Saturday 24 January 2015

Wollaton FC 1-0 Selston FC

Saturday 24th January 2015 -  kick 1:59pm

Venue:  Wollaton Sports Association, Wollaton Road, Nottingham

Competition:  Notts Senior League Senior Division

Referee:  Phil Towers

Scorer:  Ryan Bowen (9)

Line-ups :
Wollaton - Turner, Middleton, Hunter, KcKeever, Lambert, Mitchell, Stark, Millenstead, Alls, Day, Bowen. Subs: Ranson, Atkins, Johnson, Palmer, Liburd

Selston - Simpson, C. Davis, Renshaw, Farnsworth, Marriott, Gregory, T, Moore, Riley, B. Moore, Cooper, R. Davis. Subs: James, Hackett, Wright, Olden, Blades.

Cards: not official, just taken from from my notes - but it has to be said that the Ref was a busy chappy!!

Wollaton -
McKeever (2 yellows + red)
Lambert (yellow)
Stark (yellow)
Millenstead (yellow)
Day (yellow)
Bowen (yellow)
Johnson (yellow)

Selston -
Gregory (yellow)
Cooper (yellow)
Hackett (yellow)

Wollaton is 8 miles from where we live, so we estimated that if we left home at 1:25pm, we would be there well before the 2:00pm advertised kick off. However, Saturday afternoon traffic proved to be much heavier than expected, particularly between Moorbridge and Nuthall island. What should have been a 20 minute run took us over half-an-hour! Going the wrong way at a roundabout on the way didn't help, but not only was the volume of traffic insane, the majority of the vehicles trundled along at 20 MPH!

Anyway, we arrive at the ground with the teams lined up ready for the off - and took up a position behind the bottom goal. It was a chilly afternoon, but at least it was dry. The game was decided by a ninth minute 20 yard strike from Ryan Bowen, the no. 11 stepping inside a defender before drilling the ball low and wide of Jake Simpson in the away goal.

The home team celebrate Bowen's goal

Selston striker Jay Cooper dribbled through the Wollaton defence on 24, but his eventual shot was well saved by Rikki Turner in the home goal. Selston should maybe have been awarded a penalty in the 37th minute when Sean Gregory was held as he prepared to fire at goal, but Mr. Towers waved play on. Outside the box, I reckon it would have been a free-kick - especially as the game was peppered with them.



On 40, Jamie Renshaw fired a cross into the box from the left and Cooper showed great technique, volleying powerfully at goal but he could only find the safe arms of Turner. Cooper then tried his luck with a 30 yard free-kick - again Turner saved comfortably. H-T 1-0

Great technique

Wollaton should have gone futher ahead within 5 minutes of the restart when Bowen raced down the left and fired a perfect ball across the visitors goal. Lee Day looked odds-on to convert from 6 yards, but lifted the ball way over the bar.





Gregory nearly levelled the scores after 58 minutes had been played, but he clipped the ball over the bar after Jamie Renshaw had played him in from midfield.

On 64, Jordan Alls was also guilty of a glaring miss, hitting the ball wide after finding room at the far post. Ben Moore force Turner to tip over on 83, but he had a glorious chance to grab a share of the points with seconds to go - clipping the ball over from one yard out after a Damien James corner was headed back across goal straight to his feet.

Alls fires wide 

James McKeever fouled Gregory on 85 and saw a second yellow card. With Wolloton down to ten men, Selston poured forward, but failed to break down the stubborn home defence. Cooper had the games final effort deep into added time, hitting the ball well from the edge of the box, and looking in disbelief as Turner missed the ball with his hands, but somehow managed to sit on it and stop it entering the net.F-T 1-0

Admission: £0.00
Programme: didn't see one
Attendance: h/c 74
Charity: £0.75
Pics: courtesy Kev Goodman