Eastwood Through In Vase

Despite stormy weather conditions over the previous few days, a handful of non-league matches throughout Nottinghamshire managed to go ahead this Saturday (21 October) afternoon, including that of the Red Badgers, and the Highwaymen, progressing to the Second Round of the FA Vase.

Away to Cogenhoe United, Martin Ball and Darryl Thomas’ Eastwood side progressed to the next round on the back of a 3-1 win, the visitors having gone in at the break, a goal to the good, Kamani Wilson opening the scoring just after the hour mark.

A corner from Kyle Tomlin wasn’t cleared by the hosts and, as the ball fell kindly for Wilson inside the six yard box, he acrobatically fires the Red Badgers ahead from close range; leading at the break, the visitors quickly made it two shortly after the restart when, four minutes in, captain Derek O’Connor fires across goal and into the top corner after holding off his marker long enough to get his shot away.

With twenty minutes remaining, a corner from the hosts led to their pulling a goal back, and making for nervy, close to the contest and, although the two sides had chances, the decisive third for the Notts club didn’t arrive until deep into stoppage time.

Eastwood shot-stopper, Sam Wilson, was called into action in the 90 minutes, tipping a likely equaliser over his bar from point blank, then, five minutes into added time, the Red Badgers grabbed their third.

O’Connor and substitute Daryll Thomas, combined well before the latter managed to pull the ball into the path of the goal-bound Tyler Blake, the striker calmly firing into the corner to put the seal on a 3-1 success, and progression into the Second Round.

Eastwood CFC – Sam Wilson, Daniel Fletcher, Romaine Graham, Chukwuemeka Beejer, Jack Messom, Marcus Marshall, Terry Atem, Kyle Tomlin, Kamani Wilson, Derek O’Connor (capt), Tyler Blake

Meanwhile, Jonathan D’Laryea’s Highwaymen edged themselves into the next round as Newark & Sherwood United won a seven-goal thriller at home to Wellingborough Town, a game which, surprisingly, only had the one goal in the first half.

That goal arrived after just ten minutes when Ryley Thompson and Liam Moran linked up, the latter runs the ball into the box only to see his goal-bound effort saved by the visiting ‘keeper, however, the parry falls at the feet of Liam May and he strikes the ball home at the near post to open the scoring.

Somehow, no further goals were netted in the first half, despite efforts from both sides, but, within seconds of the restart, the hosts were two goals to the good, Kian Sketchley firing into the top corner from the edge of the box.

Following some pressure from the visitors, they got one back on 53 minutes, but the hosts quickly restored a two-goal advantage with a third, two minutes later Moran laying off Ainsley Finney who skipped past the defender and the ‘keeper before putting into an empty net.

With both sides continually going for goal in a hectic, second period, it would be the hosts who snatched a fourth goal, with eighteen left on the clock; substitute Kyle Onyon laying off Moran who, on his weaker foot, volleys into the bottom corner.

The visitors though, they weren’t done either, that fourth spurring them back into action and again, just minutes later, they found the back of the net, making for an even nervier, final fifteen minutes; a few more chances continued to fall the way of the visitors, and they moved within one goal of their hosts when they grabbed a third with eight minutes left on the clock, they even coming close to levelling at the death, a couple of times, only to be denied where it mattered most.

Newark & Sherwood United – Ross Woolley, Arun Jones, Ryley Thompson, Liam Mays, Toby White, Lattrell Patterson, Liam Moran, Kacper Ratjer, Ainsley Finney, Tom Jones, Kian Sketchley

Only one other game involving a Notts club went ahead in the FA Vase, Sherwood Colliery exiting the competition, 2-1, when away to Stourport Swifts – Jobe Shaw netted for the visitors midway through the first half, the two sides level at the break, however, a stunning overhead kick from Adam Hanson saw the hosts progress.

League-wise, action was limited, there being no action at all in the Northern Counties East League, and the Central Midlands Alliance, however, all three Notts clubs in the Northern Premier League were in action.

In the NPL Premier Basford United were held to a 1-1 draw when home to FC United of Manchester, both goals coming in the opening ten minutes, Toby Ritzema opening the scoring with his first for the hosts after just four minutes, the visitors levelling from the spot after ten minutes.

Worskop meanwhile battled for their three points when hosting Bradford Park Avenue; Will Longbottom gave the visitors the led from the penalty spot inside ten minutes, then, as half-time beckoned, things got a bit crazy for the hosts.

Having brought on Colin Daniel for Paul Green with the half edging into stoppage time, home midfielder, Terry Hawkridge, then saw red for a pair of yellow cards, and the Tigers were on the verge of going in a goal down, and with ten men – up stepped Jay Rollins.

Deep into first half stoppage time and a free-kick from Deegan Atherton is arrowed into the box, headed on by George Taft, and side-footed home by Rollins, the two sides going in level at the interval.

Another change for the Tigers at the start of the second, then, ten minutes in they led, a cross-cum-shot from Liam Hall goes straight through a mass of players, past the shocked, visiting ‘keeper, and into the net – it was the slice of luck the Tigers needed.

Ten minutes and he grabbed his second, and the Tigers’ third of the afternoon, this time from the penalty after Rollins had been fouled in the box; both sides continuing to have chances as the game wore on but the Tigers held out for a 3-1 win.

Carlton Town meanwhile, in the East Division, suffered a 2-0 home defeat when entertaining Stocksbridge Park Steels.

Of the games to go ahead in the United Counties Division One, Newark Town came from behind to see off nine-man Radford, at home, as the two sides ended up sharing six goals, the hosts netting twice in the closing stags to snatch a point.

The hosts led as early as the fourth minute when George Asplin netted after just four minutes before the visitors equalised midway through the half, Greg Tobin scoring. Brother Grant Tobin then saw cause ensue as the game ticked towards the break, he putting Radford 2-1 up before a minute later Abdurrahman Saad made it three, the Pheasants soaring in 3-1 to the good at the break.

Then came ‘that’ second half – Jevin Seaton saw red within five minutes of the restart, but despite constant pressure, the Newark onslaught was kept at bay until the closing stages.

Lewis Chambers then pulled one back from a corner to make it 3-2 with five left on the clock, before ten minutes of stoppage time was shown; another corner, in the 92 minutes, and Jonny Wiles is on the end to equalise.

Still time for even more drama, the 95 minute would see the visitors reduced to nine when Nathaniel Peters also saw red, the Pheasants somehow snatching a draw from victory, and the hosts a draw from defeat – it’s a funny old game.

Clipstone lost 4-2 at home to Birstall United, that despite battling back from being three goals down at the break, Lewis Bingham and William Heather netting, and Dunkirk lost 2-1 away to Bourne Town.

Meanwhile, in the Nottinghamshire Senior League Premier Division, only two games were played, Cotgrave winning 3-2 at Keyworth United on the Friday night, and Aslockton & Orston 2-1 at FC Sez on Saturday afternoon.

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @eastwoodcfc Aaron O’Connor in action for Eastwood at Cogenhoe.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *