Sat 2 Oct 2010 - Mens 4ths vs Belper 7ths

The mens 4th team started the league season in unexpected form with a 4-2 victory over Belper 7ths. A week ago we were the 5th team and were to play in the Central League Division NE2, now we are playing the 4th team's fixtures in NE1.

The mists of euphoria (or is it the after match beer) have unfortunately obscured the finer details of the goals in my memory. I can tell you Dan Tucker got two (he then stopped as he can't afford to buy a jug), Stuart Norman one and Ashley Russell one. Dan opened the scoring in a goal mouth melee, then either Belper equalised and then we scored a second, or maybe it was the other way round. A particularly fine goal though, worked up the right wing from our 25 yard line from a Paul Neilson pass, crossed into the circle and efficiently put away by Stuart. I wish we could score goals like that every week. So at half-time we were 2-1 up.

We soaked up the pressure in the central midfield largely thanks to Jez Dawson, turning out for us at short notice, who protected our full back line from the worst of Belper's attacks and our lead extended in the second half when Dan scored his second. Belper came back with a second goal (some say it was a fluke, as the ball lifted high after taking a deflection and flew into the top corner of the net over Niall's head (he's only titchy!)), but we finished the game off with a goal from Ashley, making his centre forward debut, finishing 4-2 victors.

Goalscorers always get a mention but this was a fine team effort. Everyone got stuck in and played hard, especially the midfield, Jez, Tim, Simon and Alex. Good debut performances from Tom Hart and Alex Tolson, our latest signings. Next week Beeston!

Bravo! Well done! After this weeks shenanigans this is a tidy result against a team that should be steady mid leaguers, if not challening for promotion.

Pablo