Calverton MW 0-0 Forest Town

Friday 4th September 2009 -- CML Supreme Division.

Oh bugger!!!!! Three 0-0's on the spin.....and what makes it worse is the fact that the other game we could have gone to finished Sutton Tn AFC 5-1 PInxton FC !!!! Our average goals per game has dived from a high of 4 down to 3 ...... but how the hell this game finished goal-less God only knows........could have been 5-5. Forest Town striker Craig Jackson had a penalty saved to add salt to our wounds....

As we walked to the ground, I predicted (after having, previous to leaving the house, visited BBC Nottingham weather site) that we were in for a nice, pleasant dry evening. Well - I mocked Kev for bringing his brolly....and what do you know - half way through the first period of the game a huge bank of black clouds appeared ominously overhead. Minutes later the heavens opened. It was a fierce downpour that left me a bit exposed. Anyway, Kev had deployed his brolly facing the torrent, and the next time he turned to speak to me, I wasn't where he expected me to be - I was directly behind him using him and his brolly as a shield. Very effective it was as well - quite a big lad is Kev !!

Anyway - football ..... Calverton have an all new team this season, and were pretty awful in a pre-season game I saw. Forest Town were missing five of their first team regulars through injury/holidays/suspension. Forest Town's line-up included central defender Paul Gould. Paul played for Eastwood Town for about 10 years and he and Danny Bryant were the only players that remained at Coronation Park when the Badgers went through their "darkest hour" four or five years ago - no money, no players, no crowds and relegation to the Counties league. Gould and Bryant earned a hell of a lot of respect from yours truly for not deserting the sinking ship when they could have gone anywhere. Although Gould only managed 45 minutes due to receiving a knock late in the first period, his class was still there for all to see.

Forest Town almost took the lead in the 9th minute - Mark Carter's header was on target, but young Calvo keeper Michael Randal managed to get a hand to the effort.

Simon Gould, the Calvo skipper, saw his effort blocked by Jon Wilson in the Foggo net in the 22nd minute - the keeper also blocked well as the rebound was fired back at him.

Damien Powell had a chance on 35, but he was foiled by Wilson. Both keepers were having great games, and Randal made the save of the half right on half time - a Carter long range snap shot tipped acrobatically onto the bar. From the corner, Randal pushed Craig Jackson's header onto a post - and we were left wondering how on earth, in the ensuing melee, no-one was able to prod home to end our goal drought. H-T 0-0

Kev left the ground to fetch another coat from the car - it was not a warm night, but 14 layers in September seems a bit OTT to me....!

The first 15 minutes were fairly quiet, but Randal was called on to save again on the hour mark - this time keeping out James McCann's effort. From the resultant corner, Randal was again on hand to save a prod at goal from Jackson.

Calverton no. 7 ( Keiren ?) had been the butt of some serious sledging during the first half, but a 20+ yard shot from the diminutive winger beat Wilson all ends up on 62 - unfortunately for Welfare the ball crashed off the underside of the bar and was hacked away to safety.

Town were awarded a penalty after 66 minutes when McCann was tripped in the box. Craig Jackson had had a spot kick saved in the last Forest Town game ( 0-0 v Westella), so most people involved with the club were amazed to see him place the ball on the spot....(I think Sam Holmes was supposed to have taken the kick). Jackson's kick was well saved by Randal, diving to his right. Two missed penalties, four dropped points - I wonder who will take the next Foggo spot kick?

Richard Lane by this time had said on more than one occasion that this game had 0-0 written all over it........arrgghhhh!! The Welfare no. 7 tried his best to break the deadlock on 79 - a terrific shot across Wilson looked goalbound , but it rattled the base of the far post before being cleared. F-T 0-0

Action packed game - decent turn out ( although a lot appeared after half-time when it's free to get in!) - good company - Richard Lane, Pete Craggs take a bow....

Admission £3

Attendance h/c 60 before half-time - considerably more at the final whistle.

MOM for both teams - their respective keepers ....

Next we're off to Lenton Lane to see Greenwood Meadows take on Radcliffe Olympic....got 0-0 written all over it? Let's hope not.....