Eastwood Town 4-3 Retford Utd

Monday 10th May 2010 -- Notts Senior Cup Final







Venue : Very, very cold Meadow Lane.

Admission £5

Programme £2 .... worst value for money ever! Who the hell decided that effort is worth £2 can't be right in the head. 12 pages of nothing!!!

Conference North v UniBond Premier. Turned out to be quite a poor game, but there were a couple of cracking goals. Kev behind the wheel for this one - he is the numero uno for City Centre driving.

Arrived at Meadow Lane with time to spare and bought a programme expecting something akin to Andy Cope's superb effort last season. Felt thoroughly ripped off when I was handed the thing.

Had a quick chat to Aggedor on the way to our seats, and then the public address system came on.... and stayed on throughout the game --- a constant hisssssssssss that was enough to drive you crackers! On a scale of 1 -10 for annoying this was a definate12!

Eastwood : Danby, Markel Bailey , Riley, D'Laryea, Mat Bailey, Cooke, Meikle, Foster, Holmes, Holland, Duncum. Subs: S Brown, D. Brown, Whitehurst, Gardner.

Retford: Lindley, Ludlum, Thompson, Smith, Ellis, Simkpins, Bettney, Ellender, Thomas, Harvey, Marrison. Subs: Mayman, Leggitt, Stephenson.

The teams were presented to the Notts FA's elite, and we settled back for the anticipated football feast. Soon got bored - the first decent chance not created until the 10th minute when Marquin Smith volleyed just wide. From the goal-kick the ball was collected by Duncum who dribbled his way into the box before firing wide of the goal.

Meikle looked to be Struggling for Town, but his mazy run and cross on 12 gave DANNY HOLLAND a chance from close range and he duly slotted past Lindley. Meikle was eventually replaced on 27 by Simon Brown, and he told me at the break it was a hamstring injury that ended his participation.

Mat Bailey had a header well saved by Lindley in the 32nd minute, but it was United who scored the games next goal. COLIN MARRISON looping a header from a free-kick over Danby after he was left unmarked some 12 yards from goal. H-T 1-1

Grabbed a word or two with Notts F.A. Secretary Mick Kilbee during the interval. He related how he allocated Tuesday 11th May as the date for the Notts F.A. Junior Cup final and that as a mad keen Forest fan he was shattered when he realised the play-off second leg between Forest and Blackpool is to be played on the same date! Having only missed half-a-dozen Forest home games in 45 years, you have to feel for Mick, but duty calls and he has to be at the Cup final!

The second half was poor and for the first 20 minutes we were watching the cricket on the TV situated in the "posh" area. Our attention was drawn back to the game when Anton Foster made a darting run at the United defence. After racing across the goal area he played the ball to Mat Bailey who steered it towards the goal where David Brown flicked on for DANNY HOLLAND to tap in.

Not much else to add to the regulation time, but when Referee Stuart Richardson allocated three minutes of added time, we had a feeling we were going to be out late - and would you believe it in the 93rd minute DARYL THOMAS crashed home a terrific shot that sent us into extra-time. F-T 2-2

It was so cold that we debated about whether to stay on or not, but as it happened we are pleased we did.

Retford were awarded a free-kick 20 odd yards from goal, and Chris Bettney fired in a great effort than Town keeper did well to tip over for a corner. From the corner though, MARQUIN SMITH rose like a salmon to power home a superb header and give Retford the lead for the first time in the game. 6 minutes later Retford committed defensive suicide - keeper and defenders not on the same wavelength allowing DAVID BROWN to nip in and roll home the equaliser.

We were still hoping upon hope that one team would break the deadlock before we went to penalties, when with just 90 seconds to play MAT BAILEY curled a fantastic shot into the far corner from the edge of the box. Wonderful goal - although Eastwood barely deserved their victory, that goal was well worth the entry fee. F-T 4-3

Didn't stay for the presentations, it was too bloody cold - so a quick hot foot to the car and heater on full!!

Attendance ... not yet published

Thursday - Nottm Forest Ladies v Hucknall Rolls Ladies in the Notts F.A. Womens Cup final at Forest Town FC, kick off 7:30pm