Greenwood Meadows 5-3 Ellistown

Saturday 17th April 2010 -- EMCL

A glorious sunny day and a feast of goals served up by the teams - just a pity that Greenwood cannot raise their profile and attract a few more through the turnstile. Just 24 paying customers at this game.

We arrived at the ground a little early, so nipped next door to Pelican to catch a few minutes of a youth game that was taking place there. Saw a fantastic fre-kick from one of the kids, curled into the net from 20 yards....good start to the days proceedings!

Rob Townsend was in the middle for this game, and as a Referee, they don't come much better. Again, it's just a pity that there were so few present to see Rob in action, because he is one of the more knowledgeable and sensible Referees we have come across on our travels.

Rob Townsend in a hurry!!

Rob's first action though, after leading the teams onto the pitch, was to run back to the changing rooms. Rob, we know why you went back, but that will stay between us.. !!

Ellistown looked to have the bare 11 players, while Meadows had gaffer Nev Silcock on the bench to make up their numbers.

Greenwood line-up: Colton, Branson, Harrison, Pollard, Walker, Stephens, Francis, Robinson, Bignall, Atkins, Durrant. Subs: Meakin, Blair, Silcock

Ellistown line-up not known.

Greenwood should have gone ahead in the third minute, but Atkins headed straight into keeper Paul Madely's arms with the goal at his mercy. It was the visitors, though, who opened the scoring on 11. A corner from the left headed powerfully home by RICH LEWIS. It was almost 2-0 seconds later - Rory Francis gave the ball away, and the Ellistown no. 10 shirt tried an effort from 45 yards that only just crept over the bar.


Rich Lewis rises to head Ellistown in front


Close, but no cigar!

On 21, Atkins again had a great chance to level the scores, but Madeley again saved when the striker tried to clip the ball past him.


Atkins foiled

In the 24th minute, PHIL BIGNALL made no mistake when he was played in - the big man delicately lobbing Madeley from 16 yards to level the scores.


Bignall watches as the ball heads towards goal

10 minutes later the home team were ahead, Rory Francis firing a shot from the left that somehow rolled under Madeley at his near post.


Francis is congratulated after scoring

It was 3-1 with one minute to go before the break, KRISTIAN STEPHENS this time lifting the ball over Madeley after successfully beating the Ellistown offside trap. H-T 3-1


Kristian Stephens

Meadows set off right from the start of the second period looking to extend their lead, and Bignall was unlucky to see his shot blocked by the keeper after he latched onto a superb through ball from Craig Meakin. Nat Robinson hit a fierce drive wide on 56, then Meakin played in Francis who found Bignall at the far post - unfortunately for the home team, the striker's effort was well off target.

On 70, Colton did well to beat Ellistown's giant to the ball as the away team attempted to force their way back into the game, but when the ball was played out of defence, Bignall oicked out CHRIS ATKINS who sold his marker a dummy before slotting past Madeley.

Colton holds on well

Ellistown found a way through the Greenwood defence after 83, RICH LEWIS finding space to drill past Colton. Straight from the restart, the visitors won a free-kick and even though the ball hit the bar, it was quite clearly called indirect by Mr. Townsend and would not have counted even if it had been slighly lower.

Lewis fires past Colton to make it 4-2

Free-kick crashes off the bar

With just a couple of minutes to play, PHIL BIGNALL found himself all alone at the far post and when the ball was played to him, he cracked a stunning right foot shot into the net. The scoring was not over though, as TOM HIATT rose well to head home a corner from the right. F-T 5-3

Tom Hiatt ( no.5) heads Ellistown's third

Great entertainment for £4.00. We've been marvelling this week at the quantity of goals scored -- and how strange that Tuesday it was 5, Thursday it was 6, Friday it was 7 and Saturday we had 8.....26 goals in 4 games - magic!

Lenton Lane is slightly off the beaten track, the players ought to be playing in larger crowds than 24. Come on you greens!

Admission £4
Programme £0.50
Attendance 24

Monday - off to see Calverton U19 v Long Eaton U19