LEICESTER NIRVANA 3-2 EASTWOOD CFC

Nirvana....................3 (Master 23', 45+2', Moti 78')
Eastwood CFC ......2 (Shannon-Lewis 47', Kelly 69')

Red Badgers unlucky at Hamilton Park.

There were 6 changes from the Melton defeat. Returning was Barrow, Smithson and TSL. Stokes, Burkitt and Kelly deputise. 17 year old Harrison Eastwood keeps his place. Slater, Henderson, Scott and Messom started on the bench alongside new signing Joel Daft.

Both teams started brightly with both 'keepers coping well with any shots that had to deal with. Home forward Ethan Hulley was providing the best chances for Nirvana and Deen Master, leading scorer with 13 goals from 18 starts coming into this fixture, was proving very elusive and hard to handle. The first real attack saw the Lions Finlay Shorrock fire just wide. The visitors, for their part, started to venture forward with purpose and TSL went close twice and Fin Hunter just failed to produce a finish after a fine run.

Midway through the half and the Lions took the lead. A ball into the box wasn't cleared with any conviction and, after an almighty scramble and a few deflections which could have gone anywhere, Master pounced to volley the ball home high and wide past Rathbone.

28 minutes gone and problems. Young defender Harrison Eastwood suffered a serious injury out near the far touchline. After a tackle by Kalis Gore Eastwood fell awkwardly and sustained a serious ankle injury which held the game up for 45 minutes. Eastwood was transferred to hospital as Gore received a yellow card which could easily have been a red.

Mr Lewis consulted both benches and decided the game should proceed after a warm-up period. The game duly recommenced and on the stroke of half time Nirvana doubled their lead. Master in the right place to convert a Hulley cross for 2-0.

Eastwood could consider themselves a tad unlucky to be 2 goals down at the break as they more that matched their opponents in every department.

Shortly into the second period and the lead was halved. Keeper Luis Parry had a rush to the head and inexplicably bundled Nat Kelly over as the debut forward was bearing down on goal. TSL made no mistake from the spot. On the hour and the teams were level. Kelly reacted quickest to a sublime through ball from Jahren Barrow and fired home for the equaliser. 2-2 and game on now.

An end to end game and the draw seemed to be about the correct result. Substitute Adnaan Moti had other ideas, however, and hi tame cross shot from out wide left was allowed to evade defenders and attackers alike and squirmed in off the far post for the eventual winner.

Still the young Eastwood team's heads didn't drop as they tried valiantly to even the contest. The Lions certainly knew they were in a competitive game but managed to hang on to claim all 3 points.

A fine performance from the Red Badgers which augurs well for the games to come. There is a renewed spirit within the camp which hopefully see more points being picked up in the near future.

Attendance ~ N/K
Referee ~ Sam Lewis
Assistants ~ Ray Sharman and Yaasir Pasta

Leicester Nirvana ~ Luis Parry, Kalis Gore, Omar Jagne, Aniyah King, Chad Timson, Michael Akintunde, Ethan Hulley, Finlay Sharrock, Jordan Nelson, Deen Master (Adnaan Moti 70') Will Conga (C)
Cautions ~ Nelson (9' foul) Gore (28' foul)

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Josh Ross (C) (Joel Daft 61') Harrison Eastwood (Luke Slater 28') Jahren Barrow, Josh Birkett, Louis Anthony, Luke Smithson (Ben Henderson 63’) Finlay Hunter, Nathan Kelly, Tyrell Shannon-Lewis, Ben Stokes.
Substitutes not used ~ Lewis Scott (GK) Jack Messom.
Cautions ~ Ross (60’ foul) Birkett (77' foul) Stokes (79' foul)