Venue: Greenwich Avenue, Basford, Nottinghamshire
Competition: Midland Football League Premier Division
Referee: Brad Tudgay
Scorers:
Basford - Ruben Wiggins-Thomas (34), Aaron Webster (80), Stuart Hendrie (90+5)
Loughborough - Ben Ward-Cochrane (64), Allen Webb (88)
This was a really competitive, well contested game, between two well matched outfits. It was played in very a blustery, bitingly cold wind and bloody hell, when I say cold, I mean COLD!
We've not seen the University team before, and to be fair they deserved at least a point from this encounter, but as you know, this game we love so much is seldom fair.
We've not seen the University team before, and to be fair they deserved at least a point from this encounter, but as you know, this game we love so much is seldom fair.
Big surprise to see ex-Magpies keeper Saul Deeney between the sticks for Basford - apparently this was his final appearance for United as he now going over to Ireland to resume his career.
Sam Raven headed over from a Stuart Hendrie corner in the third minute, as Basford looked to take the game to their visitors. Loughborough were having nothing of it though, and missed two good chances before 10 minutes had been played.
Craven heads at goal
Ben Ward-Cochrane then headed over from close range on 30, as the home defence began to look a little shaky under pressure. Allen Webb almost put the visitors ahead a minute later, but his shot from the corner of the box hit the foot of Deeney's post and was cleared.
Two minutes later, as Webb raced through on goal, Craven made a poor challenge on the flying winger just outside of the penalty area, and was adjudged to have prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity by Referee Brad Tudgay.
A straight red for the defender - the free-kick was curled expertly over the wall by Max Herbert, but Deeney collected easily enough.
The 10 men grabbed the games opening goal seconds later, RUBEN WIGGINS-THOMAS controlling the ball well before firing home from about 10 yards. Loughborough should have been level just before the break though, Ward-Cochranne again failing to capitalise when Max Herbert picked him out at the near post, the no. 11 somehow managing to steer the ball across the goal instead of into the back of the net.
The 10 men grabbed the games opening goal seconds later, RUBEN WIGGINS-THOMAS controlling the ball well before firing home from about 10 yards. Loughborough should have been level just before the break though, Ward-Cochranne again failing to capitalise when Max Herbert picked him out at the near post, the no. 11 somehow managing to steer the ball across the goal instead of into the back of the net.
Ward-Cochrane was fouled with seconds of the half remaining, and although Herbert struck the resultant free-kick well enough, the effort flew just wide. H-T 1-0
Basford made a change during the break, Jahred Russell making way for Robson Doolan who slotted into midfield. This allowed Webster and Deon Meikle to take up central defensive positions, flanked by Josh Thornton on the right and Dan Fletcher on the left.
Deon Meikle
The away team still asked the more solid looking defence a lot of questions though, and on 53 when Webb crossed from the right, Ward-Cochrane should have buried the chance, but clipped it well over the Basford bar.
The pair did get it right in the 64th minute, Webb racing whippet-like down the right wing before firing the ball into the box. Webster failed to intercept and WARD-COCHRANE took full advantage, his neat flick sending the ball flying past Deeney.
The 10 men of Basford soon rallied, and almost regained the lead on 74 when a Wiggins-Thomas effort struck the base of the post. Six minutes later the home team did regain the lead - a superb Stuart Hendrie free-kick was met by Meikle, but the defenders effort was well blocked. Unfortunately for Loughborough, AARON WEBSTER was on hand to pounce on the loose ball and drill it past keeper Joe Halstead.
With just two minutes of the 90 left, Andrew Bridge played a pin-point defence splitting pass straight into the path of ALLEN WEBB, and the winger took the ball in his stride, raced in on goal and slotted past Deeney with some ease.
A point apiece seemed a fair result, but as I mentioned earlier in this diatribe, the game is seldom fair. It was the home team who grabbed all the points after 5 minutes of added time had been played. A great ball in from the right from Ryan Whitehurst was met by STUART HENDRIE, who beat his marker to the ball to send a stooping header flying into the net. Great goal to end a great game. Well done to both teams for providing such great fayre in such poor conditions. F-T 3-2
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 71
MOM: University's Allen Webb
Pics: Courtesy of Kev Goodman
maggie's: £3.75
The pair did get it right in the 64th minute, Webb racing whippet-like down the right wing before firing the ball into the box. Webster failed to intercept and WARD-COCHRANE took full advantage, his neat flick sending the ball flying past Deeney.
The 10 men of Basford soon rallied, and almost regained the lead on 74 when a Wiggins-Thomas effort struck the base of the post. Six minutes later the home team did regain the lead - a superb Stuart Hendrie free-kick was met by Meikle, but the defenders effort was well blocked. Unfortunately for Loughborough, AARON WEBSTER was on hand to pounce on the loose ball and drill it past keeper Joe Halstead.
With just two minutes of the 90 left, Andrew Bridge played a pin-point defence splitting pass straight into the path of ALLEN WEBB, and the winger took the ball in his stride, raced in on goal and slotted past Deeney with some ease.
A point apiece seemed a fair result, but as I mentioned earlier in this diatribe, the game is seldom fair. It was the home team who grabbed all the points after 5 minutes of added time had been played. A great ball in from the right from Ryan Whitehurst was met by STUART HENDRIE, who beat his marker to the ball to send a stooping header flying into the net. Great goal to end a great game. Well done to both teams for providing such great fayre in such poor conditions. F-T 3-2
Admission: £5.00
Programme: £1.00
Attendance: 71
MOM: University's Allen Webb
Pics: Courtesy of Kev Goodman
maggie's: £3.75
Shake
Officials - good game from the "third team"
