward in search of the lead but the Eastwood back line stood firm none more so when Jacob Sturgess and Squires combined at the far post to stop Cam Moore from opening the scoring. As the game eased towards the interval a couple of more half chances from either side. Kyle Wrenn saw his header just about clear the bar and George Ward had a decent effort blocked.

The goalless score line of 0-0 at the break was about right but there was always a thought in the cold Leicestershire air that more was likely to come from the young Loughborough side.

Those predictions proved correct as the home team tore into action on the restart. Barely 40 seconds in and the first chance. Moore cut in from the left and unleashed a blockbuster of a shot which Squires must have seen late. The ball deflected slightly off a defensive head and was heading for the corner. Squires made the save of the match turning the ball around for a corner. Minutes later Wilson fed Fadahunsi 8 yards out. The big number nine's eyes lit up but his shot just shaved the post.

The Badgers were still well in this contest, Henderson had a neat header saved and Kamani Wilson, combining well with Kyle Dixon, went close but Whiting managed to scramble his effort away for a corner. The students then had a couple of chances before the go-ahead goal on 66. Just after they a decent penalty claim turned down after Dixon had tackled Bowman in the box Kieran Smith drove forward from the back with pace and determination. His pass found Fadahunsi whose lay off fell into the path of Substitute Dylan Edwards who coolly slotted home. The relieved look on the faces of the Loughborough players was obvious as they at last managed to get the better of a well drilled and stubborn Eastwood defensive unit.

Fitness began to tell in the latter stages as can be expected from young full time athletes. The visitors never gave up and stuck to their game plan and their opponents certainly knew they were in a contest. 8 minutes from time and the game was over. Fadahunsi rolled his defender from a throw in and fires the ball across the goal. Moore trapped the ball in one movement and turn to fire the ball home. Squires got a fingertip touch but the pace of the shot won. 2-0 to the hosts in what was an absorbing game of football.

Two 2-0 road defeats in 2 weeks doesn’t tell the whole Eastwood story. These were losses against two of the League’s finest and, on both occasions, the Badgers battled and competed from 1 to 11.

The fact that the Loughborough Management team voted Goalkeeper Ben Whiting as their player of the match just shows how well Eastwood competed in this match.

Attendance ~ 162.
Referee ~Alistair Hayes.
Assistants ~ Pedro Silva and Adam Crosby-Smith.

Loughborough Students FC ~ Ben Whiting, Kirena Smith, Finn Brennan, Sid Kerr (C) George Ward, Ollie Parsons, Matty Bowman (Theo Sackey-Mensah 74') George Wilson (Josh Bailey 67') Olusanya Fadahunsi, Ethan O'Toole (Dylan Edwards (60') Cameron Moore.
Substitutes not used ~ Sam Smith and Anthony Lynn.
Caution ~ Sackey-Mensah (88' foul)

Eastwood CFC~ Warren Squires, Callum Jones, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Sam Meakin (Ellis Chambers 80') Kyle Wrenn (Joe Harrison 78') Kyle Dixon, Ben Henderson, Kaylum Mitchell, Kamani Wilson (McKenna Parton 70') Kyle Stovell.
Substitutes not used ~ Connor Wrenn and Luke Slater.
Caution ~ Stovell (26' foul)