EASTWOOD CFC 1-3 GRESLEY ROVERS

Eastwood CFC..........1 Czerwak '83)
Gresley Rovers.........3 (Hart '27, '78 '85)

Moatmen put paid to Red Badgers fine recent run

Two changes were made from the side that beat Holbeach 4-1 seven days ago. Callum Jones started for the first time since November and Sam Meakin returned for his first start since October 2020 following a long injury lay off. Finn Hunter & Ellis Chambers were dropped to the bench alongside new signing Kamani Wilson. Lewis Scott and Nathan Kelly completed the bench. Ben Stokes and Kyle Wrenn were both suspended and Connor Wrenn was on holiday.

As it was 7 days previous the wind proved to be a factor as both teams tried to come to terms with the conditions and accurate passing was a rarity. As early as the 5th minute home 'keeper Richard Dearle was asked a question as he spectacularly tipped a fine effort from visiting skipper Ryan Seal. For their part the Badgers moved forward and Kyle Stovell tried his luck to which Lewis Fenney was equal to.

On the quarter hour a free kick from Joe Harrison blazed just over. Ben Henderson was next to try his luck but his low shot evaded all and sundry and flashed past a post. At the other end James Harrison sent a free kick just wide before the breakthrough arrived in the 27th minute.

The League's top goalscorer Steve Hart latched onto a ball from Michael Williams and ventured towards the area in the inside left channel. Moving on, with defender Lavell White unable to make any physical contact, the ball was switched to Hart's right foot and the ball was bent around White, possibly deceiving and unsighting Dearle on the way into the bottom corner.

An immediate response from the Homesters and a free kick from Callum Jones some 20 yards out caused all sorts of problems for Fenney. Parrying the first shot he unwittingly palmed the ball out to Stovell whose fine follow up shot was cleared off the line by Harrison.

Both 'keepers were busy up until half time, a few half chances for both teams going a'begging. Gresley's two big central defenders Mason Frizelle and Alex Morris were just about coping with the powerful attacking ground interplay of Stovell, Henderson and Louis Czerwak although they dealt well with everything superbly in the air.

Much of the same in the second period Czerwak tested Finney on a couple of occasions. At the other end Dearle's handling was, as ever, competent. Harrison and Kyle Dixon were competing very well against the Moatmen's midfield and it was hard to see where, or if, the next goal would appear. Enter Hart again. George Clark made inroads into the box at pace and his shot rebounded unkindly off Dearle's legs to fall into Hart's path who side footed home.

A few minutes later and the Badgers got some reward for their efforts. Picking up a cute Nathan Kelly pass Czerwak powered forward and slotted home. A fine strike in his last on-loan game for Eastwood before returning to his parent club at Stoke Lane. Again Hart proved what a fine striker he is by scoring his and his teams third on 85. His 30th goal this campaign.

Another fine performance by the Badgers who, on another day, could have come away in triumph. A welcome boost to the playing squad was the return, after over a year on the sidelines, of Sam Meakin to first team action.

Rovers are a fine team, unbeaten since the start of the season, and they left NG16 after the match knowing they had been in a competitive game.

I spoke with Joint Boss Paul Rockley after the game and he imparted these thoughts:

"Not too disappointed with the overall result, yes our unbeaten start to 2022 has come to an end but I was encouraged by our performance and what improvements we may need to make going forward. I felt we battled hard against a side who have been together longer as a group and we will become stronger after this result"

"We made 3 mistakes for their goals and we got punished - that's the fine margins against the top sides and I know we will close the gaps moving forward. Thanks again to the Badgers fans for their continued support"

Attendance ~ 156
Referee ~ Gary Caley
Assistants ~ Mick Thornhill and Paul Dixon

Eastwood CFC ~ Richard Dearle, Lavell White (Kamani Wilson '85) Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Sam Meakin (Finn Hunter '82) Kyle Dixon, Joe Harrison, Kyle Stovell, Callum Jones, Louis Czerwak, Ben Henderson (Nathan Kelly 71')
Substitutes not used ~Lewis Scott and Ellis Chambers.
Caution~ Harrison ('66 foul)

Gresley Rovers ~ Lewis Fenney, George Clark, James Harrison (Kane Lee '80) Alex Morris, Mason Frizelle, Levi Reid (Danny Munday '68) Michael Williams, Ryan Seal (C) (Albie Landsdowne '68) Steve Hart, Izak Reid, Corey Bucalossi.
Substitutes not used ~ Dylan Hunniford and Jordan Gough.
Caution~ Williams ('31 foul)