Arnold Town 2-1 Kimberley Town

Saturday 19th September 2009 -- F.A. Vase 2nd Qualifying Round

Our first visit to Eagle Valley, the new home of Arnold Town. The actual "stadium" is surrounded by other football pitches - all located in a very picturesque setting. On arrival we were greeted by a very polite steward who, as well as directing me to a parking space, took time to tell us a little about the new facility. He never mentioned the bit where you should hold your nose when passing the septic tank,... that is one bad stink, let me tell you!!!

Had a nosy in the clubhouse - very nice it is too, then had a walk down to the outer pitches where the players were warming up. Kimberley Chairman Graeme Critchley said hello, and mentioned that Arnold were starting with Jemson, Freestone and Carruthers. A fearsome threesome in their day, but as the teams lined up, it seemed that Jemmo was going to be acting as a sweeper.... and acting was about right, because he is not, and never will be, a sweeper.

We stood in the "terraced" stand opposite the clubhouse for the first half - and you have to say that the view is a little restricted by the dug-outs... it's a pity that the stand hadn't been located a few yards further back.

This, on paper, should have been an easy passage into the next round for the hosts. Kimberley are currently rock bottom of the Central Midlands Supreme Division (step 7), while Arnold are in the NCEL Premier Division ( step 5).

Kimberley were by far the better team in the first half - Arnold were awful and although they had a chance headed off the line by Stags' defender Jermaine Ward in the first minute, they looked a bit short of ideas.

Kimberley attacked quickly and at times caught the home team defence all at sea. Big no. 9 Brianto had a snapshot from 25 in just the third minute, and follwed that seconds later hit one from the edge of the box that crashed off the angle of post and bar with Arno keeper Broster well beaten. Brianto's strike partner Pascoe then had a great effort blocked by Mark Clarke before the visiting no.10 bottled it when one-on-one with the giant Broster.

Arnold did have one header from a corner crash against the bar on 20, then Josh Thornton charged down the right before firing the ball across the Kimbo goal - unfortunately there was no-one on hand to prod home.

The Central Midlands outfit took the lead on 29. A neat passage of play saw the ball go out wide left to Pascoe. His cross was met by EMANUEL BRIANTO, who volleyed acrobatically overhead giving Broster no chance.

Kimberley no. 9 Emanuel Brianto

Kimberley keeper James Thelan did well to keep out a fierce drive from Pembleton in the 35th minute, then comfortably gathered a tame shot from Freestone. H-T 0-1

Had a wander around at the break - I had to go the the car to get some more batteries for the camera (rechargable ones I forgot to charge!!) - a bit of a shame really that the replacement batteries also had no charge!! Damn!

Got back into the ground to find Kev splayed out on a settee with his cuppa....

It's a hard life, innit?

Arnold made a significant change at half-time, replacing Pembleton with defender Evans, releasing Jemson to go up top with Freestone and Carruthers. This turned the game on it's head as the Kimberley team had no idea how to cope with the extra attacker and the outcome looked inevitable.

Two goals in three minutes were enough to spare the home teams blushes. The first, after 53 minutes came from a corner, MARTIN CARRUTHERS heading powerfully home.




Carruthers powers home the Eagles 1st goal

Kimberley appeared a bit shell-shocked after this, and were stunned just a couple of minutes later when CHRIS FREESTONE headed home after an effort from Nick Hall had hit the underside of the bar and the striker reacted quicker than the Kimberley defenders.


Freestone receives treatment after heading home the winning goal

Kimberley tried to fight back, but they seemed to accept the inevitable as the game petered out, and the few shots they had late on were not hit with too much conviction. As they say in all the best footie highlight shows this really was " a game of two halves".

Admission £5
Attendance 104
Tea/coffee £0.70 ... not too bad at all....

Off to Field Mill again on Tuesday when Oxford are the visitors. With the Stags losing three on the spin, and Oxford seemingly unbeatable, this should be a cracking game. An Oxford win will put them 15 points ahead of Mansfield --a long way to go yet, but that will be a hell of a deficit to claw back....