Martin Ball & Daryll Thomas handed debut’s to Declan Dunn, Ricky Starbuck, Jake Wright and Phil Watt. With Oliver Robinson injured Lynden Joyce started at right back, Jermain Hollis was the only other change from the eleven that finished the season at Heanor Town in April.

On a beautiful late afternoon in Lincolnshire Harrowby United and Eastwood CFC played out the final game of day for the UCL Groundhop weekend.

After a tentative start from both teams with neither side wanting to show their hand the Red Badgers started to gain some control and looked very dangerous going forward. With United unable to cope with the movement of the Eastwood front three, the visitors found the opener. Ricky Starbuck’s clearance found Tyler Blake who tried to round the out rushing goalkeeper but the frontman was bundled to the floor, skipper Aaron O’Connor stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way to give Eastwood a deserved lead.

Harrowby responded well forcing Wilson into a couple of decent saves but on the whole Eastwood continued to defend well and were hard to break down in open play. With thirty seconds left on the clock a great move sees Hollis released down the right flank his cross picks out Alex Troke who’s perfectly timed back heel falls into the path of Tyler Blake who finished well.

Harrowby United 0-2 Eastwood CFC

No subs at half time as the Red Badgers hoped to put the game to bed early into the second period. The visitors kept the ball for almost the first five minutes of the second half and once again were clinical in front of goal, Jermain Hollis with a reverse ball on the outside of the defender feeding O’Connor who despite loosing his foot-in still manages to slide the ball into the net.

Eastwood were awarded their second penalty of the match when Declan Dunn’s free kick caused chaos with the ball finding Troke who’s cross was blocked with a hand and the referee pointed to the spot, O’Connor made no mistake from twelve yards securing his hat trick and Eastwood’s fourth goal of the match.

The hosts did pull one back as a loose ball from a corner wasn’t cleared and last season’s top goal scorer for the Arrows, Harry Allcock, forced the ball over the line to give them some hope.

With nineteen minutes of normal time to play Donte McManamon-Fuller replaced Daniel Elliott who had only been on the pitch for twenty minutes. The holding midfielder who has struggled last season and through pre-season with injuries slowly walked from the field. Ten minutes later Toby Woodward came on for his debut as the manager’s looked to manage Ricky Starbuck’s work load as the left back continues to recover from a calf strain.

In the final minute of normal time, McManamon-Fuller jinxed his way into the box before firing a shot off on his weaker foot, his effort was blocked but the Harrowby defender couldn’t stop the ball getting through to Czerwak who couldn’t miss.

Due to a lengthy stoppage for an injury to Ethan Greenidge a minimum of eleven minutes were added on in which Eastwood added a further three goals. Sam Wilson’s punt down field was latched onto by Tyler Blake who shows incredible strength to hold off his man before smashing the ball past Frestle. Blake involved again, his closing down forces the United central defender into a panic and he lofts the ball back to his goalkeeper who is out of his goal, the crowd of 400+ plus all sat and waited as the ball bounced over Frestle and onto the crossbar before Frestle denied Commons but couldn’t deny McManamon-Fuller who jumped on the loose ball and fired his hot into the roof of the net. The final goal of the game was arguably the best, Lynden Joyce finding Finnley Commons on the half way line, Commons carried the ball to the edge of the area before turning and firing home.

Eastwood CFC Lineup
1. Sam Wilson
2. Lynden Joyce
3. Ricky Starbuck (Woodward 82)
4. Declan Dunn
5. Phil Watt
6. Jake Wright
7. Ryan Tait (Commons 90)
8. Jermain Hollis (Elliott 51)
9. Tyler Blake (45, 90)
10. Aaron O’Connor (c) (26 pen, 50, 55 pen) (Czerwak 56)
11. Alex Troke

Subs
12. Daniel Elliott (McManamon-Fuller 71)
14. Louis Czerwak (89)
15. Finnley Commons (90)
16. Toby Woodward
17. Donte McManamon-Fuller (90)

Man Of The Match: Tyler Blake, chosen by Jagan Sharma (Under 13’s player), Tyler was strong on and off the ball, scored two quality goals and was a handful all match.

Attendance: 457