Two changes from the recent Pinchbeck league game. Hearn and Shannon-Lewis were unavailable. Kole Lambert started up top and Lavell White returned to the starting eleven for the first time since the Worksop FA Cup game. Sean Woolley was away on Army duty and Dean Freeman was still nursing an ankle injury. There’s a first inclusion for sixteen year old Harrison Eastwood on the bench.

As to be expected from a young, hungry and fit Students team they started well with Cam Moore twice testing home custodian Mark Rathbone within the opening few minutes. Both times the home 'keeper denied the striker with fine stops.

At the other end Romello Nangle tried his luck after being played in by Cal Jones only to see Ben Whitting gather his shot. The game was developing into a fine game with both sides creating some half decent chances along the way. Ellis Evans, operating in the central midfield role, again played in Nangle but big centre back Matty Bowman saw the danger just in time.

After 17 minutes the visitors took the lead, not to be unexpected really. Striker Tope Fadamundi raced down the right wing and crossed low and hard to the near post. Moore was quickest and first to react as he slid the ball into the net. Half way through the half George Wilson tried his luck with a decent header which just cleared Rathbone's cross bar. Although their approach play was decent from midfield, Eastwood's attacks were pretty lame with Bowman and his fellow defenders coping with any threats from the home forwards.

Whitting was alert to deal with an effort from Lambert but after 37 the lead should have been doubled in the Scholars favour, Kieran Smith's run and cross seemed to be food and drink for Moore but the diminutive striker made a hash of his attempt with Rathbone scrambling.

Nangle was proving to be a handful for the Students defence and was desperately unlucky not to draw his side level just before half time when Whitting and George Ward just about managed to clear the shot which was bundled away for a non-productive corner.

The first attack of the second period saw the visitors have a goal disallowed for offside and Luke Martin had a header saved by Rathbone after fine approach play down the right flank from skipper Theo Sackey-Mensah.

With 58 played the teams were level. Jahren Barrow produced a peach of a through ball down the heart of the visiting defence. Nangle outpaced Ward and bore down on goal only to be crudely upended by Whitting just inside the area. A penalty all day long which the home No 9 despatched with ease. Whitting was a tad lucky to stay on the pitch after his indiscretion.

The second half ebbed and flowed but neither team seemed to gain the upper hand and both teams cancelled one another out. Charlie Marzano had a couple of decent efforts and, once again, Moore went close for the Scholars. In the end, however, the 1-1 scoreline seemed just about right and Mr Gray called proceedings to a halt and indicated penalties.

Although Rathbone saved Max Smallcombe's third spot kick his opposite number Whitting went one better and saved two to ensure that his team progressed maybe somewhat fortuitously Shades unlucky on the Red Badgers who more than matched their opponents all game.

I spoke to home Captain McKenna Parton after the contest who reacted thus :
"They're a good team but we out worked them and had opportunities to win the game, on another day the result could have been different. We were missing key front players today. Penalties are always a lottery and we missed out. Onwards and upwards to the bread and butter of league football next weekend"

Eastwood Man of Match
Callum Jones
Superb all round performance

Upcoming next Saturday is a league game -v- Boston Town at the Halbrooke.
KO is at 15:00

Attendance ~ 87

Referee ~ Wayne Gray
Assistants ~ Gavin Rice and Tim Seward.

Eastwood CFC ~ Mark Rathbone, Ryan Ebanks, David Leak, Jahren Barrow, Callum Jones, McKenna Parton (C) Charlie Marzano (64' ungentlemanly conduct) Ellis Evans, Lavell White (Finn Hunter 53') Romello Nangle, Kole Lambert.
Substitutes not used ~ Lewis Scott, Harrison Eastwood and Jack Messom.
Cautions ~ Evans (27' retaliation) Marzano (64' ungentlemanly conduct) Parton (65' foul)

Loughborough Students ~ Ben Whitting, Theo Sackey-Mensah (C) Matty Bowman, Luke Martin (Sid Kerr 72') George Ward, Charlie Alexiou, Kieran Smith, Max Smallcombe, Tope Fadamunsi, George Wilson (Ethan O'Toole 63') Cam Moore.
Substitutes not used ~ Jonty Cottam, Sid Kerr, Dami Agbolda and Finn Brennan
Cautions ~ Wilson (40' dissent) Whitting (64' ungentlemanly conduct)

Report compiled, written and submitted by Ian Williams.