In front of a handsome crowd for a Friday night Eastwood made five changes from the team that beat Clipstone two weeks ago. Dylan Miles replaced the ill Randy Bonsu, Callum Clarke, Charlie Palmer, Lewis Fletcher and Sam Wilkinson all dropped out. Alexander Shayler came in to the side for his first appearance since March along with Finley Hayes, Kieron Hobday and Deniz Aris.

Eastwood started well Kieran Knight being put through but the Blidworth keeper got down low to make a good save Knight wasn’t to be denied a second time twelve minutes gone Kieran broke through outpacing the Blidworth defence before finishing well. Ten minutes later Knight broke free again and calmly scored his second of the game. Then in quick succession Knight grabbed his third then fourth, a long ball down the line from Shayler was latched on to by Knight who charged in to the box and hit a fierce shot past the helpless Welfare keeper. Then a quick free-kick from Shayler released Knight who watched the ball bounce in front of him before volleying superbly in to the very top corner of the net on his left foot.

The only down side of the half for Eastwood was four minutes before the break a lapse in the Eastwood defence allowed Blidworth’s number eleven to grab a consolation goal.

HT: ECFC U21 4-1 Blidworth Welfare U21

The home side didn’t let up in the second half seven minutes in, Kieran Knight rounded the goalkeeper and unselfishly set up Kieron Hobday to tap home. Knight then added a fifth to his tally Shayler again with the assist, Knight once again finishing with ease and full of confidence.

Hobday got his second on the hour mark as Eastwood continued to go forward. The defence of Miles, Nethercot, Plummer and Shayler were rarely troubled but what they had to do they did well, Kal Greaves was a constant threat on the left hand side. while Deniz and Hobday pulled the strings in the middle. Substitutes Baguley, Naylor and Turton were all introduced and Naylor was put through a couple of times but was caught unfortunately offside. Blidworth failed to clear Kallum Greaves terrific free-kick and eventually Tom Plummer headed home.

Despite already witnessing nine goals in the game the best was saved to last. Eastwood got caught high up the pitch and Welfare broke and some good interplay the Blidworth man found some space on the edge of the box before unleashing a venomous shot that flew into the top corner.

FT: ECFC U21 8-2 Blidworth Welfare U21

A resultant win and performance from a young and talented Eastwood side. Fielding two sixteen year olds and the average squad age being 18. Lots of potential and the squad certainly should be challenging for the league.