UCL RESULT ~ EASTWOOD CFC 1-2 NEWARK FC

Eastwood CFC…………...1 (Henderson 80’)
Newark FC2 ……………...2 (Rowley 12’ penalty, Blake 61’)

Newark prevail in a close contest....

Two changes were made from last Saturday’s defeat. Joe Harrison and McKenna Parton both started. Kyle Wrenn and Kamani Wilson dropped to the bench joined by Finn Hunter, Ellis Chambers and Mansfield Town loanee Colt Reynolds. Lavell White was still out injured.

Eastwood started brightly and on the front foot and Joe Harrison's vision played in Ben Henderson early doors whose shot was cleared for the first corner of the contest. Kaylum Mitchell then had a snap shot saved with ease by Ben Andrew. Minutes later Kyle Dixon was denied by a super save from Andrew who acrobatically tipped the ball over his bar.

At the other end Rich Sylla and the lively Josh Mundell were keeping the home back line busy and on their first real attack of any note the visitors took the lead. Mundell ventured into the area and his cut back was met by James Berrett. His legs appeared to be taken away as he shaped to shoot and Mr Davies deemed that it warranted a penalty. McKenna Parton was subsequently cautioned in what seemed a harsh decision. Mason Rowley despatched the spot kick high and wide beyond Warren Squires.

The goal seemed to spur the visitors and they moved forward with ease and pace that often over stretched the home defence. Likewise the Newark back four including ex-Badgers players Dean Freeman and Ryan Ebanks were just about coping with Henderson’s direct pacy runs and the intelligent midfield probing of Dixon and Harrison.

Berrett was denied by a Squires tip over and Josh Stevenson also went close in support of his forwards. The Eastwood attacks seem to break down before they could materialise into any decent clear cut chances in the last third and 0-1 at the break was just about right.

The Badgers started the second period well with Kaylum Mitchell and Henderson testing Freeman and Co. and the game swung from end to end but with nothing to trouble the scorers or Mr Davies’s notebook. With just over an hour on the clock the Newark lead was doubled. Following an Eastwood attacking break down in their own box the ball was despatched swiftly upfield. The long ball completely caught out a retreating Eastwood defence and was eagerly seized up on by Sylla who raced into the area. His selfish ball across the face of the goal was snapped up by Nyle Blake who tapped home on his Highwayman debut.

The home team seemed to be shaken out of their slumber in an attempt to get something from the contest and their football improved markedly. Three successive corners bought nothing and when they did threaten Andrew was up to his task.

10 minutes from time and a deserved Eastwood response with a fine goal. Fine work down the left by Sam Meakin saw Henderson accept a pass where he likes it best – the inside left channel. Driving forward with a twist of the hips and a shimmy, leaving Stevenson floundering, the ball was despatched strong and true past Andrew.

The last 8 or 9 minutes belonged to the home team in a bold bid to square the game. Meakin, repeatedly, showing prominently down the left side with some excellent attacking play which could have, and maybe should, resulted in an equaliser. The visitors stood firm and their victory was celebrated in style by their players spurred on by a vociferous away support.

The game could be described as a bad day at the office for the Badgers but, after two fine recent performances the Badgers, against much stronger opposition, Eastwood were certainly lukewarm and off their game in this affair, often second best in key areas. Mistakes are harshly punished at this level and improvement is needed and quick.

This Squad is crying out for a target man/big striker who will capitalise on the undoubted ability of the Badgers midfield players. The service is there but, time and again, there are no positive takers in and around the box.

Paul Rockley offered me these thoughts :~ “Firstly, I want to apologise to the fans, it was a poor performance and certainly the poorest of our reign, which certainly wont happen again. Full credit to Newark for the result, they picked us off well with the clear chances they had which ultimately came from our mistakes”

“We need a response on Saturday to put behind that poor performance and kickstart our month”

Attendance ~ 197
Referee ~ Stephen Davies.
Assistants ~ Jessica Melrose and Robin Bourne.

Newark FC ~ Ben Andrew, Josh Stevenson, Ryan Ebanks, Mason Rowley, Dean Freeman (C) Kyle Blake, Isaac Currie, Rich Sylla, Josh Mundell, James Berrett, Sean Devlin.
Substitutes not used ~ Callum Ball, Sanousi Ibrahim and Exauce Nsiala.

Eastwood CFC~ Warren Squires, Callum Jones, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Sam Meakin, Joe Harrison (Kyle Wrenn 87’) Kyle Dixon, Ben Henderson, Kaylum Mitchell (Colt Reynolds 73’) McKenna Parton, Kyle Stovell. (Kamani Wilson 73’) Substitutes not used ~ Ellis Chambers and Finn Hunter.
Caution ~ Parton (12’ foul)