EASTWOOD CFC 3-4 SKEGNESS TOWN

Red Badgers succumb to a late Jamie Potts blocbuster...

Eastwood CFC....3 (Dill 10', Wilson 24', Sturgess 50')
Skegness Town...4 (Lockey 5', Smith 9', Davison 44', Potts 88')

Eastwood just fail to hold the Lillywhites.

Two changes were made from last Saturday’s victory. both enforced. Sam Meakin and Jack Messom both sit out due to injury. have injuries so Ellis Chambers and Victor Lusuku both start. Under 18’s Harrison Eastwood, Bradley Gregory, Robert Osbourne, and Isaac Morledge make up the bench alongside Connor Wrenn.

Eastwood got off to the worst possible start after just 5 minutes on the clock. An attempted headed back pass to Warren squires was never going to reach the home ’keeper allowing Skeggie’s top scorer Johnny Lockie to round Squires for an easy tap in for his 24th strike of the season. Worse was to follow 5 minutes later as the aforementioned Lockie was at it again. The ball should have been cleared away from any danger but wasn’t which allowed Lockie to feed fellow striker Jordan Smith at the edge of the pox. Smith made no mistake as his shot curled past Squires to double the Lillywhite’s lead.

The lead lasted barely 50 seconds as the Red Badgers swept upfield. A bouncing ball in the visitors area was not dealt with sufficiently enough as Kamani Wilson found Aleal Dill who fired home.
The home team were taking to game to their opponents with some fine build up play and they were unlucky not to level the scores after 12 as Victor Lusuku, enjoying his first competitive start for the club, saw his fine effort rebound off the crossbar.

Eastwood’s front 3 were looking lively as the game swung one way then the other. Wilson went close again and Smith, for the visitors, was proving a handful for the Eastwood back line. Midway through the half Skegness should have increased their lead and their hold on the match. Smith produced a fine cross from the right finding the head of Lockie but his neat glancing header just cleared Squires bar.

The Red Badgers levelled the contest after 24. Ben Henderson caused panic in the away box. His deflected shot found Dill who cleverly fed Wilson who fired home his third goal in 2 games.

A fine end to end game of football was developing as both sides tried to wrestle the initiative and both defences were working overtime to contain both sets of lively forwards. Dill and Joe Harrison both tried their luck from distance and, at the other end, Smith, Lockie and Jamie Potts continued to cause mischief in and around the Eastwood box. However Louis Anthony and skipper Jacob Sturgess dealt with all the pressure as half time approached. 90 seconds before the break and the visitors were ahead. Luke Rayner swung over a corner from the right onto the head of his Captain Ben Davison who rose high above all to power home an unstoppable header.

The scoreline was a tad harsh on Eastwood who were certainly contributing to an open game of football. With 50 minutes gone Henderson worked some magic down the right flank leaving Rayner in his wake as he dribbled along the byeline towards goal. Only a last ditch tackle from Davison preventing a shot on goal or a dangerous cross.

The resultant corner by Harrison found the head of Sturgess who swooped to head home his sides second equaliser. Wilson went close again on the hour as the game see-sawed from one end to the other. The visitors, dressed in a garish all orange kit which matched the spring sunshine, never shirked their forward attacking play and eagerly went in search of a winner. Potts was denied by a super tackle from Kyle Wrenn and Squires had to be alert to once again keep out decent efforts from Smith and Elliot Broughton. Both teams were certainly not ditching their attacking intentions and the game could easily have had varying outcomes. Harrison called Jake Askew into action after 80 as the game looked likely to head for a point apiece.

The Lillywhites however, and Potts in particular, had other ideas though as the match approached the 89th minute. Potts found himself way out on the left some 26 yards from goal. Only he will know whether his shot was a cross or a pass but it was certainly speculative. All present were stunned as his fierce strike found the top corner of the Badgers net leaving Squires grasping air. Cue mad scenes from the visiting players as the winning goal was celebrated and Skeggie returned to the East Coast pocketing all three points.

Possibly a little unfair on Eastwood who more that contributed to an exciting game of competitive football. The commitment and togetherness is abundant within the camp BUT although goals win games by the same token defensive errors can lose games. Mistakes in vital areas and individual errors at this level of football will be punished and can prove not only costly but heartbreaking.

The last home game of the season didn’t provide the supporters with the result they hoped for as the Red Badgers look to travel on the road for the last three games of the Season starting with a trip to the Parish Ground in Selston next Saturday (9th)

Attendance ~ 76.
Referee ~ John Stephens.
Assistants ~David Henfry and Michael McGill.

Eastwood CFC~ Warren Squires, Callum Jones, Jacob Sturgess (C) Louis Anthony, Ellis Chambers, Joe Harrison, Kyle Wrenn (Connor Wrenn 62') Victor Lusuku, Ben Henderson (Isaac Morledge 66') Kamani Wilson, Ayleal Dill.
Substitutes not used ~ Harrison Eastwood, Brad Gregory and Rob Osborne.
Cautions ~ None.

Skegness Town ~ Tim Askew, Luke Rayner-Mistry, Jason Field (Josh Morral 57') Adam Millson, Ben Davison (C) George Hobbins, Jamie Potts, Conor Marshall, Jordan Smith (Declan Johnson 71') Johnny Lockie, Elliot Broughton.
Substitutes not used ~ Corey Cuncliffe and Dan Brooks.
Cautions ~ None.