Blimey - this was a local derby that took some getting going!!!! The first half was hard work to watch - and although things improved after the break, we were left wondering as we made our way home, where the Forest Town team from last season had disappeared to. Answers on a postcard please!!
As it was -we had three goals ( a hat-trick), a penalty, two sendings off, several yellow cards, plenty of poor play, a couple of highlights - and possibly the worst cup of coffee ever.......
Had arranged to meet Steve Davies at the ground - Steve is a proper hopper, and badge/programme buff. Not being a collector, I had accumulated a carrier bag full of old programmes which he was only too pleased to take off my hands......
Steve offered to buy the drinks and it seemed a bit ungrateful when we threw them on the grass verge a little later. I have always complimented FT on their drinks in the past - but on this occasion 0/10 - sorry FT.....
The teams took to the field and shook hands in the now traditional way... but as usual, as soon as this formality is over the players decide they don't really like the other team and proceed to kick lumps out of each other..
Clippo lined up with a 6ft + striker who I thought I recognised.....turned out to be former Shepshed, Greasley and Eastwood centre-half Matt Millns - never thought of Matt as a centre-forward, but it has to be said that he didn't look too much out of place in his new role.
Clipstone took the lead 10 minutes before the break when a defensive calamity saw the ball land at the feet of the Clippo no.9 CRAIG BUCHANAN who had time to eat his dinner before picking his spot and lashing the ball past Forest Town keeper Jason Johnson from 8 yards out. What a poor first half - both teams guilty of some awful play and both teams looking like they had never played the game before. H-T 0-1
The second half started off much brighter - the new lights were now at full strength!!! The teams must have had a nice, quiet, constructive chat during the break, because they at least tried to get it right straight from the restart, playing some decent passing football and creating a few chances.
Things were still a bit feisty though, and it all came to a head on 65 when a 6 man brawl was noticed by the lino - he called over the Referee and Liam Pride from Clipstone and James McCann from Forest Town were given straight red cards.
As the game restarted, Millns raced into the area and was caught by a dreadful challenge by the home no. 4. He received a yellow, the visitors a penalty. CRAIG BUCHANAN struck the ball well enough, but Johnson made a fine diving save - only to see Buchanan hammer the loose ball past him with his defenders standing watching.
Five minutes later it was all over when a great ball in from the right was headed home by CRAIG BUCHANAN He was probably the smallest player on the pitch on the night, but he rose salmon like, to direct the ball into the net. F-T 0-3
Out of the ground at the final whistle and home just after 10pm........On The Road? Hardly!!!!
No pictures again, and a very short report - I am enjoying putting these blog entries together less and less - sooner or later I will end up just adding just the headlines and scorers!!!
Saturday - somewhere local so we can get back for the Arsenal v Man U game on t'telly -- how near is Hucknall Town v Ashton United - 5 minutes, that'll do nicely thank you........
Did Kev make a flask up again Malc?
ReplyDeleteNo.....but his worst effort would have been far superior to the strange brew we were served up.....!!! yeukk. Although the thought of getting Kev's flask out of retirement is frightening!!
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